Top Restaurants in Santa Elena
Top Things to do in Santa Elena
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Santa Elena Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Santa Elena
Discover the best restaurant in Santa Elena, Costa Rica including Tramonti, Stella's Bakery, Tree House Restaurante & Cafe, Restaurante Sofia, Restaurante Morpho's, Cafe Cabure, Tico y Rico Monteverde, El Jardin at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, Sabor Tico, Orchid Coffee Shop
Things to do in Santa Elena
1. Tramonti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 957 reviews
Reviewed By redeco - Warren, Massachusetts
While staying in Monte Verde, I had a very pleasant evening at Tramonti. The large dining room was busy, but pleasant, and the food was exceptionally well-prepared.
The menu here is primarily Italian with very good pizza, and superb pasta dishes.
I started with a Hearts of Palm Salad - que delicioso! The greens were crisp and the combination of flavors were just what I needed before my rich pasta dish. My main course was Spaghetti alla Carbonara, a dish that is very popular in Rome - Spaghetti with eggs, cheese, and pancetta. The pancetta was cooked until just crisp-tender and tossed with the freshly cooked spaghetti, eggs, and cheese. I've never had better. I finished with Tiramisu. All accompanied by a nice imported Italian red wine. Lovely.
After dinner, I took a minute to watch the pizza chef making pizzas before putting them into his brick oven. The pizza looked heavenly. I'll be back. Enjoy.
2. Stella's Bakery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 732 reviews
Stella's Bakery has been in operation for 23 years and offers the best home cooked meals, pastries, baked goods, sandwiches,shakes,smoothies and many more delicious items you can taste while in Monte Verde. Please visit us, we are open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m till 4 p.m Also we count with dinner options during the high season with organic and exlusive options.
Reviewed By Helen S - London, United Kingdom
Stella's has a great breakfast menu with lovely friendly staff. There is a pretty little garden in the rear which attracts a number of different birds creating a wonderful atmosphere. I saw green toucans here amongst others. There was also a cheeky capuchin monkey loitering around.
Highly recommend for breakfast
3. Tree House Restaurante & Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
At the Tree House we offer a unique ambiance, we have a huge ficus tree in the middle of the restaurant.Our menu has many options, from snacks, beer and cocktails to a complete diner with a great wine.Our coffee is very special, one the best coffees in Costa Rica, we roast it ourselves and have 4 great Baristas who will make a perfect coffee, you will get incredible latte art! Our staff is very friendly. We really care about customers, so if you have any issues at the restaurant please work it out with us and we promise we will give you a satisfying solution! Thanks!
Reviewed By DHT22 - Edgewater, Florida
The Tree House restaurant is without a doubt a unique place to eat. Many of the tables are nestled in the branches of the tree. Our waiter actually had to duck under a large branch every time he came to the table. It was fun to eat here. They have a full bar and the drinks are good, they have live music, and the service was good. The food was not the highlight of our experience but it was tasty. We ordered a treetop special pizza. It was hot and prepared as expected, it just wasn’t anything extraordinary. Dessert was excellent and ended the night on a high note. The prices are probably a little high here, but overall we enjoyed our dinner, the music, and the ambience.
4. Restaurante Sofia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 254 reviews
Reviewed By Don. T - Nelson, Canada
This is a splurge spot for us. However, if you can resist the beguiling cocktails, the yummy appetizers and tempting desserts-- the entrees are not very expensive. I loved the chicken served with an absolutely unique platano side dish. I believe one could trust anything on their small but interesting menu. And, they give you a proper cloth napkin, something missing in many Costa Rican restaurants.
5. Restaurante Morpho's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By katherinesN7893OL - bethesda, United States
WE went here because it was recommended by our hotel and because we got a coupon for two free drinks. My husband got a fruit smoothie; I opted for bottled water. The waiter agreed that the water could count as one of the free drinks but when the check came we were charge for the water! We ordered Costa Rican food; it was good but not remarkable. The decor of the restaurant, however, is very cool.
6. Cafe Cabure
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
Informal sophistication from breakfast to dinner in covered balcony overlooking Monte Verde Cloud Forest. A well balanced menu includes the freshest salads, to unique dishes from Argentina and the World made all with freshest available ingredients. Homemade burgers and fries or Freshly made lasagna all done with the same passion for good food. Desserts start with Fudge Brownies and top with Handmade Chocolates from Costa Rica done daily. Chocolate tours for groups available upon request.
Reviewed By Cynthia Z - Lancaster, Pennsylvania
We went to Café Cabure around sunset and were treated to an amazing view. We did not have a meal but coffee and chocolate and everything was delicious. We went back the next day and bought chocolate to bring home.
7. Tico y Rico Monte Verde
Overall Ratings
4 based on 482 reviews
We are located in the heart of Monte Verde , Santa Elena down town, right on the wide bricked main street. We focus on serving typical dishes, including the Costa Rican famous casados We give each customer a real typical experience, great taste, spices and flavors. We also serve pastas, meats, seafood at an excellent price.
Reviewed By PicMorDaisies - Canada
We had walked into Santa Elena from our hotel in Valle Escondido and were browsing around looking at restuarants for lunch when a fellow on the street recommended Tico y Rico and gave us a card for a free dessert or drink with your meal. We decided to give it a try and were happy we did. We opted for the free drink and it was a very delicious papaya juice. We both had casados and they were substantial mail course , Mine was the asado of chicken in salsa which came with a fried egg plus a tortilla with cheeses so a very substantial meal. The chicken itself was excellent. Very large servings and good prices
8. El Jardin at Monte Verde Lodge & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 274 reviews
The service style is personalized, informal, caring. Our food is what a Costa Rican grandmother would cook if she was also a creative and contemporary professional chef. The atmosphere is quiet,laid back and tranquil with an open fireplace. No background music. Reservations recommended.
Reviewed By TravellerChamonix - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
We had lunch and dinner here. It is a bit more expensive than other restaurants in the city centre but well worth it. The food is wonderful, very fresh! Everything we tried was excellent. And the staff is very helpful.
Tropical juices are great, especially the watermelon juice, very refreshing when it's hot outside.
The view on the Gardens is gorgeous and we were lucky to see a family of capuchin monkeys from the restaurant windows. (If you want to spot wildlife though, go for lunch, while it is still sunny. You can't enjoy the view when it is dark outside.) We recommend and we will go again next time we are in the area.
9. Sabor Tico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
10. Orchid Coffee Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 929 reviews
We must be what we eat, which is why our products are healthy, full of ingredients that provide energy to our body. Each dish is designed to intensify our senses, flavors that awaken interest, in smells that make us dream. With all this, we captivate palates and hearts that become satisfied customers.
Reviewed By Wyndham429 - Petaluma, California
We stopped by here for coffee and a pastry walking back to our hotel. What a wonderful cafe! Dylan was so friendly and spoke perfect English. We decided to eat breakfast here the next morning. Delicious!!! Everything is fresh and beautifully presented. My husband wishes he could have another cup of their fresh drip coffee again. Forget Starbuck's or Peet's! Dylan was our server again. He is an amazing guy who we discovered speaks fluent French. The Canadian couple were so happy to know someone could understand them.
Be sure to have breakfast here or lunch here. Everything is delicious and the service outstanding. We eat our a lot being from Sonoma County and wish we had the Orchid Cafe here.
