Last Updated: November 27, 2025
If you’re traveling from La Fortuna to the Monteverde Cloud Forest or from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna, you’ll no doubt be making the long drive around Lake Arenal. About halfway around the lake, you’ll come to the small town of Nuevo Arenal, which is a great stop if you need a bite to eat. But there are some other hidden gems spread out along this curvy road that we’ll tell you about as well. Here are seven great places to eat around Lake Arenal.
Map of Restaurants Near Lake Arenal
Our interactive map showing the location of each restaurant in this guide.
Lake Arenal Restaurants
Café y Macadamia
Café y Macadamia is the perfect stop for a lake-side lunch or brunch. This casual restaurant about 15 minutes past Nuevo Arenal makes just about everything from scratch, from breads and soups to decadent pastries and desserts. Their sandwiches, like the Caprese, made with locally sourced ingredients, are a great pick and you don’t want to miss the extravagant iced volcano Frappuccino. Café y Macadamia isn’t cheap, but the view and good food are worth it. Has a kids’ menu.
Restaurante Brisas del Lago
Located in the village of Puerto San Luis on the Tilaran side of the lake, Brisas del Lago is a Tico-run gem with food that rivals some of our favorite restaurants back in Boston. You’ll forget you’re in rural Costa Rica with the myriad of international cuisine from chicken cordon blue to curry fish to tropical rice.
Brisas del Lago is more of a dinner place and most entrees are served with classic sides like potato or rice and salad or veggies. With such great food and elegant plating, you might think Brisas del Lago would be expensive, but it isn’t. Entrees are a steal at around $10-14. Closed Sundays.
Moya’s Place
This expat-owned restaurant right in downtown Nuevo Arenal serves up wraps, burgers, bowls, pizzas, and calzones. The chill vibe and Costa Rican art will draw you in and the delicious food will keep you coming back.
We have been a couple of times and have enjoyed the pizza, falafel, and Crazy Chicken wrap, which is a play on a traditional Cuban sandwich. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. Check out their Instagram page for info on live music and events.
Lake Arenal Brewery & Pub
This pub and brewery at the Lake Arenal Hotel is an oasis for craft beer lovers in a land of light, watery brews. Don’t get us wrong, we like the local Imperial and Pilsen, but sometimes you just want something darker.
We first visited Lake Arenal Hotel and Brewery when they were just starting out, but now they have several delicious brews on tap. We’ve enjoyed their nicely hopped pale ale, black ash stout, and refreshing pineapple blond ale.
Even if you’re not into beer, the food is worth a stop. They have a wide-ranging menu, with roasted chicken and pork, burgers, tacos, and sandwiches as well as more refined choices like mushroom risotto and beef tenderloin.
Hotel Guadalupe
Although many of the places we’ve listed above are run by locals, we haven’t included a restaurant that focuses on traditional food.
For some of the best comida tipica in the area, head to Hotel Guadalupe in downtown Tilaran. They do the classics well and the service is great. Try the local favorite, arroz con pollo, which is rice stir-fried with chicken and vegetables, or ceviche, fresh fish cured in lemon juice. For a well-rounded meal, grab olla de carne, Costa Rican beef stew, or a classic casado, a plate of meat or fish served with rice and beans, side salads, and a plantain.
Restaurante Equus BBQ
If you love barbecue, this is the spot for you. Equus is a casual restaurant that serves up delicious smoked chicken, pork, and beef on their authentic wood-fired oven. We recommend the mixed plate to share so that you can try a little of everything. The locals running this place are friendly and helpful if you have questions about the menu.
Casa Italia
Finally, we would be remiss if we forgot to mention our favorite Italian restaurant in Costa Rica, Casa Italia. Located just outside the main area of Nuevo Arenal, this local hotspot serves authentic homemade pasta like classic carbonara, Pasta alla Norma, and Ragu. The Sicilian owner is friendly and passionate about food.
Conclusion
Lake Arenal may be one of the more rural areas of Costa Rica, but it has a surprising selection of great restaurants. Good food definitely makes the long drive from La Fortuna to Monteverde that much better!
Have you visited the Lake Arenal/Nuevo Arenal area? What’s your favorite place to eat?
Trapiche Vasquez: A Fun Stop Between La Fortuna and Monteverde – This restaurant can do a quick sugar cane demonstration for you while you’re waiting for your lunch.
Viento Fresco Waterfalls: A Refreshing Stop Between La Fortuna and Monteverde – This set of waterfalls is another great option for a stop if you’re looking for something more active.
Nuevo Arenal: A Lakeside Town – For more restaurant ideas in Nuevo Arenal, read our destination guide.
Restaurant Guides: View all our restaurant guides to popular destinations like Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Samara, and Uvita.
Practical Travel: Get basic travel info on Costa Rica’s weather, what to pack, currency, using credit cards, and lots more.