Restaurants in La Fortuna
Dining in La Fortuna is nowhere near as inspiring as the area’s natural attractions, but, given the town’s booming tourist business, options abound. On the main drag, a 5-minute walk west of town, is Mercadito Arenal, a bustling food hall with a handful of options including a fish taco stand, Costa Rican street food, pizza, and a cocktail bar.
For a casual breakfast or lunch, try Geckos Waterfall Grill (tel. 2479-8905), located near the La Fortuna waterfall. Other options include Rancho La Cascada (tel. 2479-8790), La Choza de Laurel (tel. 2479-7063), and Nene’s (tel. 2479-9192) for Tico fare. For good pizza and Italian cuisine, try either Café Mediterranea (tel.2479-7497), just outside town on the road to the La Fortuna Waterfall, or Anch’io (tel. 2479-7560), just beyond Las Brasitas, on the road toward Tabacón. For fancy dining, Los Tucanes (tel. 2479-2020) at the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa is a solid choice.
- Peruvian/Chinese
Chifa La Familia Feliz
Chinese immigration to Peru created the first Chifa eateries there, a slang term for a Chinese/Peruvian restaurant. This is the first Chifa in Costa Rica, and it’s garnering many fans for its veggie-forward, tasty mash ups. Among the highlights here are the aereopuerto, a mix of…$$Around Town - Costa Rican
Don Rufino
Don Rufino is the semiofficial social center of town, with a popular open-air bar overlooking the main street. The decor is rustic, but the menu has gradually been moving into creative territory, sometimes merging the country’s biodiversity with Asian and Mediterranean flair. Try the…$$$Around Town - Costa Rican/Steakhouse
El Novillo del Arenal
If you want local steaks or grilled chicken, but don’t need the fancier ambience or accoutrements of the other places listed here, this is your spot. Portions are hearty and the price is right. The restaurant is a simple affair built on a plain concrete slab under a very high,…$Around Town - International
Lava Lounge
California meets Costa Rica at this popular downtown restaurant. Lava Lounge’s menu ranges from glorified bar food—nachos, quesadillas, wings, and wraps—to a hearty Costa Rican casado, with dishes such as a thick-cut grilled pork chop or coconut shrimp with spicy mango salsa quite…$Around Town - Costa Rican
Soda La Hormiga
Near the bus stop a block away from the main road, the open-air Soda La Hormiga serves tasty, loaded gallos, Costa Rica’s version of the taco, as well as hearty casados and plates of rice and beans with a choice of protein. Pay special attention to their list of fruit drinks,…$Around Town


