Gingerbread Restaurant & Hotel

I love the chef the food the atmosphere. When i noticed the chef walking around barefoot I knew I was at a place I could connect with. The food was amazing. I love the freedom of just letting them bring you your courses and u get to sit and enjoy with no menu. Fine dining without an uptight feel. I cannot wait to bring my whole team here. If you want a place that yes sirs wears fancy outfits and are overly polite and correct this is not the place for you. If you want to enjoy a man's dream of serving delicious food all while being his unapologetic self then come to gingerbread.

Chef Eyal was pure entertainment! The locals were welcoming and fun. A word to the wise, just eat what he serves you, and you won’t be disappointed! The food was great! The supporting staff was lovely. Natalia was especially charming. We had a wonderful experience with generous and knowledgeable locals. Thank you all for giving us two nights of great food, drink and fun! Highly recommend!

What can we say apart from wow wow wow - we were recommended Gingerbread restaurant by the hotel we were staying at and we were not disappointed. From arrival the staff were incredibly welcoming, our hotel had mentioned we were on our honeymoon and we were congratulated by them (very nice touch)! We had the chefs tasting menu - some of the best food we have eaten and very generous portions (we especially loved the blackened tuna). Great value and delicious food, if you are in the area this is not to be missed!

We ate here on our last night in Nuevo Arenal. The meal was super. We did the tasting menu. We were presented with three appetizers, three entrees and two desserts. They were all delicious! Standouts were the Mediterranean beef and the chocolate dessert. Loved the atmosphere. Greeted by the chef, the attentive staff, the house dog Bebe, and the cat. Considered dog knapping. (Just kidding). Overall, a very welcoming evening and a wonderful meal!!! Would go regularly if we lived there!

One of the best restaurants in Costa Rica that we've been to! The chef serves delicious plates with big portions, so our waitress recommended to share one main course and few entries among three of us. The food is fresh and is very tasty!

We visited the resturaunt on Christmas eve. The food absolutely exceeded expectations. Dishes are family style, and while it’s not cheap, it’s quite affordable for what you’re getting. We loved every dish we got and the chef checked up on us once we were served. Excellent experience, live music, and food!

My review is 3 years late but as the Chinese proverb says, the best time to post a review is immediately after your experience and the second best time is 3 years later.

Anyway, we first visited Gingerbread in December of 2017 when we were staying at Casa Blanca just up the hill and had an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. During that wonder dinner, we also talked about possibly having one more child, specifically a littler girl. Well we left and a little over a year later, my wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl!

In January of 2021 we decided to take a trip back to Samara and while visiting for the month of January decided we must take a trip back to Arenal to visit that special restaurant and we stayed just up the hill.

This year we had a few more in tow and ended up renting a large van that incidentally had semi bald tires. Well we came down one evening and enjoyed another amazing meal. I was nervous as sometimes one can build up a prior experience in their head that is hard to match, but this meal exceeded our expectations once again!

We said our goodbyes got in the van to go home and promptly backed into a ditch! After several attempts, we realized we were stuck :( I asked the hostess for a recommendation on the local tow company and she said that the owner would not allow it. What he did next, blew us away!

Not only he did he come out to help us BUT he rallied the kitchen and wait staff along with any patrons to come assist. It was not easy but with his team and encouragement we were able to get the van out of the ditch and head home.

Not only is this guy an amazing chef but also an absolute great person. Thanks so much for everything and hope to see you all again soon!

Some of the best food I've had, incredible staff, amazing atmosphere! I told him I'd like to eat whatever he recommended. He brought us out numerous appetizers, all were incredibly delicious, some were not even on the menu! For our entrees he brought us a few options as well. Mind blowing. Highly recommend you come here!

Gingerbread restaurant kept popping up in conversations with local entrepreneurs, who said that's their preferred eatery, so we had no choice but to try it, and we were very happy we did.
As you enter the restaurant, you immediately feel relaxed and at home. The atmosphere is cozy and informal, complete with a cat chilling on the couch and a dog or two wondering about.
Service is swift, polite, and very friendly.
The menu, at least on the evening we visited, was short but with enough choices to satisfy most tastes. We were told that portions are very generous and we could opt for half portions. We didn't :)
The mushroom starter - 3 kinds of mushrooms sautéed in a delicious creamy sauce - was very satisfying. It came with some toasted bread wedges, perfect for wiping the sauce off the plate.
The main course was pork in brandy sauce with steamed vegetables and pom puree. The meat was very tender and flavorful. The portion really was enormous, and we had a hard time finishing it. The Chilean red blend wine helped a lot!
Dessert was Boca Nera, which is a hot chocolate and nut paste topped with ice cream, a winning combination!
I can wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant, and if you're staying in the area or passing by, make sure to include it in your plans; you will not regret it.

Wow. Just wow. This is the best food I’ve had in Costa Rica. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. Everything is homemade and locally sourced. The care and consideration for the love of the land and food shows in their plates. The staff is incredibly kind, friendly, and will speak English or Spanish with you. There is a super sweet pup and cat on the property - They are the hostess. The grounds are stunning. You’ll see horses, cows, orchids, all the birds, over a backdrop of Lake Arenal. The massive rooms come with desks, a comfy bed, and top of the line AC. The little cottages have in-ground plants in the bathrooms! The breakfast I was served was lovely - fresh orange juice, fruit, banana bread, scones, marmalade, coffee, and Costa Rican skillet eggs over tomatoes, onions, and garlic with toast. I’ll be back Gingerbread. Thank you so very much for a magical stay.

An excellent (and perhaps our favorite)culinary experience from start to finish. Went on Friday evening with a group of 7, When we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted and sat by the warm and welcoming staff.
The host, Chef Eyal, came out to greet us and before we knew it we were enjoying beautiful gourmet appetizers, entrees, and some of the best desserts we ever had! The chef had chosen our menu, with a large variety of outstanding foods and flavors and his passion for cooking shined through each dish.
If you are in LaFortuna, it is worth the drive, you won't be disappointed!

The atmosphere the staff the chef owner create an amazing vibe... Then they bring you amazing food that world in no way be the anticipated flavors of the country but yet they flow together so well. To a harmonious bliss of textured and taste. Well developed flavors that linger on the palette and in the heart

We enjoyed our last dinner in Costa Rica at Gingerbread! The food is high quality with amazing flavors.
When you find yourself in Nuevo Arenal or the surrounding area, Gingerbread Hotel and Restaurant is a must go!

I was blown away by the incredible dining experience at this establishment. The moment you walk in, you're greeted by a specials board that sets the tone for an extraordinary culinary adventure. Every dish I tried was simply outstanding, with the meat being incredibly tender and bursting with flavor. The skill and expertise of the chef truly shine through in every bite.

Not only was the food exceptional, but the portion sizes were also generous, ensuring a truly satisfying meal. The staff's attitude and service were top-notch, exemplifying professionalism and attentiveness. It's rare to find a restaurant that offers such a delightful combination of fantastic food, exceptional service, and a warm ambiance. This place is a true gem that I highly recommend.

I had such an amazing time in this magical and special restaurant. My birthday was celebrated with amazing food, fantastic service and of course family. Thank you chef and staff for making this such a special night. I would recommend 100% +++ a million times. Thanks again.

We had the best prepared meal here out of all we had in Costa Rica. The service was great, the owner was fun and engaging. We left wishing we had booked one of the cottages/villas on site so we could have enjoyed more time there.

Fun friendly atmosphere. We recommend the tasting menu for a great experience. The cheese cake was to die for!

Fantastic food- our best meal in Costa Rica. Definitely go with the chef’s choice and try as much as you can.

This place is magical. Each room is hand painted and carries a theme to your delight. The food is by far the best in Costa Rica and possibly well beyond that. Eyal has created a paradise on earth, not to be missed!

We came here for lunch on a sunny afternoon and wanted to stay for hours. It was absolutely delicious. We had the ravioli, tuna salad and shrimp. It was just sensational and I think the best meal we had in Costa Rica. We loved it so much that we came back for dinner! The place is quite popular (unsurprising) so definitely would book in advance. A really lovely spot and I would absolutely love to come back here again one day!