El Taller de Billy Sazón — Restaurant in Pavas

Oh WOW! The next time you are in Costa Rica you should add @El Taller de Billy Sazon to your must-do list! Enjoy a one of a kind experience in San Jose's most exclusive restaurant. This "secret kitchen" is hidden in the residential section known as Rohrmoser, it's a hard to find, elite, fine dining experience that you will never forget! As this was our last night in the country, we wanted to make sure we went out with class and with a memory that would last forever! After a brief wait in the lounge area, Mariana escorted us inside to an evening of total surprise! First, the ambiance of rose petals scattered everywhere, candles all around the dining room and the soft background music all let us know we were in for a very special treat! As we sat at the bar in front of the kitchen, I asked where the rest of the customers were and was definitely surprised when they told us this was all done for us! We were about to enjoy an evening with Chef Billy, tasting and learning about Costa Rican food! As Chef Billy introduced himself and began to explain what was about to happen he opened a bottle of sparkling wine and the romantic evening began in earnest! We chose the 8 course tasting option mainly because my "Tuesday" is Barbie size but you can also choose 10, 12 or 14 courses. As each dish was served to us at one point, I thought that I didn't want the evening to end and that I wished I had ordered the 14 courses! Every dish is parred with wine carefully selected by their sommelier. I told Chef Billy I wanted that job! Interacting with the Chef and Mariana while indulging and discovering gourmet flavors that you never imagined! And the willingness of the Chef to share his knowledge was exceptional. Their service was impeccable and Chef Billy and Mariana are an excellent, organized team with a unique artist flair!! El Taller de Billy Sazon's intimate setting, food and wine will leave you with a new high mark to compare all other restaurants! El Taller de Billy Sazon is now my all-time favorite restaurant!! There is no way that I would go back to Costa Rica without visiting Chef Billy!! Buen provecho!!!

COURSES in order: 1 - Cucuvitaceas 2 - Vigoron 3 - Col 4 - Camaron Coco 5 - Dota 6 - Salpicon 7 - Tamal 8 - Olla de Precision

WINE in order: 1- Sparkling Wine 2 - 2016 Litorale Vermentino Val Delle Rose 3 - 2018 Cores du Rhone 4 - 19 Crimes - Hard Chardonnay 5 - 2020 Kendall Jackson Chardonnay - Vintners Reserve 6 - 2016 Rio de Los Pajaros Pinot Noir from Uruguay 7 - 2018 Gran Devocion Carmenere from Chile 8 - 2016 Marques Casa Concha...

A Michelin-Star Experience Hidden in a San José Garage – A Must for Food Lovers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you're passionate about fine dining and enjoy discovering hidden culinary gems, El Taller de Billy Sazón is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. Tucked away in an unassuming neighborhood of San José, Costa Rica, this small, garage-turned-restaurant delivers one of the most unique and refined dining experiences we've ever had—and we've dined at our fair share of Michelin-starred restaurants across Copenhagen and beyond.

Led by the incredibly talented and humble Chef Billy Sazón, the evening consists of a 12-course tasting menu with expertly paired wines, all served to just eight lucky guests seated around a counter facing the open kitchen. Watching the chefs—Billy and his two brilliant young protégés—work in perfect harmony is a show in itself.

Billy draws deep inspiration from classic Costa Rican dishes, then reimagines them with genius-level creativity, intricate techniques, and artistic presentation. Each dish is a journey through taste and texture. But what sets this experience apart is Billy’s approach: instead of explaining the dish before you taste it, he lets you savor it first, then reveals the complex story and process behind it. This reversal adds a layer of surprise and curiosity that elevates the whole experience.

The atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious—you're literally sitting in what used to be a garage in a regular house, but what’s being served rivals anything you’d find in a fine-dining capital. It's this contrast that makes it even more special.

After the meal, once the other guests had left, we stayed and had a long conversation with Billy. His passion, humility, and dedication to creating something meaningful were truly inspiring. You can tell this is not just about food—it’s about crafting a memorable experience.

The only reason El Taller de Billy Sazón isn’t in the Michelin Guide is because Michelin doesn’t operate in Central America—but make no mistake: this is Michelin-level dining.

If you're in Costa Rica and love innovative cuisine, do whatever it takes to find this place. It’s absolutely worth...

We came for our 10th wedding anniversary and it exceeded all expectations! Each course was imaginative and delicious. By the end of 12 courses I was ready to burst and my husband was actually satisfied, something that doesn’t usually happen for him after tasting menus. Three hours flew by as we enjoyed each scrumptious course and met chef Billy and his sous-chef Lilly. The care and preparation put into each dish is obvious and every detail is perfection. My chef husband left feeling so inspired and excited from the delicious creativity served to us. The wine pairings add another layer of depth, complementing each dish and leaving us increasingly chatty😉 The atmosphere is private and casual but with soft lighting and plants hanging around simple yet elegant furniture, it creates an atmosphere of relaxed, exclusive elegance. Billy’s wife, Alejandra, was patient and reassuring when there was a glitch with our reservation: she is obviously a force behind the scenes helping to create a truly complete experience. I cannot recommend this enough, especially to celebrate a special event as it really is something we will remember our entire lives. They even gifted us a potted succulent with “Happy 10th Anniversary!” Thank you so much to Billy, Alejandra, and Lilly for creating such a...