Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Costa Rica

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Costa Rica? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Capital Grille - San José

4.9

4.9 (368)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Escazu

About the restaurant

Fundado en 1990 en Providence, RI, The Capital Grille es un restaurante de alta cocina conocido por sus cortes de carne añejados en seco, mariscos frescos, una lista de vinos galardonada y un servicio personalizado y profesional en una atmósfera elegante y relajada.

Top review

Roane

Dined 5 days ago

Highly recommend - as a steakhouse epicurean Capital Grille San Jose hits all the marks of classic steakhouses! Gustavo provided excellent service!

Don Rufino

4.8

4.8 (627)

$30 and under

International

Alajuela

About the restaurant

Don Rufino is about contemporary food, with a local touch. Fine, local, fresh ingredients, the use of novel cooking techniques and great passion, are the main components found in our kitchen and in each dish served.

Top review

Matthew

Dined 6 days ago

A bit expensive for the food. Nice restaurant, great service.

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Popular dish

Fresh fish ceviche

CHAO PESCAO

4.9

4.9 (165)

$30 and under

Latin American

Marina Papagayo

About the restaurant

Chao Pescao is our neighborhood restaurant offering a gastronomic journey through Latin America and the Caribbean curated by Costa Rican born Chef Keivin. The menu style is shared plates, and this is your chance to discover some of the unique flavors of the region. Our award-winning mixology program has also made this restaurant a guest favorite. Mixology, cooking classes and live music are offered throughout the week. Our communal table is perfect for large parties.

Dining Visitors to Peninsula Papagayo
If you are not a homeowner or guest staying at one of the resorts or homes within Peninsula Papagayo, please contact Guest Services at gscenter.papagayo@andaz.com to advise the date and time of your reservation, so we may coordinate your entry into Peninsula Papagayo with the security teams. Visitors are only permitted with confirmed dining reservations and advance notice to security. You may be required to show a copy of your dining confirmation.

Top review

lee

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent food excellent service we had an amazing time

Sentido Norte

4.9

4.9 (425)

$50 and over

International

Brasilito / Playa Flamingo

About the restaurant

Sentido Norte, a restaurant and bar at Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas, proudly offers the best of Coastal Costa Rican cuisine. All food & drink is inspired by the country’s bountiful abundance, combining uniquely local and native ingredients in the glass and on the plate.

Dining in Sentido Norte is like dining in a local friend’s gourmet kitchen. Everything is accounted for, every request can be met, and every–from dish to drink–is delicious.

Sentido Norte is an adults only restaurant. Children under 12 years of age are not permitted at the restaurant.
Service animals are welcome!

Top review

Felix

Dined 1 day ago

Food really good and service amazing . Best view for sunset

Amana

4.9

4.9 (63)

$30 and under

Contemporary Latin

San José

About the restaurant

A modern culinary concept that aims to combine local ingredients with techniques and preparations from across the world.

Located in Barrio Escalante, Amana offers an inviting, casual, and warm atmosphere right outside the heart of the capital; paired with creative dishes, attention to detail, and exceptional service.

Our kitchen is led by San Pellegrino Young Chef 2024 Regional Finalist (Latam & Caribbean) and Costa Rican winner of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs: Kenneth Ruiz.

Chef's Table available Thu-Sat, seating between 6:30pm and 8:30pm (8 people per night max)

Top review

Daniel

Dined 6 days ago

The Chef's Table experience, add the wine tasting to it and it is the perfect night.

La Cava Alta Fiori

4.7

4.7 (73)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Escazu

About the restaurant

La Cava Alta Fiori,antiguo Monasterio Le Monastère, un restaurante moderno, con una vista espectacular a todo el Valle Central, cuya esencia es la gastronomía mediterránea.
Su apuesta culinaria integra la cocina gourmet de Francia, Italia y España traída a nuestro país con una variedad de ingredientes propios que se mezclan en cada platillo, entre ellos, culantro coyote, jengibre, chile, rábano fresco, pejibaye, y otros importados para lograr una explosión de sabor en el paladar; la oferta gastronómica también incluye variedad de carnes, en nuestros platos fuertes; así como diversidad de tapas, entradas frías y calientes.
Cordero Cuatro estaciones, el Fideuá Mar y Tierra, con mejillones, camarones y trozos de res grillados y cortes de res tan exclusivos como el Tomahawk, el Rib eye de la mas alta calidad, acompañado de una amplia variedad de vinos y cocteles.

Top review

Gaby

Dined on Nov 23, 2024

Amazing place! Great view and even better food. Server was excellent

Doma Escalante

4.5

4.5 (175)

$31 to $50

International

San José

About the restaurant

In the heart of Barrio Escalante, next to the iconic "El Farolito" roundabout, stands DOMA. A house of Costa Rican architecture and Spanish colonial dyes built-in 1945, which was restored for 10 long months; rescuing it from time, updating its design through a colorful façade, and giving it the value it deserves within the neighborhood.
Our founders are dreamers, lovers of design, art, and fashion; passionate about cooking and fine dining.
Through fresh products and honest flavors, DOMA has created a gastronomic experience with local products that arise at the foot of the volcanoes, the plains, and the Costa Rican mountains. Which are transformed into art thanks to the vision, dedication, and talent of our chefs.
DOMA is happy to share this house, a space designed to inspire and encourage creative and entrepreneurial minds to work as a team under a feeling of community and collaboration, with the aim of serving as an oasis in the heart of San José.

Top review

edmond

Dined today

Everything was amazing from the tasting menu paired with some of the best wine selections. The ambience was very exquisite with perfect lighting to enhance the mood and for photo ops anywhere in the restaurant. Perfect for a date night and now will be on my favorite list. The chef came out and also enlightened us on the courses and gave us his time shared over dessert. Thank you.

Ostra Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (125)

$31 to $50

Latin American

Marina Papagayo

About the restaurant

OSTRA, a signature restaurant of Peninsula Papagayo, is a culinary gem led by Michelin-trained Chef Bruno Alves. Experience an extraordinary menu evolution and savor elevated, modern Costa Rican flavors re-imagined and infused with the best locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients. Sip classic cocktails at the bar or terrace and celebrate the essence of coastal dining. Also, we now offer Perla, a restaurant within a restaurant at the sushi bar. This modern sushi experience serves only local fish and operates Tuesday-Friday based on product availability.

Dining Visitors to Peninsula Papagayo
If you are not a homeowner or guest staying at one of the resorts or homes within Peninsula Papagayo, please contact gscenter.papagayo@andaz.com to share your reservation details, so we may coordinate your entry into Peninsula Papagayo with the security teams. Visitors are only permitted with confirmed dining reservations and advance notice to security.

Top review

Nicholas

Dined 4 days ago

Fantastic service and beautiful venue. However, we were not allowed to sit outside, even though there weren’t any clouds or wind - it was perfectly clear. Not sure why

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Experience

Perla

Azotea Calle 7

4.8

4.8 (359)

$30 and under

Dining Bar

San José

About the restaurant

The rooftop of Hotel Presidente is home to Azotea Calle 7, a perfect shelter from the busy –and sometimes chaotic– heart of San José. You can enter through Calle 7, between Avenida Central and Avenida Segunda, either by climbing the red spiral staircase that takes you right into the red-brick terrace, surrounded by colorful veraneras (bougainvillea plants), palm, jicaro, orange and lime trees whose fruits might end up in your cocktail.

Top review

JenniferVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We had a wonderful experience here with both the quality of the food/drinks and the attentiveness of the staff. Highly recommend!

Los Tres Mexican Bistró

4.8

4.8 (26)

$30 and under

Mexican

Santa Ana

About the restaurant

Los Tres®️ es un tributo al legado familiar de los tres Luis Alfaro: abuelo, padre e hijo, pioneros de la comida mexicana en Costa Rica desde 1972. Este restaurante nos transporta al pasado, presente y futuro, fusionando ideas de las tres generaciones. La alta cocina de asador y parrilla regiomontana está presente, empleando ingredientes de primera provenientes de nuestra huerta y proveedores especializados.

En Los Tres®️ te sentirás como en casa, en un espacio familiar que trasciende. Como bistró mexicano, combinamos la atmósfera acogedora y el servicio atento de un bistró con la rica tradición culinaria mexicana. A través de cada platillo y bebida, te brindaremos una experiencia única .

Top review

Jose

Dined 7 days ago

This was my second time in this restaurant and it never disappoints. The food is excellent.

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