The Phoenix Restaurante at Nepenthe — Restaurant in La Fortuna

Beautiful meals in a beautiful setting!

The Phoenix is a hidden gem in the middle of the Arenal rainforest. Go 10 minutes up a bumpy dirt road from the little town of El Castillo and you'll find the beautiful patio of the Phoenix, with views over the forested hills, Arenal volcano, and the small garden where they grow many of the fruits, vegetables, and herbs served in the restaurant.

We went three times during a two week stay in the area and everything was perfect. The tilapia is well cooked and served with a variety of flavorful sauces, the ceviche is perfectly fresh, and the spaghetti marinara could have come straight from Italy. Everything is prepared by the owners, Juan and Luisa, who are wonderful, friendly hosts, making every guest feel like they're getting a truly home-cooked meal.

Prices were very affordable (~$10-15 for an entree). There are only a couple of parking spots out front and about 6 or 7 tables, so best to call ahead if you have a large group.

Don't miss the Phoenix if you're in the Arenal area! Thank you,...

Too bad there is no option for zero stars. This was not our first visit and we always enjoyed this place. Lovely location and good food and good conversation with the proprietor, Juan. This last visit in June we had breakfast and Juan gave us the tab in Dollars- it was $19. We only had colones so he took out his calculator and told is it was 19,000 colones. I guess it was because we had told him we spent $600 on food and drinks at Tabacon the day before that made him feel the need to rip us off. I gave him the 19,000 colones- I don't really care about the money and obviously he does but I will never be back. This experience has ensured that I will stay far away from this place as well as Napenthe. Seems like such a nice guy but it all phony- Juan is a faker who is after your money and will...

My family and I rented an AirBnB up the road from this fantastic place. Just AMAZING! Quick tip.. if you plan on getting to this place conveniently, make sure you have at least an SUV. Four wheel drive would be best but not entirely necessary. Now, when you get here, make sure you meet Juan. He is the most genuine and hospitable man I’ve met in many many years. He and his staff are all phenomenal. The food here is so good we ate dinner there twice and even had breakfast there (which they don’t even do! They offered us the opportunity to experience that! Hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Thank you, Juan and all your staff. My family and I miss you all already! We WILL be back!

I also posted a photo of the view from this restaurant. It’s such a...