Ice Cream & Gelato
$
7 Ice Creams
Puerto Viejo
Ice cream shop in downtown Puerto Viejo also serving crepes, smoothies and coffee. It carries one of the highest Google Maps ratings among dessert spots in town.
Restaurants and cafes in Puerto Viejo & Cahuita
Fine dining, beach bars, local sodas, and cafes worth your time. Every listing checked against live sources.
Puerto Viejo's 11 verified restaurants are led by 6 general restaurants and 2 cafes, including Bread & Chocolate and De Gustibus Bakery, reflecting the Caribbean coast's distinct food culture built around cacao, coconut, and Afro-Caribbean cooking.
Cafe
$$
Aroma Coffee Bar and Breakfast
Cahuita
Coffee shop in Cahuita specializing in breakfast, serving espresso drinks alongside egg dishes and pastries. It has built a strong local reputation reflected in its high rating on Google Maps.
Juice Bar
$$
Blue Berry
Puerto Viejo
Small juice bar in downtown Puerto Viejo making vegan smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices and coffee with plant-based milk options. The entire menu is vegan, with fresh fruit bowls as the specialty.
Cafe
$$
Bread & Chocolate
Puerto Viejo
Small bakery and cafe in central Puerto Viejo serving an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, fresh baked goods, and bean-to-bar chocolates and desserts. Most items are made from scratch on-site, including bread, peanut butter, jam, and mayonnaise, using local eggs, honey, and cacao. It stays open into the late afternoon for coffee and dessert.
Cafe
$
Cafe Rico
Puerto Viejo
Breakfast and lunch cafe in the center of Puerto Viejo serving egg plates, pinto rancheros, chilaquiles, crepes, and fresh fruit smoothies. Coffee drinks use local beans and bread is baked locally. The cafe is open Saturday through Wednesday for breakfast and lunch.
Restaurant
$$
Cafe Viejo
Puerto Viejo
Italian restaurant founded in 2003 by three Italian brothers, in the center of Puerto Viejo along the main street. Known for wood fired pizza including a meter-long pizza al metro that can combine three flavors, plus handmade pasta and seafood; open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, 5pm to 11pm.
Bar & Nightlife
$$
Chao's Paradise
Cahuita
Bar and restaurant in Cahuita serving Caribbean food with live music some nights. It sits along the road between the town center and the national park entrance.
Beach Bar
$$
Coccoloba Lounge
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Beachfront cafe and restaurant in the heart of Manzanillo, across the road from the beach, specializing in seafood alongside a broader lunch menu. Loungers and beach chairs are set up for guests in front of the restaurant.
Restaurant
$$
Coco's Bar y Restaurante
Cahuita
Bar and restaurant on the main road through Cahuita serving Caribbean seafood, rice and beans, and grilled meats, with live music some nights. It has operated for years as one of the town's main gathering spots for dinner and drinks.
Restaurant
$$
Cool & Calm Reggae Bar and Grill
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Long-running Caribbean restaurant in Manzanillo serving grilled seafood, jerk and BBQ meats, and rice and beans cooked Caribbean style, steps from the beach. The menu includes a seafood mariscada, lobster and red snapper by weight, and coconut shrimp with passion fruit sauce. There are tropical cocktails and live music.
Bakery
$
De Gustibus Bakery
Puerto Viejo
Bakery and cafe in Puerto Viejo town center serving coffee, breakfast, and lunch, with fresh bread, croissants, cakes, and pastries baked daily. Open 6:45am to 6pm with both eat-in and takeaway options, plus a special dinner service on Tuesdays.
Bakery
$
Delrita Patty
Cahuita
Family-run pati stand in Cahuita making the same sweet plantain and pineapple pastries since it opened in 1967. The pati, an empanada-style pastry specific to the Caribbean coast, is the main item on offer, alongside occasional cocadas.
Bar & Nightlife
$$
Hot Rocks
Puerto Viejo
Bar and live-music venue in the center of Puerto Viejo serving food and cold drinks late into the night. The kitchen opens midafternoon on weekdays and late morning on weekends, with bands playing regularly.
Bar & Nightlife
$$
KOKi Beach Restaurant & Bar
Puerto Viejo
Oceanfront restaurant and bar on the main street in the center of Puerto Viejo, built largely from reclaimed materials. The menu runs Latin fusion with a Caribbean base: fresh seafood, ceviche, and cocktails served open air facing the beach, open evenings from 5pm to 11pm.
Fine Dining
$$$$
La Pecora Nera
Puerto Viejo
Italian fine-dining restaurant on Playa Cocles known for handmade pasta, risotto and fresh seafood, run by an Italian family. It is consistently ranked among the highest-rated restaurants on the Caribbean coast, and reservations are recommended.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$$
Lidia's Place
Puerto Viejo
Casual Caribbean soda in downtown Puerto Viejo open since 1996, serving rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, rondon and other Afro-Caribbean home cooking. It runs a short daily menu of deli-style plates rather than a full restaurant format.
Restaurant
$$
Maxi's Restaurant
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Long-established Caribbean restaurant at the end of the road in Manzanillo, near the beach, also known locally as Mr. Maxie's. Offers both a full-service dining room and a quick-service option for seafood and Caribbean classics, open daily from noon to 10pm.
Restaurant
$$
Miss Edith's Restaurant
Cahuita
Family-run Caribbean restaurant in Cahuita started decades ago by local cook Edith Brown serving guests from her front porch, now a well-known fixture for down-home Caribbean cooking including rondon and rice and beans. Open daily from 7:30am to 10pm.
Bakery
$$
Pan Pay
Puerto Viejo
Bakery and restaurant in downtown Puerto Viejo operating since 1998, selling fresh bread and pastries alongside breakfast, lunch and dinner service. The bakery case includes both sweet and savory items baked on site daily.
Farmers Market
$
Puerto Viejo Farmers and Artisans Market
Puerto Viejo
Weekly farmers market in downtown Puerto Viejo held every Saturday morning, with local produce, baked goods and prepared foods from area growers and cooks. A separate arts and crafts market runs at the same site Thursday through Sunday afternoons.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$
Restaurante Tamara
Puerto Viejo
Open-air soda in the center of Puerto Viejo specializing in rice and beans made with coconut milk, served with Caribbean-style chicken, fish, or beef. A long-running local favorite for casual, affordable Caribbean home cooking.
Restaurant
$$
Rinc贸n del Amor
Cahuita
Family-run Caribbean and seafood restaurant on Calle Central in Cahuita, 40 meters north of the police station. Chef Yerlin's menu features locally caught tuna steak, chicken in coconut sauce, and lomito al ajillo (garlic steak); open daily except Wednesday from 8am to 10pm.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$$
Selvin's Restaurant
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Family-run Caribbean soda in Punta Uva, near Manzanillo, serving Afro-Caribbean home cooking including rice and beans and whole fried red snapper. It is run by a descendant of the area's early Jamaican families and is regarded as a local institution. The kitchen keeps limited days, typically operating Thursday through Sunday.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$
Soda Kawe
Cahuita
Casual soda in Cahuita open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving casados, gallo pinto and other Costa Rican staples alongside fresh fruit shakes. It operates from early morning through the evening.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$
Soda La Playa
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Soda in Manzanillo near the beach serving a short menu of Costa Rican and Caribbean dishes including seafood, casados and burgers. It has operated for years as one of the town's few sit-down restaurant options.
Soda (Costa Rican)
$
Soda Wuacho
Manzanillo (Lim贸n)
Small soda in the heart of Manzanillo serving Caribbean and Costa Rican dishes including seafood and casados at beachfront prices. The same family also books local tours under the Wuacho name.
Restaurant
$$
Stashu's con Fusion
Puerto Viejo
Fusion restaurant in central Puerto Viejo blending Caribbean, Indian, Thai, and Mexican flavors, with a menu of curries, stir-fries, tacos, and Jamaican jerk dishes. There are extensive vegetarian and vegan options and fresh seafood. It is on the second floor of Avenida 71 with a happy hour and signature cocktails.
Sushi
$$$
Sushi Wave
Puerto Viejo
Beachfront sushi bar at Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort on Playa Cocles, serving Nikkei-style sushi with ocean views. The kitchen operates daily for lunch and dinner.
Frequently asked questions
What is Caribbean-style food in Puerto Viejo?
Restaurants here draw on Afro-Caribbean cooking traditions with coconut and cacao, alongside general restaurants and cafes like Bread & Chocolate.
Is there reggae bar or nightlife in Puerto Viejo?
Yes, Cool & Calm Reggae Bar and Grill in Manzanillo and KOKi Beach Restaurant & Bar in Puerto Viejo are both verified nightlife options.
Where can I get coffee in Puerto Viejo?
Cafe Rico and Bread & Chocolate are two verified cafes in town.
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