Stephen's Guidebook
Grocery Stores
Supermercado Coopeatenas
3(3.4 km, 8 min); Full service grocery store
Maxi Palí
3(4.5 km, 9 min); Full-service grocery store
Food scene
(3.8 km, 8 min); German bakery, sandwiches. Excellent breads, cakes and pastries! Breakfast and lunch.
*One of our favorites!*
25 locals recommend
El Balcon del Cafe
Avenida 5(3.8 km, 8 min); German bakery, sandwiches. Excellent breads, cakes and pastries! Breakfast and lunch.
*One of our favorites!*
(2.4 km, 5 min); Surprisingly good Indian food; great pizza; *One of our favorites!*
Monsoon Asian Bistro & Neapolitan Pizza
Calle Brasil(2.4 km, 5 min); Surprisingly good Indian food; great pizza; *One of our favorites!*
Parrillada Androvetto
(4 km, 8 min); Grilled meats; pizza
*One of our favorites!*
(formerly Kay’s Postres & Cafe) now called "Polinia Restaurante"; (4.6 km, 10 min); Downtown Atenas;
Polish & traditional Costa Rican food;
Meeting place for the International community
10 locals recommend
Kays Postres, Café & Restaurante
Ruta Nacional Treciaria 707(formerly Kay’s Postres & Cafe) now called "Polinia Restaurante"; (4.6 km, 10 min); Downtown Atenas;
Polish & traditional Costa Rican food;
Meeting place for the International community
(4 km, 8 min); Downtown; Italian, bowls, wood-fired pizza; *One of our favorites!*
37 locals recommend
Pizzería La Finca
Calle 2 Juan de Dios Umaña(4 km, 8 min); Downtown; Italian, bowls, wood-fired pizza; *One of our favorites!*
El Fogón Campesino
(3 km, 6 min); Traditional Costa Rican food; *One of our favorites!*
(5 km, 10 min); Grilled fish, ribs, ceviche, traditional Costa Rican food
7 locals recommend
Restaurante El Guanacaste
(5 km, 10 min); Grilled fish, ribs, ceviche, traditional Costa Rican food
(9 km, 15 min); Traditional Costa Rican food, great views; excellent home-made coffee cakes to go on Fridays!
Restaurante Vista Del Valle
(9 km, 15 min); Traditional Costa Rican food, great views; excellent home-made coffee cakes to go on Fridays!
(4 km, 10 min); Located at the central market; Traditional Costa Rican food, great for take-out, very reasonable
*One of our favorites!*
Las Tres Hermanas
(4 km, 10 min); Located at the central market; Traditional Costa Rican food, great for take-out, very reasonable
*One of our favorites!*
(4 km, 8 min) Great spot for breakfast or lunch or takeout for any time- they close at 5 pm. They have a special every day, and the food is outstanding and reasonable. “One of our favorites!”
La Cocina de Tila
(4 km, 8 min) Great spot for breakfast or lunch or takeout for any time- they close at 5 pm. They have a special every day, and the food is outstanding and reasonable. “One of our favorites!”
(12 km, 15 min) More upscale and modern than most local places, they know how to make great Italian food. Fifteen minutes away (La Garita) and well worth the drive.
Casa Mia
(12 km, 15 min) More upscale and modern than most local places, they know how to make great Italian food. Fifteen minutes away (La Garita) and well worth the drive.
(2.5 km, 5 min) Popular local spot, grilled meats and famous for their pork. Just five minutes away.
16 locals recommend
Chicharronera Don Yayo
3(2.5 km, 5 min) Popular local spot, grilled meats and famous for their pork. Just five minutes away.
Firenze Ristorante
(4 km, 9 min); Italian & Pizza, modern setting
(11 km, 15 minutes) Good mix of options on the menu. The food is quite good and reasonable. The place is unusual in that it has a pool and a pool table and a bar. A great place to hang out for an afternoon or evening in addition to some tasty food.
TS Natural Hut
(11 km, 15 minutes) Good mix of options on the menu. The food is quite good and reasonable. The place is unusual in that it has a pool and a pool table and a bar. A great place to hang out for an afternoon or evening in addition to some tasty food.
(15 min, 8 km) El Jardín Restaurante Atenas - one of the more upscale restaurants in the area. Excellent seafood and international cuisine in a beautiful setting. Well worth the drive a few minutes out of town. “One of our favorites!”
El Jardin Restaurant, Atenas
(15 min, 8 km) El Jardín Restaurante Atenas - one of the more upscale restaurants in the area. Excellent seafood and international cuisine in a beautiful setting. Well worth the drive a few minutes out of town. “One of our favorites!”
Sightseeing
El Toledo Coffee Tour
(10 km, 20 min); https://eltoledocoffee.weebly.com/
Costa Rica Gardens
(13 km, 20 min); http://www.orchidgardencr.com/home.html
Zoo Ave
(17 km, 25 min); formerly Rescate Zoo; https://www.rescatewildlife.org/
(18 km, 30 min); Las Minas Waterfalls; https://bonnieclydeworldwide.com/las-minas-waterfalls/
16 locals recommend
Minas del Aguacate
(18 km, 30 min); Las Minas Waterfalls; https://bonnieclydeworldwide.com/las-minas-waterfalls/
Else Kienzler Botanical Garden; (26 km, 45 min); https://www.elsegarden.com/
24 locals recommend
Else Kientzler Garden
Else Kienzler Botanical Garden; (26 km, 45 min); https://www.elsegarden.com/
Sarchi craft village and craft (26 km, 45 min);
https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=387
63 locals recommend
Sarchi
Sarchi craft village and craft (26 km, 45 min);
https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=387
(55 km, 85 min); https://costa-rica-guide.com/nature/national-parks/poas-volcano/ ; http://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/accvc/pnvp/Pages/default.aspx; https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/where-to-go/protected-areas/po%C3%A1s-volcano-national-park
401 locals recommend
Poás Volcano
(55 km, 85 min); https://costa-rica-guide.com/nature/national-parks/poas-volcano/ ; http://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/accvc/pnvp/Pages/default.aspx; https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/where-to-go/protected-areas/po%C3%A1s-volcano-national-park
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
(55 km, 85 min); https://waterfallgardens.com/
(72 km, 75 min); https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309271-Jaco_Jaco_District_Garabito_Municipality_Province_of_Puntarenas-Vacations.html
202 locals recommend
Jaco Beach Costa Rica
(72 km, 75 min); https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309271-Jaco_Jaco_District_Garabito_Municipality_Province_of_Puntarenas-Vacations.html
(120 km, 140 min); https://cloudforestmonteverde.com/; https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309277-d531570-Reviews-Monteverde_Cloud_Forest_Biological_Reserve-Monteverde_Cloud_Forest_Reserve_Monteve.html
141 locals recommend
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Carretera a Reserva de Monteverde(120 km, 140 min); https://cloudforestmonteverde.com/; https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309277-d531570-Reviews-Monteverde_Cloud_Forest_Biological_Reserve-Monteverde_Cloud_Forest_Reserve_Monteve.html
(102 km, 160 min); Volcano/ Tabacón Hot Springs; https://www.arenal.net/; https://costaricaexperts.com/destinations/arenal-volcano/; https://www.tabacon.com/thermal-experience/
234 locals recommend
Arenal Volcano
(102 km, 160 min); Volcano/ Tabacón Hot Springs; https://www.arenal.net/; https://costaricaexperts.com/destinations/arenal-volcano/; https://www.tabacon.com/thermal-experience/