Author: Dagmar Reinhard

La Costeña Restaurant strives for typical Costa Rican cuisine, tasty representing the coasts of the South Pacific. The dishes are prepared with the best ingredients, fresh seafood, whole fish from marine catches in our ocean, and tropical fruits from our markets.

The house specialty is a Ceviche with five different types of seafood prepared in a citric passion fruit sauce, without forgetting the Whole Fish, a fried snapper accompanied by patacon, pico de gallo, and a butter sauce with wine and garlic.

The Seafood Fiesta is meticulously thought out, combining delicious and fresh seafood, prepared in a butter wine and garlic sauce that is mouth-watering in the truest sense of the word.

Of course, they also serve the famous Casado, which according to taste, is accompanied by fresh dorado fillet or traditional Costa Rican chicken. On the menu are chicken wings, chicharronada, or pastas.

In the mornings, they await you with good options for breakfast: typical with rice and beans, chocolate pancakes, omelette, or continental breakfast.

There are tasty options for the little ones and vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

You have to try the refreshing, delicious, and healthy tropical fruit smoothies or a coffee specialty (French press, dripping, Espresso, or cold cappuccino.) And in cocktails, there is the La Costeña house cocktail with Baileys Irish Cream and Vodka or the famous Chiliguaro, a popular drink from Costa Rica. They also prepare piña colada, margaritas and dispense a variety of liquors. 

Estiven Arias, owner, and chef of La Costeña graduated in Food and Beverage Administration, Restaurants and Hospitality at UTUR and INA. He also completed courses in barista, professional bartender, and Hawaiian Tiki cocktails. At the age of 14, he participated in a student exchange in the USA, and later, thanks to his good knowledge of English, he had the opportunity to work on a cruise ship in the United States. Returning to Costa Rica, he worked for several years in boutique hotels in Quepos and the South Pacific. Above all, Uvita attracted him, reminding himself of the happy vacations he had spent here as a child.

He collaborated for some time in several famous hotels and with an outstanding catering service in the area before deciding to become independent. Estiven's passion and his love for traveling, eating well, learning about other cultures, and sharing with people from his locality and visitors from all over the world, is what makes him a great host.

"When I was little, I came with my parents from Parrita to Uvita, long before the road to the Barú bridge was paved. Every time we went to the beach, my dad's car needed to be repaired again because of the potholes in the road. Today with the new Costanera, it is a ‘stone's throw’ to come to Costa Ballena.”

Come by and say hello to Estiven and his wife Angie on your way back from the beach!

La Costeña restaurant is located 200 m west of Steve's Supermarket in Uvita at the entrance of Hotel Sueños de María. It is on the road to the Marino Ballena National Park and its beaches.

For reservations or to order your food in advance: WhatsApp +506 8668 2845 and 8671 8740.