From Manuel Antonio to Ojochal, there are many excellent restaurants in the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. Whether you are looking for a romantic meal, a family dinner, or a night out with friends, the southern Pacific zone has a restaurant that can meet your needs. Today, we will focus on restaurants offering dinner; check back later for another blog covering your breakfast and lunch options!
If you’re looking for a fabulous dinner in Dominical, don’t miss Dominical Sushi. Their sushi rolls and sashimi are excellent and very fresh! Our favorite roll is the Summer Roll, which combines crispy tempura shrimp with a creamy sauce. Other standouts are the Tico Roll and the Dominical Roll, which incorporate fresh fruit. The miso soup is also excellent, and somewhat unusual, as it is garnished with chunks of fresh avocado.
Patron’s restaurant, Dominical’s newest addition, is also worth trying, especially if you are looking for a more refined experience. The ambiance is sophisticated, there is an extensive wine list, and they have two excellent microbrews on tap. Everyone loves the ribs, which are slow cooked and fall off the bone. Patron’s also offers concerts regularly, with big names such as Gyptian and Debbie Nova.
Rounding out the dinner offerings in Dominical is Tortilla Flats, a great beach bar and restaurant with a fun vibe. Early in the day, this restaurant is perfect for a family meal; watch the waves break from your table while the kids play pinball. Later in the night, Tortilla Flats turns into a beach bar with a fun, relaxed vibe.
Looking south of Dominical, Porque No is one of the best restaurants in area. Located at the Costa Paraiso hotel, restaurant guests are able to enjoy a beautiful, dramatic view of waves crashing against rocks. Go for the view, stay for the food - in addition to numerous delicious entrees, Porque No offers coal-oven pizza, excellent salads, and the locally famous Porque No pulled pork sandwich.
Further south, check out Cuna del Angel. The elegant restaurant at this hotel has a very extensive menu. Don’t miss the Truffle Portobello soup - it is out of this world! And be sure to save room for dessert. You won’t want to miss the show put on by the waiters when they dim the lights and wheel the flambé cart to your table. This restaurant also has the unique attribute of being completely gluten-free! Don’t let that scare you though, you would never know you’re not eating gluten.
Even further south, in Ojochal, Ylang Ylang restaurant is another favorite. Run by a Dutch husband and wife who both grew up in Indonesia, the flavors at Ylang Ylang are delicious and authentic. The menu changes nightly, and the owners are happy to recommend a dish to suit your taste. There is also an extensive wine list.
In Manuel Antonio, options abound for excellent dinners. One of our favorites is El Lagarto, an unusual kind of barbecue. At this restaurant, a fireplace full of hot coals is mounted on a wall and attached to two conveyer belts. Hot coals are shuttled down the conveyer belts to the grill, where chefs cook up fish, meat, vegetables and potatoes with an herb butter good enough to eat alone. El Lagarto is an experience not to be missed!
La Luna Restaurant at Gaia is also an excellent choice. Be sure to arrive early enough for happy hour, where you can watch the sunset in a comfortable lounge chair while sipping on delicious cocktails and nibbling on appetizers - all at happy hour prices! Stay for dinner and enjoy a romantic, fine dining experience. In addition to the regular menu, La Luna also offers a vegetarian menu.
All of these great dining options make the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica an excellent place to live or visit! Whether you want a special date night with your partner, or you didn’t make it to the farmers’ market, or you just don’t feel like cooking, there’s plenty of options for everyone. So contact Dominical Real Estate today about finding your dream property. If you are considering relocating to Costa Rica or investing in a rental property here, restaurants like these will make you and your guests feel at home.
