Restaurants in Puntarenas

You’re in a seaport, so try some of the local catch. Corvina (sea bass) is the most popular offering, and it’s served in various preparations. It’s hard to go wrong with the ceviche, served almost everywhere.

The most economical option is to pull up a table at one of the many open-air sodas along the Paseo de los Turistas (sandwiches for around $2, a fish filet with rice and beans for about $5, plus ice cream, snacks, and more). If you want seafood in a slightly more formal atmosphere, try  Puntarenas Typical Seafood, Capitán Moreno, Casa de los Mariscos, or the open-air Delicias del Puerto, all located on the Paseo de los Turistas.

Your options tend to be mediocre and overpriced near the ferry pier, but a couple of blocks inland are several good marisquerías (seafood restaurants), such as La Esquina de los Mariscos (tel. 2661-5372) and Manglamar (tel. 2661-2712).

A Frosty Churchill

No one should leave Puntarenas without trying a “Churchill.” Sold by scores of vendors out of makeshift carts, food trucks, and kiosks all along the Paseo de los Turistas, these concoctions are made from freshly shaved ice smothered with a wide range of toppings—usually sweet syrup, condensed milk, or fruit salad. Some also come with ice cream and some sort of sweet cookie or cracker. Most of the sellers serve them in plastic cups, but if you look around, you might find them in large soda-fountain-style glasses. Dating to at least the 1940s, the local legend claims that the original creator of these refreshing sweet treats bore a striking resemblance to the wartime prime minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill.