8 Best Restaurants Near Rio Celeste

Aside from the stunning turquoise blue water and lush tropical rainforest, Rio Celeste is surrounded by the best restaurants in Costa Rica with an amazing variety of foods that suit different preferences, from famous Costa Rican delicacies like Gallo Pinto to international cuisines. 

When we first visited Rio Celeste after the hike, my husband and I were a bit worried about how to find the best restaurant that offered great food that would make us feel at home. 

So we asked some locals for help, and they provided a list of restaurants for us to try, which we did. Some offered excellent services and food, while others fell short of our expectations.

In this guide, I’ve reviewed some of the best restaurants near Rio Celeste that offer great food and services regardless of your dining preference and budget.

Key Takeaways

• The best restaurant near Rio Celeste with a farm-to-table setting is Restaurante Tilapiera
• The best restaurant for fine dining is Kantala Restaurant
• The best restaurant near Rio Celeste for vegans and vegetarians is Organico Fortuna
• The best restaurant with beautiful outdoor seating is Hummingbird Cafe 
• The best restaurant with a beautiful view is La Amistad
• Best Nosara restaurant for solo travelers and backpackers —  La Sodit
• The best restaurant for a luxury dining experience is Restaurante Caballo Negro
• The best restaurant for international cuisine is Restaurant Metamorphosis 
• The best restaurant for pizza, sandwiches, and burgers is Soda El Sabor.

Best Restaurants Near Rio Celeste Review

1. Restaurante Tilapiera Rio Celeste

• Address: El Pilón Settlement Street, Bijagua De Upala, 21304, Costa Rica

• Menu 

• Contact: +506 8482 8415

• • Website

• Budget: $5 – $20

• • Hours: weekends, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Rating: 5/5 on TripAdvisor 

We visited this beautiful restaurant run by a lovely local family. They made delicious and fresh tilapia right from the freshwater pond in front of the restaurant that was perfectly cooked and served steaming hot.

After eating, we went on a horseback riding tour and fed the young fish in the pond. The service was good, and the food was affordable.

The only downside is that they are open only on weekends.

2. Restaurant La Amistad

• Address: Piera de Heliconias, Tenorio Volcano National Park, 21304 Costa Rica

• • Menu 

• Contact: +506 8878 2376

• • Website
  • Email

• Budget: $5 – $20
• Hours: 8 a.m.- 8 pm
• Rating: 4’7/5 on Google

We had a fantastic meal at this family-run restaurant that is part of a small hotel with a lovely garden. It is a stone’s throw from Tenorio Volcano National Park.

The food was very tasty, and the service was excellent as well. What I liked most about this restaurant was the large hectares of land that let us have a horseback riding tour and a view of the Rio Celeste waterfalls from the hilltop.

3. Restaurant Metamorphosis

• Address: 500 meters from the Tenorio Volcano National Park, Bijagua de Upala, Costa Rica
• • Menu 

• Contact: +506 8728 1001

• • Instagram

• Budget: $10 – $25
• Hours: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily
• Rating: 5/5 on Tripadvisor

This restaurant has a blend of both international and local cuisines. It is a must-stop restaurant. They make excellent food with great service. 

The staff is very attentive, and the family that runs this restaurant is very loving, welcoming and caring.

We enjoyed our meal, especially the “Arroz con Pollo.” It’s the best I’ve tasted. 

4. The Hummingbird Cafe

• Address: Kilometer South of Liceo Bijagua 1, Bijagua de Upala, 21304 Costa Rica

• Contact: +506 8522 1190

• • Website
  • Email

• Budget: $5 – $20

• Hours: 11 a.m.–9.30 p.m.
• Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor

The hummingbird, like the name implies, is a beautiful restaurant to relax and enjoy the view of hummingbirds in the garden.

It has nice outdoor seating and offers great food and service. I highly recommend it.

5. Soda El Sabor de Doña Carmen

• Address: Bijagua Carlos Vargas, First entrance on the right after Bijagua High School, Bijagua de Upala, 21301 Costa Rica
• Contact: +506 8555 8771

• • Menu
  • Website

• Budget: $5 – $15

• Hours: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. daily
• Rating: 5/5 on Tripadvisor

We visited this small family-run restaurant, and the food was beyond our expectations. It was very delicious, and the service was great too.

Aside from the traditional cuisines, they make very tasty pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches.

What we loved most was the view of the beautiful blue butterflies before your food arrived.

6. Restaurant Caballo Negro

• Address: 2 KM west of Nuevo Arenal on Route 142, Nuevo Arenal 5717, Costa Rica
• Contact: +506 2694 4515
• Menu
• Website
• Email
• Budget: $20 – $60
• Hours: 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. weekends
• Rating: 5/5 on Tripadvisor

This is a luxurious restaurant set in a gorgeous setting with a cozy ambiance. 

When we arrived, we stayed outside and had a stunning view of the lake, then moved to the garden to see some hummingbirds while waiting for our food.

The food was insanely good, and the service was top-notch. The only thing I don’t like about this restaurant is that they open only on weekends.

7.Kantala Restaurant

• Address:  Guatuso, Province of Alajuela, Costa Rica
• Contact: +506 2206 4000
• Website
• Budget: $30 – $60
• Hours: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily
• Rating: 4.8/5 on Google

This restaurant was recommended to us and it exceeded our expectations. It offers the best fine dining experience so far, with an enchanting atmosphere and great music.

We’ve visited countless times, and the service has been great and the food quality is consistent.

What I love the most is that every time we visit, we feel like we just had a 5-star dining experience.

Vegan and Vegetarian 

8. Organico Fortuna

• Address: F9C4+VHR, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

• Contact:+506 8572 2115

• • Menu
  • Website

• Budget: $10 – $20

• Hours: 9 am – 9pm daily
• Rating: 4.3/5 on Google

If you are purely vegan or a vegetarian, this is your one-stop restaurant with an array of delicious, filling, fresh, and healthy vegan dishes.

Two things we love most about this restaurant are that meals are made from scratch, including their bread, and the service they render. The waiters are very friendly and amazing.

I would recommend any day!

Dining Tips

Living in Rio Celeste for a while did not only bless me with beautiful views every time of the day but also increased my culinary tastes beyond my imagination.

I’ve dined in almost all the restaurants in the area and tasted most of the local cuisines, like Casado and Gallo Pinto.

And here are some great dining tips you need to know to enjoy your dining experience here and also save some money if you are new to Rio Celeste:

Know the Type of Restaurant

There are four different types of restaurants in Rio Celeste and each has a different price structure. Knowing what you are walking into will help you save money.

For instance, 

• Soda is a small restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican food. Mostly run by a small family
• Restaurant: If you see “restaurante” on the sign, you will pay a bit more. They tend to have a bit more personalized service with a waiter who will come and take your drink orders before your food order.

Menu

Ask for a menu in Spanish. There are two reasons for this: one is that the English translations are often funny and unintelligible, while the second is that many restaurants have “tourist menus” with remarkably inflated pricing. 

The local menu has the correct pricing; asking for the regular menu will help you stop the price gouging.

Order tap water. 

Bottled water in a restaurant is extremely expensive because locals don’t order it. So skip it and order for a glass of tap water, which is very safe to drink.

Taxes

Check the menu for “I.V.I.” (impuestos de venta incluidos). This means that the tax and tip are already included in the price list, and if this charge isn’t included in the price on the menu, you are looking at an 18% additional charge.

That means a plate of food that costs 3,500 colones (roughly $7) without IVI listed will actually cost about 4,200 (roughly $8.40).

Make Reservations

Sometimes, at the peak of the hiking season, many tourists flood into the area, filling the restaurants. 

So, to avoid situations where you come in and there are no seats, it’s best to make reservations ahead of time. 

Specials

If you are on a budget, avoid the daily specials or make sure that you have clarified the price well before ordering.

Pay with Cash

This way, you avoid the 8% credit card bank fees that will be on your pay slip.

Best Times to Visit

During weekdays, rainy seasons, and hours when the crowds have reduced a bit.

For a more curated experience in Rio Celeste, you should check out the Best Rio Celeste Tours to make the most of your visit.

Conclusion

Dining in Rio Celeste is always a delight. The food is rich and delicious, the ambiance of these restaurants is soothing and welcoming, and the view is always breathtaking, with no two restaurants having the same view.

So if you are looking for a place to enjoy the rich and delicious taste of local and international cuisines filled with seafood, fruits, vegetables, a beautiful view, and laughter after the day’s hike at Rio Celeste, I highly recommend these restaurants.