EAT
Green Room
Location: Jaco, Costa Rica
“I visited the Green Room in Jaco, Costa Rica! They have a delicious menu with items that are labeled to be gluten-free. I traveled with Zaney Travel, a gluten-free tour group. Zaney Travel has talked to the staff, and they created a dedicated prep area for meals prepared that are gluten-free. Everything was delicious! They have a nice brunch too, with gluten-free French toast and bread options.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Doka Estate Costa Rica Coffee Tour & Plantation
Location: Alajuela, Costa Rica
“Did a tour of the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation booked through our concierge. The tour company was called Expediciones Tropicales. Breakfast was included at the plantation. The breakfast was a typical Costa Rican breakfast called Gallo Pinto, which was scrambled eggs, rice and beans, pan fried pork sausage, plantains, a corn tortilla, fruit, and of course, coffee! It was delicious, and I was ensured everything was 100% gluten-free.”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
Organico Fortuna
Location: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
“This restaurant is delicious, and if you’re in La Fortuna, you have to go! There are both Spanish and English menus. The staff was very knowledgeable about the ingredients in the food and were willing to make accommodations. A majority of the food is vegan or vegetarian, but there are some meat and fish options. A few things to watch out for—sesame seed are sprinkled on some dishes, just be clear about no sesame seeds. Also, some of their homemade smoothies and ice creams have almond or coconut milk. The banana ‘nice’ cream has none of that though.”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Aroma, Coffee Bar & Breakfast
Location: Cahuita, Costa Rica
“Had a fully vegan menu along with the regular menu! Both menus were clearly marked with allergens, and the food was delicious”
@reganh, who manages celiac and milk and egg allergies
CeliHouse
Location: San Rafael, Costa Rica
“100% dedicated gluten-free restaurant in San Jose, Costa Rica! All the breads are house made. I got a delicious chicken sandwich with fries, and my mom got a burger that was super good as well. I got a bunch of desserts to take back to our hotel that were AMAZING! Highly recommend the red velvet cake, tiramisu, and banana bread. You can also purchase a loaf of their bread!”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
D’ camino
Location: Heredia, Costa Rica
“100% dedicated gluten-free restaurant in Heredia, Costa Rica! So many delicious food options from burgers, to sandwiches, to pizzas, and pastas. I got the fish and chips and a margherita pizza, and both were excellent! They also have freshly made desserts and bread available. They offer vegan options too, including vegan cheese for any menu item.”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
De Gustibus Bakery – Puerto Viejo
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
“Not sure if it’s true but heard the owner’s wife is celiac. Regardless, we had two meals at this place because it was so good, and they had so many options. I had a delicious sandwich one day and pancakes on another. They have chocolate and carrot cake in a separate counter display. Everyone was very helpful, and the food was great!”
@andglutenfree, who manages celiac and an oyster allergy
Father Rooster’s
Location: Ocotal, Costa Rica
“The owner and his family are super helpful, the food is amazing, and when we went, there were no nuts on the menu.”
@beccaji, who manages peanut and tree nut allergies
Hacienda Kitchen
Location: Belén, Costa Rica
“This restaurant was in the Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén that we stayed at. We did the breakfast buffet here each morning that was excellent. I was able to get a fresh omelet made and usually had rice and beans, bacon, yogurt, and fruit. They also had juice and fresh coffee and tea. We also ate a few meals here for lunch and dinner that were great. The staff was able to accommodate all my needs and used a separate fryer for tortilla chips!”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
Java Coffee
Location: Coco, Costa Rica
“A nice little coffee shop right near the beach. I got a chicken, lettuce, tomato, and avocado bagel, and they checked the bagel ingredients for me. Also, they don’t store plain bagels with sesame ones. I also got iced coffee, and soy milk wasn’t extra! The food was very good, and there are several options for allergen-free meals.”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
La Isabella
Location: Belén, Costa Rica
“This was a steakhouse at the Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén, and it was excellent! Plenty of options, as they have all different types of steak with a list of sides to choose from. My server made sure all of my food was gluten-free. Highly recommend the truffle mashed potatoes and the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce!”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
Le Coq
Location: Coco, Costa Rica
“This place serves a variety of Middle Eastern dishes. After telling them about my allergies, I was able to get a chicken shawarma without the aioli. The waitress went to talk to the kitchen staff about preparing my food to ensure it was safe. I felt very safe eating here, and the food was delicious!”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Los Guarumos
Location: Quebrada Ganado, Costa Rica
“This was a really cool restaurant. It had stunning views, and we even saw some monkeys in the trees! The staff was also knowledgeable of our gluten-free needs. We had a typical Casado lunch with fish, plantains, rice, beans, and veggies.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Nanku Restaurant – Tropical Bar and Grill
Location: San Carlos, Costa Rica
“One of my favorite meals in Costa Rica was at this restaurant. I had the tilapia ceviche with mixed chips. Staff from Zaney Travel called the restaurant ahead of time to discuss celiac disease and how to prevent cross-contamination.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Pollo Fortuneño
Location: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
“This restaurant has a mix of things but is focused on barbecue chicken and ribs, both of which are free of all my allergens (I’m not sure about soy). The waitstaff was very accommodating and seemed knowledgeable about the ingredients.”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Restaurant el SHADDAI Comida de Turno
Location: Cartago, Costa Rica
“For lunch on our first full day we enjoyed a traditional meal called Casada. This meal consists of a protein with rice, beans, salad, plantains, and veggies. We ate at a local soda, a family owned restaurant. The restaurant was trained by Zaney Travel staff about celiac protocols.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Restaurante Tico y Rico
Location: Monteverde, Costa Rica
“Our waiter knew the ingredients of all the foods, including oils for frying, and was very willing to make changes or substitutions to my meal. The food was delicious, and the service was quick! I would suggest their pineapple juice too—it’s super fresh.”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Rosti Alajuela
Location: Río Segundo, Costa Rica
“On our first night in Costa Rica, we had a simple dinner at a restaurant near the hotel. The restaurant had a gluten-free menu. We enjoyed chicken with sides such as rice, pico de gallo, and beans.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Salsa Brava Restaurante Caribeño
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
“The waiters here are SO NICE! They also have amazing smoothies that can be made with or without dairy. My friend mentioned her dairy allergy, and they used a clean blender to ensure no cross-contamination.”
@reganh, who manages celiac and milk and egg allergies
Stashu’s Con Fusion
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
“One of the dinner spots we tried in Puerto Viejo and definitely our favorite. It’s Caribbean and Costa Rican fusion. The owner was so nice and knowledgeable. They don’t have a dedicated fryer, but she would pan fry their spicy plantains, which were my favorite food in all of Puerto Viejo. Most of the dishes are a protein and rice, and you pick the sauce. Almost all the sauces are gluten-free and you can’t go wrong. Their pad Thai was also very tasty and unique!”
@andglutenfree, who manages celiac and an oyster allergy
Taco Joint
Location: Jacó, Costa Rica
“No nuts, minimal shellfish—great food!”
@jbass12, who manages peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies
STAY
Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen
Location: Heredia, Costa Rica
“My family has a Marriott timeshare, so we used points to stay here and had an excellent experience! The hotel is beautiful with a great pool and spa. They have four restaurants to eat at on the property. All staff understood celiac disease and were able to accommodate me. They even cooked their tortilla chips in a separate fryer when asked. We ate breakfast every morning at Hacienda Kitchen. They do a great breakfast buffet, or you could also order off the menu. Plenty of gluten-free options. I loved the made-to-order omelette bar. For lunch and dinner, we enjoyed Bar 10, which served gluten-free items including shrimp tacos, nachos, and a few other bar food items. The skirt steak with chimichurri was my favorite. Lots of naturally gluten-free food items here that made ordering very easy! There is a 24/7 market/cafe on the resort property as well. They had lots of desserts and gelato. They did have some ‘gluten-friendly’ options here, but I didn’t feel comfortable getting anything as cross-contamination seemed to be an issue. Overall, there were plenty of places to safely eat at the resort, and all of the food I had was excellent!”
@gflongisland, who manages celiac
Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge
Location: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
“We had a birdwatching tour here, and afterwards, there was breakfast. The menu had both Spanish and English and included lots of fruit, rice, and beans, as well as more American breakfast items. The waitstaff spoke fairly good English. I was able to communicate my allergies to them and have some delicious rice and beans, as well as veggies and a tortilla!”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Location: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
I spent five days at Arenas Del Mar for my honeymoon, and it was an incredible experience that I would recommend to any celiac traveler. They have a whole page on their website titled ‘Gluten-Free & Fabulous’, where they share all the details of their fully certified gluten-free dining program. Breakfast at the resort is complimentary each day, with lots of great gluten-free options to choose from. We enjoyed lunches at Playitas Beachfront Restaurant and dinners at Mirador Oceanview Restaurant. Menus are all clearly labeled, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. Fryers are dedicated gluten-free. After being there just a day or two, the waitstaff was quick to remember both of our names and the fact that I needed my meals made gluten-free. Everything we ate was incredibly fresh and delicious, and the presentation was always beautiful too. I never had any issues with cross-contamination while we were there. They also offer a tortilla making class which was a fun learning experience, and of course, getting to try them at the end was a plus! The grounds of the resort are stunning, and the service was top notch. We would go back in a heartbeat!”
@gfreality, who manages celiac
Art Hostel Costa Linda
Location: Quepos, Costa Rica
“Before visiting the National Park, we stopped here for breakfast at this restaurant/hostel. Super cool spot with a simple but delicious breakfast. They were also aware of our gluten-free needs.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Croc’s Resort & Casino
Location: Jacó, Costa Rica
“When we moved to Jaco beach we stayed at a nice hotel by the water. I had a great view of the ocean. The staff was great and had a good understanding of gluten-free. One day I had patacones by the pool, and they made them in fresh oil for me.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
Hotel La Cascada
Location: Cobano, Costa Rica
“Literally the cutest hotel with the nicest staff. The chefs were great with my nut allergy and were good with gluten once I had my translator explain the issue. The food was amazing, and the hotel is located close to the city and beach.”
@nutsfornogluten, who manages celiac and peanut and tree nut allergies
Mar Inn B & B (Bed and Breakfast)
Location: Santa Elena, Costa Rica
“For one, this hotel has an amazing view and is very close to all the major sights in Monteverde. As for the breakfast, you have the option of pancakes, eggs, or the typical Costa Rican breakfast of rice and beans, eggs, bacon, toast, and cheese. The staff were very willing to make changes, so I got the typical Costa Rican breakfast without eggs and cheese. At this place (and many others) the rice and beans is just made with chicken broth. Also, you get fruit with every order!”
@altheachan, who manages peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, shellfish, and seed allergies
Nayara Springs
Location: San Carlos, Costa Rica
“If you’re traveling to Arenal/La Fortuna, there isn’t a better hotel than Nayara. They have three hotels on-site (we stayed at Nayara Springs, the adult one). The grounds are immaculate, the rooms are perfection (we had our own private hot springs), and the food was even better. They can serve breakfast in your room, or you can visit the breakfast restaurant. They were able to make everything gluten-free and even included gluten-free bread baskets. Their on-site Mediterranean restaurant was our favorite, and we LOVED the flatbread. This place is so accommodating and memorable.”
@andglutenfree, who manages celiac and an oyster allergy
Oceano Boutique Hotel & Gallery
Location: Jacó, Costa Rica
“Great staff, safe breakfasts.”
@jbass12, who manages peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies
Pacuare Lodge
Location: Limón, Costa Rica
“Most unique hotel we’ve ever stayed at and some of the best gluten-free food. This place is absolutely magical. You can only get to it by white water rafting in and out. It’s all-inclusive, including three meals a day and lots of activities. They were able to make everything gluten-free on every menu, including making me hamburger buns from scratch hours before my arrival. Everything is so fresh and very high quality. We zip lined, waterfall rappelled, and more. Highly recommend. Very, very good with allergies.”
@andglutenfree, who manages celiac and an oyster allergy
The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
Location: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
“Amazing experience at this hotel! Such a beautiful spot. There was daily morning yoga class, beautiful spring pools and hot springs, and a gorgeous view of the volcano. We ate dinner a few nights at the hotel. The staff was well versed with celiac. Enjoyed patacones, salmon, and salad one night. Another night, we did a grilled meat platter.”
@gflivingbk, who manages celiac
