Where to Eat, Play & Stay in Monteverde

If you don’t already know, Monteverde is one of my favorite places in all of Costa Rica! This beautiful cloud forest will leave you blinded by its natural beauty. If you’re planning a trip to this magical forest I hope you find this guide on where to eat, play and stay helpful. Pura Vida!

Where to eat:

$ Flormar: One of the best meals I’ve had in Costa Rica was at Flormar! This restaurant is the definition of a gem. Located en route to the Monteverde Cloud Reserve, Flormar is basically the home of Marvin & Flori Rockwell, hence FlorMar. Their home is adorned with the most charming gardens and of course they use veggies from the garden in their traditional Costa Rican dishes. Flori greets you as if you were family visiting and makes all of her meals with so much love, you can’t help but taste it in every bite. The chicken burrito I ate was drenched in a homemade enchilada sauce and served alongside some delicious refried beans. And an added bonus, Marvin Rockwell is one of the original Quakers that founded Monteverde back in the 1950’s and if you’re lucky you’ll get to meet him! Learn more about his fascinating story here. Open Sunday-Friday 12pm-5pm, closed on Saturdays.

$ Monteverde Cheese Factory: Before eco-tourism blossomed in Monteverde, this place was the number-one employer for locals. With time it also become one of the most popular tourist destinations as they offered tours of their facilities and an opportunity to learn how they produced cheese and other dairy products which are sold nation-wide. Unfortunately the cheese factory no longer hosts tours of their production area, BUT I highly recommend coming not for the cheese (although you can buy a variety of locally made chesses here), but for the ice cream! It’s super creamy and fresh as the milk used are from cows just steps away. Stop by for a cone of ice cream scrumptiousness, because really, ice cream is always a good idea. They are open daily from 8:45am-4pm.

$ Raulito’s Pollo: This little soda is located in the center of Santa Elena and serves up deliciously cheap eats and clearly, some juicy chicken. You’ll most likely encounter Raulito roasting up his famous rotisserie birds which can be served with every meal, even breakfast. If you’re planning a long day of hiking, fuel up here with his gallo pinto, over-easy eggs, tortilla and a side of shredded chicken. You’ll be good to go! Not sure about the hours, but open daily around 8am and through lunch.

$ Café de Monteverde: I can’t write a foodie guide of Monteverde without highlighting a coffee house, and this by far is the best one in town. It’s a local specialty coffee bar with a professional barista bar. They offer free tasting sessions where you can learn about the 5 elements that impact the taste of coffee. It’s located in a somewhat community center of Monteverde with a large grassy area which is perfect for enjoying your cup of joe on a sunny day. My recommendation, the dirty chai, perfectly spicy with a hint of sweetness. They also offer day tours of their coffee plantation. Just ask at the counter to get set-up. Open daily 7am-6pm.

$$ Café Orchid: Walk into this little café and instant zen. Grab a seat on the front porch, but not before oohing and aahing at the dessert case. This great little brunch spot serves sandwiches, smoothies, salads, and much more. But what kept me coming back were their creative infused tea selections and homemade desserts. Absolute perfection! Bonus: There is a little orchid garden you can tour behind the café for about $10 pp. Open daily 7am-7pm.

$$ Monteverde Beer House: I don’t know what it is about mountains and beer, but they just go together. Quench your thirst at this eclectically charming microbrewery with their selection of local craft beers. If you get the munchies after a few brews (which you will!) they offer a variety of vegetarian friendly Mediterranean eats. Open daily 10am-10pm.

$$$ Tree House: If you want to indulge a little step into the Tree House. The restaurant is built around a beautiful old ficus tree and the ambiance is nature chic. They offer Latin American fusion cuisine with fresh fish, pasta and even some comida tipica. You can also simply enjoy a crafted cocktail at their bar with a few appetizers. Enjoy live music on the weekends and open daily 11am-10pm.

Where to play:

$ Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: This is an absolute MUST if you’re visiting Monteverde. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is my favorite place in all of Costa Rica. Step into a magical fairytale land surrounded by lush greenery and misty clouds. They offer a few different hiking trails ranging from an hour hike to a 5-hour hike and everything in between. With about 3 hours you can visit the famous hanging bridge and the waterfall. The trails are paved so you can go at a comfortable pace and regular sneakers are fine, but don’t forget the rain jacket! If bird watching or spotting wildlife is a priority, I’d recommend hiring a local tour guide. Tickets are $20 and I recommend getting there early simply because the park is alive in the morning! The reserve is open daily 7am-5pm.

$ Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Ninos, aka BEN): Spend even more time enjoying Mama Earth at the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, named after a group of Swedish schoolchildren that raised funds to buy and protect threatened land back in the 1980’s. This reserve is HUGE, encompassing over 55,000 acres of protected rainforest. The trails that are open to the public, known as Bajo del Tigre, are only 2 miles, but it’s perfect for families as it’s quite easy and there is a children’s house with various environmental activities. They offer Twilight Tours at sundown and volunteer opportunities. Learn more here. Tickets are $8 and they are open daily 8am-4pm

$ La Vista: La Vista is THE spot to watch magical mountain sunsets. Meet your fellow sunset junkies here every evening around 5pm. The views are breathtaking. It’s free to enjoy La Vista, but bring some snacks and a bottle of wine and make it a sunset picnic!

$$ Cafetel Coffee Tour: But first, coffee. This coffee tour is a little more authentic than the more touristy ones offered in the area. This sustainable coffee plantation is a small family-run business and the coffee grown here is organic. During this tour you will learn how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted and you will get to see how coffee was processed generations ago in this adorable old little house. You’ll end the tour sipping on some of the best coffee in the world. This is the real deal! It’s $30 pp and tours are offered daily at 8am and 2pm.

Where to stay:

$ Cabinas el Pueblo: A great option for budget travelers, Cabinas el Pueblo is centrally located in the center of Santa Elena, yet it’s still tucked away enough for some r&r. The rooms are comfortable, hot water and a TV in most rooms. I love the little benches in front of each room, which is great to sit and meditate or to just simply enjoy nature. They offer breakfast for just $5 and are very friendly and hospitable. Rooms start at $25 per night.

$$ Santuario Ecologico: I discovered this little gem on AirBnB and it has been my favorite AirBnB experience by far. You’re staying in this family’s home, which is basically an ecological sanctuary with multiple walking trails that take you through their misty cloud forest. The rooms are quaint, the family is so warm and the kitchen is this adorable quirky rooster themed oasis. I felt like part of the family. Rooms start around $50 per night and it’s a 20-minute walk to the center of town, although you can take a taxi for about $2.

$$$ Los Pinos: Although I haven’t personally stayed in Los Pinos, I know people who have and it’s highly recommend it if you want a little more privacy and luxury. Here you will find highly sustainable lodging facilities with private onsite trails and a hydroponic veggie garden. Rooms start around $120 per night and it’s about 20-minutes walking to the center of town, or you can take a taxi for about $2.

There you have it, your little guide on where to eat, play & stay in Monteverde, Costa Rica. I hope you make your way to charming little mountain town and that you love it as much I do!