Puerto Viejo is known for Afro-Caribbean cooking: rice and beans made with coconut milk, rondón seafood stew, spicy patí turnovers and dark, sweet pan bon, recipes carried here by Jamaican and other West Indian families from the 1870s. Around them, the town has a surprisingly wide table, from handmade pasta to Argentine grills and Nikkei sushi.
Below are the 12 places the Conga team recommends most often, a glossary so you know what to order, and the closing days listed in our guest guide. Hours change, so check before you go.
What food is Puerto Viejo known for?
The coast’s own cuisine is Caribbean Costa Rican, built on coconut, thyme, fiery Panamanian peppers, plantain and seafood. Its roots are West Indian: Jamaican workers began arriving in 1872 to build the Atlantic railway, pan bon came with them, and some dishes still carry English names, like rondón from “run down” and pan bon from “bun”. Jamaican-style jerk chicken appears on local menus too.
Much of it is home cooking: look for local sodas (small, often family-run eateries) and home cooks in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Limón. Patí is sold as street food in the coastal towns.
What should you order?
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Rice and beans | Rice cooked with large red beans, coconut milk, thyme and Panamanian peppers. Not the same as gallo pinto. |
| Rondón | From “run down”: usually seafood stewed in coconut cream with root vegetables, plantain and breadfruit. |
| Patí | A turnover of spiced meat with hot pepper, sold as street food along the coast. |
| Pan bon | Dark, spiced sweet bread with molasses color and dried fruit; it arrived with Jamaican migrants in 1872. Some say the right name is simply “bon”. |
| Plantintá | “Plantain tart”, a sweet pastry filled with plantain. |
| Johnnycake | A dense bun for sandwiches or toast. |
| Jerk chicken | Jamaican-style spiced chicken, found on many local menus. |
| Agua de sapo | “Toad water”: iced tapa de dulce (raw cane sugar), fresh ginger and lime. |
Where does our team eat?
These are the 12 favorites from our guest guide, grouped by style. The descriptions and closing days are as printed in the guide in September 2026; where no closing day is listed, the guide doesn’t give one.
Caribbean and local
- Cocomar. A tropical, elegant setting with fresh Caribbean dishes, vegetarian options and handmade desserts. Closed Thursday.
- Tamara Restaurant. One of the best-known restaurants in the area, founded in 1981 by one of Puerto Viejo’s pioneering families. Cozy, with fresh dishes, local flavors and vegetarian options: an easy choice for a relaxed lunch or dinner.
- Take It Easy. A Caribbean food truck on the beach at Cocles, serving traditional dishes such as jerk chicken, rice and beans and escabeche-style fish. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
Italian
- Amimodo. A romantic Italian restaurant by the beach, known for homemade pasta and pizza made with fresh ingredients. A good pick for a special dinner.
- La Pecora Nera. Handmade pasta and carefully prepared Italian dishes in a cozy, refined room. Closed Monday.
Grills, burgers and sushi
- Rincón Porteño. A traditional Argentine restaurant known for high-quality grilled cuts and homemade specialties. Closed Thursday.
- Sushi Wave. Sushi and Nikkei (Japanese–Peruvian) cooking: creative sushi rolls and poke bowls in a relaxed Caribbean setting.
- The Point Smash Burgers. Smash burgers and more, with a lively atmosphere and good music.
- Soul Surfer. Gourmet burgers with a long menu of handcrafted options. Closed Monday; opens at 4:30 pm.
Coffee, bakery and treats
- The Bakery Gustibus. An artisan bakery for fresh bread, pastries and sweet treats, with coffee. Closed Wednesday.
- Baya Baya. A laid-back café at Beach Break in Cocles: coffee, light bites and cold drinks between swims.
- Hola Boba. Bubble tea and other refreshing drinks in creative flavors.
Where can you find traditional Afro-Caribbean cooking?
On our list, start with Take It Easy on a weekend, then Tamara and Cocomar. Beyond it, ask about local sodas and home cooks, and make room for a food detour to Cahuita or Limón. For the history behind the dishes, read our Afro-Caribbean Puerto Viejo guide.
Conga tip: Order an agua de sapo with lunch. Raw cane sugar, fresh ginger and lime over ice is the Limón way to cool down.
Where should you go for breakfast and coffee?
The Bakery Gustibus (closed Wednesday) for bread and pastries, and Baya Baya in Cocles for coffee by the beach. If you’re staying with us, breakfast is à la carte in the garden; see breakfast and dining at Conga.
What are the vegetarian options?
Our guide lists vegetarian options at Cocomar and at Tamara Restaurant. It doesn’t list any dedicated vegan menus, so if you eat vegan, ask each kitchen directly before you order.
What’s open on Sunday and Monday?
None of our 12 is listed as closed on Sunday, and Sunday is one of Take It Easy’s three days. Monday is trickier.
| Place | Closed (as listed, Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Take It Easy | Monday to Thursday |
| La Pecora Nera | Monday |
| Soul Surfer | Monday (opens 4:30 pm other days) |
| The Bakery Gustibus | Wednesday |
| Cocomar | Thursday |
| Rincón Porteño | Thursday |
| Tamara, Amimodo, Sushi Wave, The Point, Baya Baya, Hola Boba | No closing day listed |
Cards, tipping and prices?
Costa Rican restaurant bills normally include a 10% service charge plus 13% tax, and locals don’t usually tip on top. If service was special, leaving a little extra is your call.
US dollars are widely accepted at tourist businesses, but card acceptance is not universal, especially at food trucks and small sodas. The ATMs at Banco de Costa Rica and Banco Nacional in town open from 6 am to 10 pm and occasionally run out of cash, so don’t leave it to the last minute. For getting to dinner and back, see our getting-around guide.
Can you book a private chef?
Yes. For a special night in, our partner Ceiba Dining Co. offers private-chef dinners; ask us and we’ll help you arrange it.