Restaurants:
From typical Costa Rican dishes to tasty Italian, Atenas restaurants accommodate varying tastes and budgets:
Rancho Tipico La Trilla
Serving some of the best Costa Rican dishes in town, La Trilla is an outdoor rancho-style restaurant lit with twinkling lights in the evening. Their specialties are casados, a dish of rice, beans, picadillo, salad and chicken, fish or beef. Arrive with a huge appetite, these plates are massive and can easily serve two people. Located on Highway 3, just before the Coopeatenas gas station on the right side.
Restaurant San Martín
Located on the west side of Parque Central, San Martín offers a pleasant atmosphere to people watch while enjoying a hamburger, sandwich or a casado. They also serve excellent breakfasts including gallo pinto (rice, black beans, onions and salsa Lizano) at reasonable prices.
Cafe Gourmet
Next to Rick’s Internet Cafe and across from the park, the European inspired Cafe Gourmet serves up tasty international dishes like Thai curries and mozzarella salads as well as daily specials. Seating is in a small but pleasant courtyard.
Soda Las Tres Hermanas
Run by three sisters, this small restaurant in the central market is packed with locals and serves great fish ceviche (fish cooked in lime juice and served with chopped onions and cilantro), casados and other Costa Rican fare. Prices are low at 1200 colones ($2.50) for most lunches. Open for breakfast and lunch everyday.
Kay’s Gringo Postres
A local haunt for Atenas ex-pats, Kay’s offers burgers, homemade chili, biscuits with gravy and a variety of desserts. Owned by a South Dakotan couple, Kay’s also has a lending library and is a good source of information for folks considering moving to Atenas. Located next to the bus station.
Soda Tio Mano
Also near the park, this inexpensive soda is a popular gathering spot for locals. Serves fried chicken, hamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and casados. Try some of their homemade desserts like pineapple upside down cake and tamal de elote (a sweet corn cake).
Pizza Ekalis
The menu includes pizzas, hamburgers, pastas, salads and arroz con pollo (fried rice with chicken). Located on the west side of the Catholic Church. Delivery service is available.
Restaurant and Pizzeria Alida’s
Owned and operated by an Italian couple, Alida’s is a nice break from Costa Rican food. Offers delicious wood-oven baked pizzas, antipasti, pastas, desserts and wines. Located on the main road (Highway 3), past the blinking orange traffic light.
La Fiesta de Los Pupusas
Located on the left side of the main highway to Atenas, about one kilometer before the town center, La Fiesta serves inexpensive El Salvadoran and Tico dishes. They specialize in Pupusas, a thick corn tortilla filled with cheese, beans, or meat.
Chicharronera Don Yayo
Next to the Fiesta de Los Pupusas, Don Yayo is packed with Ticos traveling to and from the beach on the weekends and serves delicious and inexpensive bar bocas (light snacks) and cold beer. A specialty is chifrijo, a combination of rice, beans, salsa and chicharrone (deep fried pork rinds) served with yucca and lime. On weekends, the back of the restaurant converts into a nightclub with karaoke, while the front remains family-friendly.
Note: Visitors shouldn’t leave Atenas without sampling the local specialty, Toronja Rellena, a sweetened grapefruit filled with honey and rich condensed milk, a snack usually sold along the roadside on weekends.
Nightlife:
Atenas is a conservative small town and the nightlife is almost non-existent. Visitors in search of discos and bars should consider nearby Alajuela.
Bar La Esquina Caliente
Just about the only lively spot in Atenas, it is frequented by Ticos and ex-pats and cold beer is always on hand. Perfect if you don’t mind lots of smoke and love to people watch. Located on the corner of the park.
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