Fine dining, beach bars, local sodas, and cafes worth your time. Every listing checked against live sources.
Costa Ballena's 46 verified restaurants make it the strongest dining zone on the South Pacific coast, led by 21 general restaurants and 6 fine-dining rooms concentrated in Ojochal, plus cafes, bakeries, and a beach bar scene in Uvita and Dominical.
Ojochal
Ocean-view restaurant inside El Castillo Hotel on Calle Perezoso in Ojochal, serving Mediterranean and South American cuisine. The menu ranges from bocas and ceviche to seafood paella, with a Thursday pizza night of pies cooked on the grill. The terrace is a known sunset spot.
Uvita
A gelato shop and bakery in Uvita using natural, organic ingredients, with dairy-free gelato flavors and sugar-free treats sweetened with fruit. The carrot cake is a standout item alongside a rotating gelato selection that includes vegan flavors.
Uvita
Ballena Bistro sits at kilometer 169 on the Costanera Sur, between Uvita and Ojochal, serving a modern fusion menu built on farm-to-table ingredients. Closed Mondays, it holds a 4.9 rating on TripAdvisor from nearly 300 reviews.
Dominical
Bar Jolly Roger is a dog-friendly beach bar in Dominicalito serving wings, burgers, and fries with a full bar and frequent live music. It is a longtime neighborhood spot with outdoor seating steps from the sand.
Uvita
Beehive Mediterranean Restaurant is an upscale restaurant, bar, and boutique in Ballena serving Mediterranean, Greek, and seafood dishes. It carries vegetarian, vegan, and healthy-diet options and has a warm, dressier feel than most other Uvita restaurants.
Dominical
Riverside cafe at the entrance to Dominical, above the Baru River with terrace seating over the water. The menu covers Costa Rican fusion breakfasts and lunches, including Tico bowls, burritos, omelettes, fresh-pressed juices, and gluten-free desserts. A local institution with a surfer-community following.
Uvita
Tex-Mex fusion restaurant in Uvita, open Tuesday through Sunday from 4 pm to 9 pm. The menu features quesadillas, enchiladas, tortilla soups, and a papaya chutney that regulars request by name, with vegan and vegetarian options. The house keeps a three-margarita limit.
Ojochal
French-inspired fusion restaurant in Ojochal with a modern dining room. The menu features fresh seafood, steaks, and vegetarian options, with creative plating and attentive service. Reservations are recommended and takeaway is available.
Dominical
Crocodile Grill & Bar is a farm-to-table restaurant at Hotel Villas Rio Mar beside the R铆o Baru, open 365 days a year from 7am to 9:30pm. It is known for its Argentinian churrasco and tenderloin, and its bar runs sports programming with pool billiards.
Dominical
An organic farmer's market held every Friday from 8:30am to 1:30pm at Patron's Restaurant and Event Center on Dominical's main street. Local producers sell fruits, vegetables and crafts directly, with live music and yoga as part of the weekly gathering.
Ojochal
Eleven Kitchen & Lounge is a small restaurant in Ojochal serving a Caribbean and Mediterranean fusion menu with meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes. It opened in recent years and has quickly built a strong reputation among reviewers on TripAdvisor, where it holds a 4.9 rating.
Uvita
Five Maes is a casual burger joint on the Costanera in Uvita, serving burgers, wings, poutine, fries, and milkshakes. It is a straightforward, service-focused spot popular with both residents and visitors.
Dominical
Fuego Brew Co. is a craft microbrewery in Dominical brewing roughly 20 beer styles, from session IPAs to a guanabana hefeweizen made with local fruit. It sits in a Bali-style building overlooking the R铆o Baru with sunset views and a light food menu.
Uvita
Gusto Italian Restaurant is an authentic Italian kitchen located at Ranchos Remo Lodge in Uvita, set in a jungle rancho setting. It carries vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options and holds a 4.6 rating on TripAdvisor from over 300 reviews.
Ojochal
A small, cozy cafe in the center of Ojochal serving espresso drinks, fresh pastries, and light breakfast items. Seating is informal and prices are among the most affordable in the village. It works as a morning and midday spot rather than a dinner service.
Uvita
A plant-based cafe and casual bar on the outskirts of Uvita, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 8:30 pm. The menu reinvents comfort classics like birria tacos, burgers, and patacones in vegan form, and weekend nights feature DJ sets and cocktails on the open-air garden terrace.
Dominical
La Junta Dominical is a gastropub in the heart of Dominical serving grass-fed beef, pasture-raised meats, and tropical fusion cocktails, with boutique cabinas on site. It holds one of the highest ratings in town, 4.9 on TripAdvisor from 287 reviews.
Dominical
A seafood restaurant operating for over 40 years on a small peninsula at Punta Dominical, about 200 meters from the beach. The menu covers fresh fish, seafood, meats, pasta, and salads, all served with panoramic ocean views. The location on a private point between two beaches is a draw in itself.
Ojochal
Casual Mexican-style taco stand near Playa Ventanas in Ojochal serving tacos, burritos, and quesadillas with housemade salsas. Prices run between 5 and 15 dollars per person, among the most budget-friendly in the area. No reservations needed.
Uvita
Louis XIII Restaurant sits across from the Uvita Waterfall on Calle Bejuco and serves a steakhouse and South American menu with a piano bar, Bar 13, attached. It bills itself as a haute-cuisine option in a tropical setting, with Friday piano nights.
Ojochal
Mediterr谩neo Boca Coronado is an open-air restaurant on Highway 34 near the mouth of the R铆o Terraba, specializing in seafood and steaks under new management. Reviewers note its ocean-mouth view and recommend the ceviche and whole Mediterranean-style fish.
Ojochal
An organic juice bar in Ojochal offering cold-pressed juices and smoothies made with fresh, organic ingredients. Juices can be pre-ordered online for pickup, and the bar also sells multi-day juice cleanse kits.
Ojochal
Momento Wine and Sushi Bar sits inside the Ojochal Gardens hotel property and serves sushi rolls, fresh bowls, and Japanese-tropical fusion dishes paired with a curated wine list. It is a newer addition to Ojochal's dining scene, opening in early 2025.
Dominical
A wood-fired bakery and pizzeria in Plaza Munay, Dominical, serving fresh breads, wood-fired pizzas and homemade desserts alongside breakfast and coffee. The menu covers Italian and Mediterranean dishes with vegetarian and vegan options.
Live music
Uvita
Wine bar, sushi restaurant, and cafe in Uvita, open Monday through Saturday from noon to 9 pm. The menu includes over 40 wine labels, made-to-order sushi, gourmet paninis on housemade bread, and a cheese and charcuterie board. Live music runs on Thursday evenings.
Ojochal
A sourdough bakery on Calle del Jardin in Ojochal run by Marianela Villegas Chavarria, a baker with over 30 years of experience, and Mike Reinhart. Offers sourdough loaves in several flavors, cookies, catering and cooking classes, with bread also sold at Jucaloa Market and L'Epicerie in Ojochal.
Ojochal
A small French bakery tucked on a side road in Ojochal, run by Frank, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday with a closure during the lunch hour. Bakes baguettes, boules, batards and coconut bread, with a limited but consistent selection.
Ojochal
A French bakery and cafe in Plaza Ventanas, Ojochal, open since 2010 for breakfast and lunch with organic and vegan options. The menu covers pastries, desserts and pizzas in a pet-friendly, open-air setting.
Dominical
Phat Noodle is a Thai food truck and open-rancho restaurant at the entrance to Dominical, known for its pad thai and craft beer on tap. It holds a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor across more than 600 reviews and offers vegan and gluten-free options.
Uvita
Pizzeria La Fogata is one of Uvita's oldest restaurants, an 18-year-old casual outdoor pizzeria serving artisan wood-fired pizza and roasted chicken. It has nearly 700 reviews on TripAdvisor and a 4.2 rating.
Ojochal
Multicultural fusion bistro 200 meters from the Ojochal entrance in the Edificio Sabor building. The kitchen draws from diverse culinary traditions, and a bakery counter and gelato round out the menu. It is affiliated with the Sibu cafe in Uvita.
Ojochal
Open-air fine dining beneath a thatched roof in the Ojochal jungle, operating since 1998. The menu blends French technique with Asian, Polynesian, and Mediterranean influences, with signature dishes including duck breast in orange sauce. Reservations are required and the room seats a limited number of guests each evening.
Ojochal
Restaurante Fusi贸n is a relaxed sushi and international restaurant just off Ojochal's main road, offering sushi rolls alongside seafood and vegetarian dishes. It is listed on TripAdvisor with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options noted by reviewers.
Ojochal
Restaurante Terraba is a traditional Costa Rican restaurant with an extensive menu of rice dishes, ceviche, seafood, and grilled meats. It is a casual, no-reservation spot popular for its steak and seafood plates.
Dominical
International restaurant in the Escaleras hills above Dominical, using local south Pacific ingredients alongside contemporary techniques. The kitchen produces dishes across pasta, sushi, and grilled proteins in an elevated jungle setting. Reservations are available by phone.
Live music
Uvita
Farm-to-table restaurant by chef Sebastian Gallucci, relocated in late 2025 to an open-air setting near the Uvita waterfall with tropical gardens and live music. Award-winning wood-fired pizzas are a signature, alongside ceviches, whole roasted fish, and seasonal dishes from locally grown ingredients.
Uvita
A centrally located cafe and restaurant in Uvita town center, popular for coffee, gelato, brownies, and full meals. The same operation backs Potz Bistro in Ojochal.
Dominical
A frozen yogurt, gelato and drinks shop in Dominical serving homemade gelato, milkshakes including vegan versions, and paninis. Part of a small regional chain also present in other Costa Rica beach towns.
Live music
Ojochal
Restaurant and bar at Alma de Ojochal Hotel on Calle Perezoso, open Thursday to Tuesday from noon to 9 pm. The menu spans seafood, burgers, and Costa Rican dishes, and the venue is known for live music and ocean-sunset views from its open-air deck.
Ojochal
Tilapias El Pavon is a rustic truche-style restaurant built around a stocked tilapia pond, where guests can catch their own fish before the kitchen cooks it with side dishes. It ranks among TripAdvisor's most-reviewed Ojochal restaurants with over 100 reviews and a 4.3 rating.
Dominical
Tortilla Flats is a beachfront bar directly on Playa Dominical, known for its horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, reggae music, and surfer crowd. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside cocktails and often has live music.
Uvita
Tribu is a small, health-focused restaurant in Ballena serving fresh bowls and sandwiches with an emphasis on wholesome ingredients. It has only a handful of tables, closes Sundays, and holds a 5.0 rating on TripAdvisor from 32 reviews.
Uvita
A weekly Saturday morning market at the Cancha Sintetica in Uvita, running from 8am to noon, with organic vegetables, homemade foods, jewelry, natural body products and crafts from local vendors. Located on the side road behind Soda Lily Restaurante y Bar, off the Costanera Highway.
Ojochal
Open-air jungle restaurant at the Villas en el Bosque property, 200 meters north of the Ojochal entrance. The menu mixes traditional Costa Rican dishes with French and international preparations using fresh local ingredients, in a quiet setting surrounded by secondary forest.
Ojochal
Authentic Indonesian restaurant on the Costanera in Ojochal, set above Playa Tortuga with Pacific views. The menu focuses on traditional Indonesian dishes and the open-air setting is a known sunset spot, about 600 meters past the police station.
Uvita
Zaika Bar & Grill is an Indian restaurant in Uvita serving curries, tandoor dishes, and vegetarian and vegan options. It has become one of the highest-rated restaurants in the area, with a 4.9 rating across nearly 400 combined Google and TripAdvisor reviews.
Ojochal has the highest concentration of fine dining in Costa Ballena, including Azul at El Castillo and Beehive Mediterranean Restaurant, earning it a reputation as a food-town among expats and visitors alike.
Bakery & Gelato Uvita and Cafe Mono Congo in Dominical are two verified options, part of 4 cafes and 4 bakeries covering the zone.
Yes, this directory has 2 verified farmers markets serving the zone, a good stop for fresh produce alongside the restaurant scene.
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