A little while ago, we wrote a blog post about some of the delicious culinary options that can be found in and around Monteverde. One of the restaurants that we discussed was Bon Appetit! which is located not far from our very own Ocotea Boutique Hotel.
And when we took the time to ask guests of Ocotea Hotel about their favorite places to eat in Monteverde, Bon Appetit! and its sibling restaurant Wine & Grill by Bon Appetit! topped the list, accompanied by Celajes Restaurant, El Sapo Restaurant, and El Jardin Restaurant.
Since we’ve already covered Bon Appetit! on the Ocotea blog, we’ve decided to spotlight our four article newcomers — Wine & Grill, Restaurante Celajes, Restaurant El Sapo, and Restaurant Jardines — in this particular article.
And in the meantime, stay tuned for an interview with Josue, the restaurateur behind Bon Appetit! as we explore his story, perspective on food, and love for Monteverde!
Wine & Grill by Bon Appetit!
Wine & Grill is located in Los Llanos, close to the entrance of Monteverde on the main highway 606, so it's very convenient for all the hungry travelers who have been on the road and are feeling peckish. As an added bonus, this location gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside.
The menu items include both Costa Rica specialties and favorite international cuisine done right, and with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, delicious flavor combinations, and a dedication to perfection, the hardest part of the menu was what to try first!
They specialize in wood-fired pizza in innovative combinations, but perhaps the best item on the menu (in my humble opinion) is the filet mignon which is wrapped in bacon and served with a deliciously creamy bearnaise-style sauce.
Just the thought of it makes me hungry.
One happy Ocotea guest had this to say,
“Oh, we will definitely be coming back here during our stay. There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try, it was hard to choose. In the end, I went with the spinach and ricotta ravioli, and it was absolutely delicious, but we’re looking forward to trying more on the menu!”
Celajes Restaurant
Restaurante Celajes is located inside the Belmar Hotel, which gives it one distinct advantage that beer lovers will appreciate: they brew their own craft beers! There is even an in-house tap room where they serve some of their home-crafted selections and a juice bar for those of you who (like me) prefer something fruitier.
In terms of food, Restaurante Celajes is dedicated to sharing the traditional flavors of Costa Rica with their guests. Meals here are created using a wide variety of farm-fresh ingredients, and emphasize the wide variety of unique vegetables and fruits that can be found in very few places on earth!
Dining here feels like tasting the best of the cloud forest and beyond. Chilotes, chayote, chimichurri, cassava, creole radish, and chard — some flavors are familiar, some are entirely new, and all are worth a try, so pull up a chair and take an adventure!
One of the menu items most mentioned by our guests is the Madre Tierra Cheese platter as described by our guest Louise,
“I am addicted to cheese, I really am, so when I saw that they offered a selection of artisanal cheeses made locally, I was sold. It came with a delicious pesto and tomato jelly. I could have eaten just that and been happy, but they made me share. Definitely recommend it!”
El Sapo Restaurant
Located inside the Senda Monteverde Hotel, the culinary team behind El Sapo Restaurant believes in making as much as possible from scratch. And the attention to detail and freshness shine through. Artisanal bread, dressings, sauces, and even the spiced chutney is all made in-house from fresh ingredients.
One of the things I love most about Monteverde is everyone's commitment to sharing what it means to live Pura Vida, and that starts with garden fresh ingredients. It’s a common theme that runs through all of the restaurants on this list and shines brightly on El Sapo’s menu.
For example, one of our team’s favorites when visiting is the Pejibaye gnocchi, which is tossed in garlic cream with nuts or in a tomato red wine sauce, and served with trout, crunchy bacon, and basil. And if you don't know what a pejibaye is, you can pop over to my blog post on Costa Rica Fruits and find out!
El Sapo Restaurant also got plaudits from our members for their handling of special dietary needs, whether that was for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And the dishes do not suffer.
Here are a few delightful pics to tempt your tastebuds…
One guest had this to say,
“I’m often a little nervous when we go to a nice restaurant as a family, but the menu had some really nice vegan options for my sister-in-law and my kids (who can be really picky) enjoyed their cute little burgers. I had the catch of the day, which was snapper and I was really pleased by the mashed sweet potato. I loved trying the dill and spearmint pesto and the pickled coyote! I felt really daring and it was delicious, and having the family happy was huge!”
El Jardin Restaurant
Located at the Monteverde Lodge and Gardens, gardens are the operative word. El Jardín Restaurant specializes in plant-based and vegetarian dishes sourced directly from the on-site gardens. If you want to experience a true farm-to-table vegan or vegetarian meal cultivated just steps away from your table, here’s your chance!
If you’re a meat eater like me, don’t worry, there are lots of options for you too — though you might find yourself tempted by options like the pumpkin risotto. The emphasis, whether you get excited over a good cut of local meat or you want to try fish sourced from fishermen right down in the Nicoya Peninsula, is on sustainability and freshness.
You just need to look at a few of their beautiful dishes to see what has our visitors so excited about El Jardín Restaurant! Choosing just two was hard, everything looks like a piece of artwork.
Like this amazing dish resplendent with fresh avocado and mangos that could easily have been picked right before it was created.
Matthew, a plant-based eater, was a big fan and had this to say about El Jardin:
“Thanks so much for recommending El Jardin. These days most restaurants only have a few things on the menu for vegans, but they literally had an entire menu that was at least 7 or 8 pages long. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven with that many choices, and all so fresh! We are going back tomorrow to try the roasted cabbage steak… I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Last Word in Freshness
When you live in a place like Costa Rica, you are in for a treat. There are fresh ingredients everywhere… including fruit from the tree beside the table I am sitting at as I type this. Immense flavor literally drips from that mango you picked earlier, and now graces your salad.
And with culinary minds to match the ingredients, you have a recipe that will open your eyes and your mind! After all, even with the best garden in the world– I never would have thought of creating a cabbage steak topped with potato cream and dill.
Perhaps the best dishes grow out of creativity, curiosity, and bravery, as much as they do from fresh ingredients. Whatever the case, these restaurants consistently make Ocotea’s guests return with big, satisfied smiles, so we are sharing them with you.
May you enjoy every bite while you’re here and take a new appreciation for freshness home with you when you go!
