Gingerbread Hotel and Restaurant

Our Airbnb hosts pointed us here, and I wish we’d gone earlier in the trip. There were lots of locals, and we made connections and picked up tips we wish we’d had sooner. The chef was warm and welcoming, with tons of personality, and made us an amazing full vegan menu. The food was some of the best I’ve ever had. Such a memorable place, don’t miss it.

We had such a good time at Gingerbread that we came back the next night. The place has an eccentric feel, and the food was fantastic. Night one we ordered mussels, escargot, curry, and filet mignon. On our second visit, the Chef brought out a tasting of small plates, including tuna, mushrooms, tacos, schnitzel, local beef, and great desserts. He talked us through each dish and was passionate and funny, with plenty of F bombs. Highly recommend.

The service was excellent and the staff friendly, but the food was only okay for us. I’d read this was the best food in all of Costa Rica, and the chef, who greets each table with his funny swearing routine, clearly thinks so too. By Central American standards the meal was passable. Still, I slightly regret driving from La Fortuna, where I’d had better meals for less.

We weren’t able to eat here, so this isn’t a review of the food. We arrived around 7:30 PM hoping for dinner and had two interactions with different waitresses that felt dismissive and unwelcoming. After we sat down and waited to order, the second waitress said that if we stayed, we’d have to eat very quickly because the kitchen was closed. That was our cue to leave. A few suggestions for the owners: make the opening hours on Google clear, and if closing time is near, put up a sign or stop letting people in so they aren’t confused. Staff could also handle this more empathetically and professionally. A kind explanation, a drink or dessert option, or even a polite apology would have made a difference. Good service includes how customers are treated, as well as the food.