Restaurants and Bars in the Costa Ballena

International dining and typical Costa Rican meals
From fine international dining to typical Costa Rican meals, your palate will be pleased. Fusion cuisine is very much “in vogue.” It includes preparing traditional or exotic recipes with all the fresh fruits and crispy vegetables that our area offers. Fresh fish is available at many restaurants in Costa Ballena and the South Pacific; ask for the special of the day!
Typical Costa Rican meals are generally wholesome and reasonably priced. Gallo Pinto, the national fried rice and black beans dish, is served as a breakfast. At lunch, the Gallo Pinto becomes a Casado: rice and beans supplemented with cabbage and tomato salad, fried plantains, and meat, fish, or chicken. Beware of black beans and chicharrones (crackling in fried lard), which might be too much for delicate stomachs.
The Olla de Carne is a good alternative if you are hungry for a substantial soup. It is cooked with root vegetables, meat, plantains, and coriander. Ceviche is a refreshing, healthy snack in the afternoon. Our last recommendation is to try a Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup) in a fish restaurant. Delicious!
Nonalcoholic beverages like smoothies and juices are outstanding for their taste; ask which fruits are available. They will ask you if you want it “en agua” or “en leche”, prepared “with water” or “with milk”. Imported drinks may be expensive, so you might be better off trying the local Costa Rican drinks. "Cerveza" (beer) is a very popular drink, and the most widely available brands are Bavaria, Imperial, and Pilsen. Wines are usually imported from Chile or Argentina. Don´t forget to enjoy a “cafecito”. At some of the typical places, you can have it “chorreado”, manually filtered.
DISCOVER AND ENJOY
If you...
look for more information about Costa Ballena, but are intrigued? Let’s start at the beginning! Take a tour of Costa Ballena.
I don´t know anything about Sierpe, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Sierpe.
I don´t know anything about Osa Peninsula, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Piedras Blancas National Park.
I don´t know anything about Osa Peninsula, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Marino Ballena National Park.
Check out our Current Issue >
Need help planning your next trip to Costa Rica? We look forward to serving you!
Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: + (506) 8946-7134
Ballena Tales is an essential free digital magazine in Costa Rica, valid for travelers, residents, and investors covering Costa Ballena in the Canton of Osa in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. It is a fully bilingual, bi-monthly, and full-color digital magazine.
The magazine introduces the reader to the life of the local community, with interviews of pioneers, writers, and artists, as well as extensive information on restaurants, hotels, experiences, natural attractions, and wildlife of the South Pacific of Costa Rica.
We are not just a magazine; each edition (print and digital) is linked to a robust web platform; the editions are published online, and the advertorials are included in our blog and the brand in the commercial directory. We also add links to the advertising company's website and social networks. At this time, the openings of digital publications in all their expressions exceed 80 thousand openings, and the advertised brands have a global reach.
We have a loyal audience of over 8,000 readers in the South Pacific's Costa Ballena region who will view your news in each printed edition.
We prioritize our readers' satisfaction by delivering a variety of engaging content while showcasing the value of our advertisers' brands.

The Gentle Giants of Parque Reptilandia
~ by Roel de PleckerParque Reptilandia is home to a big variety of native and exotic species. One of these exotic species is our African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata). They are Africa’s largest mainland tortoises with a carapace length […]

The Talamanca Range: a wall and a protective sanctuary
~ by Luis Gutiérrez Galera Christened with a Spanish name, the Talamanca Range was praised as a highly religious site by Costa Rican indigenous people such as the Bribri and Cabécar, who had lived there for a […]
The Golden Tennis Ball
The Silky Anteater, the golden tennis ball at Hacienda Baru By Jack Ewing Photos by Jack Ewing We started a list of species for Hacienda Barú and the surrounding areas in 1987. By 1994, all […]

Alexander Skutch, birds and much more
~ by Susana GarcíaAlexander Skutch was the most famous Neotropical ornithologist of the 20th century. After traveling to many Central and South American countries, he settled on a farm in Santa Elena de General that he called Los Cusingos. Here […]

Interview with a Biologist Specialized in Birds
~ by Dagmar ReinhardWhat’s your occupation, Susana? — “I’m a biologist specialized in zoology.” Are you a specialist in birds? — “Yes. I carry out censuses and monitoring; I develop workshops for specialized guides and others for the public, and […]
Chamber of Tourism Meeting
~ by Dagmar Reinhard In February, the 49th Business Meeting, organized by CATUOSA (Osa Chamber of Tourism) and chaired by Mr. Luis Centeno, was held at the PZ Country Club Hotel in San Isidro. Right in the heart of Pérez Zeledón […]
Duo Aurélie Riant & Anthony Gómez
~ by Dagmar Reinhard Aurélie is a young girl from Nova Scotia (Canada) with a remarkable voice. She received her first classical singing lessons when she was eight years old, followed by guitar and keyboard classes. When she […]
Have Fun and Be Safe on the beach!
~ by Nate Bright The Costa Ballena region is famous for its beautiful beaches, and we hope you take full advantage of them! Here are some great safety tips to keep in mind as you play in […]

Yoga Philosophy ~ Part VI
~ by Pilar Salazar The 8 Limbs of Ashtanga The Niyamas The second limb of Ashtanga Yoga is the “Niyamas”; they represent guidelines to be aware of in our daily lives. The first one is “Sauca”, which […]
Boruca Gallery Gift Shop
Boruca Gallery Gift Shop~ by Susie AtkinsonLooking for a unique souvenir of your trip to Costa Rica – something that is a true representation of the local folklore and does not have that “Made in China” stamp on […]
Our senior pets
When our beloved pets become geriatric, they require special attention since their bones and muscles are not strong anymore.
And Who’s Peter?
~ by Dagmar Reinhard Peter Marschall, the son of a German father and a Hungarian mother, who also speaks English and Spanish, came to Costa Ballena in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, for the first time […]
What to do, Where to eat, and Where to stay…
- Activities and Tours
- Whale Watching Tour
- Natural Attractions
- Marino Ballena National Park
- Restaurants
- Hotels and Accommodations
South Pacific Costa Rica Beaches,
Looking for business directories, maps or other printouts? We’ve got that too!
Dare to Discover and Enjoy…
Check out…
Need help planning your next trip? Let us help you with your Costa Rica vacations!
Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: +(506) 8946 7134