Costa Rica food around Finca Colibri

Dining out

If you decide you don't want to cook (as in truly being on vacation), the Dominical-Uvita area has several international restaurants to keep you well-fed during your stay.  We have included our recommendations and guest comments to help you decide where to go.

The larger  restaurants  usually have  menus in English (or side-by-side with the Spanish) and many have at least one server who speaks English for you to discover the incredible costa rica food and it's famous "Casado"s.

Please keep in mind that often the prices shown on the menu will include taxes and a 10% tip automatically. This is usually stated  ("precios incluye impuestos") at the bottom of the page. This gives you the option of leaving something extra if you had great service, great costa rica food or just want to round up a very low hourly wage.  Also be aware that while the menu might show a total price for each item, on the bill it might be separated out to the item, taxes and service separately, so before you think you have been charged incorrectly, check out the bill. Speaking of bills, you will never get one until you tell them you'reready for it ("la cuenta por favor”). Costa Ricans consider it rude to drop a bill off while you are still eating, talking (or dozing off waiting for the bill to come!).

Dominical Restaurants
The restaurants are arranged in order as you leave San Martin Sur and head north into town.
1. Cuna del Angel
Recently opened, this beautifully designed open-air restaurant offers European-style cuisine. Prices are a bit higher than normal for around here, so we have heard, so you might want to take a quick stroll and check out a menu before you actually go there to eat.  This is European dining and no typical costa rica food is served there, so if you are in a hurry for a quick bite, you might be in for a longer wait than you want.
This is the exception to going north - Head south about 3/4 mile. Located right at the entrance to Puertocito.  787-8012
2. La Parcela
La Parcela is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Excellent typical costa rica Food. Located on the water on Punta Dominicalito, the restaurant offers wonderful views, a pleasant dining atmosphere and a great selection of seafood, pastas, salads, steaks, burgers, good wines, etc... It is very popular with tourists and some of  us who live here.  Most, if not all, of the waiters speak English. Credit cards are accepted.
 1 miles south of Finca Colibri entrance, turn right at their sign (across the street from Soda La Macha) and make your way around the point keeping to the left.  If you have time, take a stroll out to their sunset point and keep an eye peeled for the howler monkeys that are sometimes seen outside the restaurant. Open 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, 787-0016
3. Soda La Macha
Specializing in seafood and local Tico food (costa rica authentic food), we have heard good things about them and enjoyed the  meals we have had there.  Danny Devito ate there during holidays… They serve an excellent Ceviche (chopped seafood “cooked” in citrus juice). There is also a small fish stand to the left of the restaurant which offers a decent selection of fresh seafood if the big one got away during your fishing trip and you still want to cook at home! 
Located about 2 miles north of us on the Costanerra on the right,across from the sign to La Parcela).  787-0064
4. Roca Verde
Probably best known for its Saturday night disco (starting at 10 pm), Roca Verde is primarily a large open-air bar that also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.   It is close to  Dominicalito Beach and might be a nice place to get a refreshment or lunch while enjoying the beach.
The food here is always good and the service is genial.
Located about 3 miles from Finca Colibri on the left side of the main road.  787-0036
5. Solo Bueno
Nice well-stocked bakery serving pastries,breads, burritos, sandwiches, wraps, fruit salads, hors d'oevres, ice cream, desserts and sometimes doughnuts.  Owned and run by an American woman from Summerville, S. C. These pastries are the kind you would find in the US and differ from the typical pastries popular with Costa Ricans.    Located on the right as you turn left onto the road into Dominical village.  Daily 5:30 am - 10:00 pm. (closes earlier in the rainy season)   787-0343
6.  Rio Lindo Rum Bar
 New York Style Pizza, buffalo wings, Caesar salads, sandwiches and more,  as well as live music on certain nights.  Located next door to Solo Bueno.        787-0028
7. Restaurant Rio Mar
Serving international and local cuisine and offering daily specials, this restaurant is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner (until 10 pm) with a  large selection to choose from, English-speaking servers and a lovely garden setting.  The weak point is the food.  Credit cards accepted.
To get to Rio Mar, turn right at stop sign across from Pueblo del Rio and continue under the bridge for about 1/2 km.  The restaurant is located at Villas Rio Mar, towards the back behind the office .  787-0052
8. Coconut Spice
If you like Thai food, this restaurant will give you a nice break from rice and beans.  They recently moved to this setting along the Baru River and offer open-air dining.
Located in the Pueblo del Rio shopping center in Dominical. 787-0073
9. Maracatu
Tropical vegetarian food. Located on the right side of the road across from the soccer field.
787-0091
11. San Clemente Restaurant
A combination sports bar (Costa Rica style) and Tex-Mex/burger restaurant.   Overhead TVs show whatever sports event is on or if nothing like that, then some very impressive surf videos.  They also have a ping pong table and usually something going on for the weekend nights (9:30 pm disco) or fun things such as Taco Tuesday.  Prices have gone up a bit (for Costa Rica) but still worth it if you like good flautas (and are really hungry!)  They also have an activity booth and a cute souvenir shop there, so you can order your food and inquire about things to do or shop while the cook does his/her thing. Fast internet upstairs, too.  They accept credit cards, but check first to see if they charge a percentage on top of the bill to use your card.
Located on the left right after the soccer field.  787-0055
12. Thrusters
Quite a combination of dishes - pizza, sushi, burritos and nachos. Thrusters is a bar with pool tables and music. They are open daily from 4 pm to midnight.  It is a young surfer hangout.
Heading towards Dominical Beach, veer left where the main road in town splits as you near the beach. Thrusters will be on your left.  787-0127
13.  Confusione Italian Restaurant
Confusione offers pizza, fish, filet mignon, and a variety of other Italian dishes.  They have what is perhaps the best wine selection in the Southern Zone.  Meals was very good, service prompt and the atmosphere nice. The turnover is generally pretty quick except on the nights they have live music.
Continuing past Thrusters heading toward the beach, veer to the left where this road meets the beach road. Take the first left and the restaurant  is located on your right.  787-0244.      Menu in this book
14.  Tu-lu
Located in the Diuwok complex, Tu-lu offers Italian food including pizza, pasta, seafood, deserts. Very nice open-air atmosphere, excellent food, bar. Good service, very reasonable prices. 
Heading towards Dominical beach, veer to the right at the Y. On your right about 50 yards up. Pull into the driveway right after the liquor store, parking lot on your right just past the restaurant.
787-0087
15. Tortilla Flats
Right across the road from the beach and a good place to go if you're sandy and have been enjoying the water, Tortilla Flats is popular with the surf crowd and offers burritos, sandwiches, etc.  Nice place to watch the sunset at their tables on the beach side.
Heading towards Dominical Beach, veer right where the main road in town splits as you near the beach. Where the road ends at the water, turn right. Tortilla Flats will be on your right.  787-0033 or 787-0168
Note:  Tico Sodas
There are several Tico sodas located along the main drag in Dominical. Most of them have been here a long time. The fact that I do not provide an individual listing for each one in no way is intended to reflect negatively on them. Check them out and enjoy the non-tourist atmosphere coupled with Costa Rica food (though they often do offer their version of burgers). Two that have been around the longest: one opposite San Clemente, the other just past San Clemente on the left side.

Uvita Restaurants
The restaurants are arranged in order as you leave Finca Colibri and head south towards Uvita.
16.  Vista del Mar
Typical roadside soda offering the standard selection of  Costa Rican favorites - rice dishes (mixed with fish, pork, chicken, etc.), gallo pinto (breakfast mixture of rice, beans and eggs), the national dishes called "casados", meaning "married" and consisting of black beans, rice, salad, and meat/fish selection.
Located about 3 miles south of San Martin Sur on the left.   787-8274

17.  La Fogata A cute little pizza - chicken - ribs place .  We've had quite a few good pizzas there, while our friends and guests have also enjoyed the ribs, fire-roasted chickens and salads. Closed on Tues.
Head to Uvita.  After the main intersection, you'll pass over a bridge. Immediately after the bridge, take the dirt road to the right. There will be a sign for La Fogata They are on the left about 150 yards.  743-8224

South of Uvita
Continuing south from Uvita you will pass quite a few eating establishments ranging from Tico sodas to large European style restaurants
18.  Cristal Ballena
Part of a hotel resort. International cuisine, including steaks.  Open daily from 6 -10 pm.  Located about 18 kms. south of San Martin Sur. Sign will direct you a short way up the mountain (good road)  Nice place to see sunset and enjoy a cool drink.   786-5354
19.  Exotica
In the village of Ojochal,  serving "World Cuisine". Open Mon.- Sat. from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm. Reservations required for dinner as they are always busy.   Excellent choice if you are in the neighborhood and looking for an excellent  meal.    It is worth the drive. 
Head south from San Martin Sur about 28 kms. (17 miles) until you see signs pointing left for the village of Ojochal. Turn left - they are about 1 km up on the right.  786-5050

19. The Chiefs Table
1 km South of Uvita, 2 km off the costenera
Exciting gourmand Menu based around Mediterranean style food, which changes weekly. Exquisite open veranda setting with beautiful views, above the Uvita & Bellena rivers.
They serve the Gourmand Menu Friday, Saturday & Sundays Which is an eclectic six-course menu, the food is all freshly cooked from the best ingredients. BBQ every Monday.