Where to Eat at Christmas in Costa Rica: San José, Monteverde, La Fortuna, and Guanacaste

Reserve early, confirm December hours, and choose a family-style place for Christmas Day.

October 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Christmas is one of the busiest dining weeks of the year in Costa Rica. Tables fill, and some restaurants close or change hours on the 24th and 25th. Book now, and ask each place to confirm its Christmas hours in writing.

San José: a special-occasion dinner

Silvestre in Barrio Amón is the pick for a celebration. It sits in a restored manor house, and the menu uses Costa Rican ingredients in modern dishes, with a strong wine list. December fills up fast, so reserve ahead. Amana and Doma in Barrio Escalante make good backups.

Monteverde: Christmas Day dinner

Christmas is a family day here. Many restaurants in Santa Elena and Monteverde stay open, but hours change, so confirm before you plan around one.

Tramonti serves Italian food and takes reservations. Morpho's is popular with locals and visitors. San Lucas Treetop Dining is small and romantic, and it requires a reservation. Hotel restaurants, like the one at Hotel Belmar, make a safe backup. Ask each place if it offers a set Christmas menu.

Christmas Eve and a quiet church

Christmas Eve is the big night. Families eat Nochebuena dinner, then many attend la Misa de Gallo at midnight, which can last up to two hours.

Santa Elena has a Catholic church downtown. Ask your hotel to call the parish for the 2026 mass times, because schedules change from year to year. In San José, the Metropolitan Cathedral at Avenida 2 and Calle Central is free to enter and opens at 6:30 am. Holiday hours can change.

La Fortuna

Don Rufino is the nicer dinner, so reserve ahead. Soda La Hormiga serves a casado for about $5, at breakfast and lunch. Nene's serves typical Costa Rican food and steak.

Playa Hermosa and Guanacaste

Ginger in Playa Hermosa serves tapas in a garden setting and has been open since 2003. La Casita del Marisco serves seafood. In Ocotal, Father Rooster puts you on the beach with grilled seafood and cocktails. La Caveja, near Coco, makes wood-fired pizza.

Before you land

Reserve the dinners you care about now. Send each restaurant a message to confirm its Christmas hours, and keep the reply.

Spending Christmas week in Monteverde? Our Monteverde reserve guide covers the morning hikes. Staying near Playa Hermosa? Our Liberia airport guide compares the beach towns.

Written by Insiders Costa Rica — Certified Travel Advisors based in Atenas, Costa Rica.

🌿 The full breakdown — costs, booking contacts, and day-by-day timing — is in the Insider Guide.