Cafe Rico

A hidden gem.
Beautiful service.
And the best coffee and hot chocolate we’ve had while in PV!
Also loved that the cups used are created by locals and the honey used in shop is local as well.

Bonus: we saw a baby sloth 💚

Go here!! I had the special which was bacon, eggs and house made cinnamon scroll - the cinny scroll was next level!! Also had a coconut milk latte which I loved too. In terms of service everyone was genuinely so nice. The place is very cute and offer book exchange!

An absolute haven! Been having a really tough time thinking I couldn't travel safely on my own and came into this little cafe feeling sad. Left completely uplifted! The owners are wonderful and welcoming the food is fantastic. Had the avo toast with an added egg and the flavours were just perfect, fried garlic with a bit of honey is a real game changer. There's also loads of amazing honey, jam and butter to go with the extra bread. Also not a single mosquito! Theres so much attention to detail in every corner of the this little jungle book shop. Also had my laundry done which was such a relief feel like a new person. This really is a shop of wonders don't miss it if you're in Puerto Viejo. 📚☕♥

Very sweet place with a great vibe.
Ther is a huge library you can pick from and indulge in a good book.
The place offers as well londry service.
The food is good and the service is great and very accommodating to your request.
Highly recommend coming here for a nice calming and relaxing morning.

What a pleasure to discover this place! Amazing breakfast and amazing staff!

Very rarely does a breakfast spot get 5/5 on all categories, but this one does for sure. Just know that they close after breakfast so they only have a short window to eat. The atmosphere is really vibey and shaded from the hot sun, the staff are friendly and will answer all of your silly bfast questions. We tried the huevos rancheros and the Rosa special, and both were exaty what we wanted for bfast. Iced coffee is giant and the smoothies are with fresh fruit so the flavor is incredible. There are So many places to choose from but this should be on your list.

If you’re looking for delicious healthy food. This is the place the go.

Best service we’ve had during our 2 week trip.

Toys for kids to play while you enjoy their garden.

Lots of books to read!

Awesome staff.

They also have offer bike rentals & laundry services just around the corner.

If ever you are in or near, Puerto Viejo, you must stop in this gorgeous breakfast nook, nestled in the green lush vegetation of Costa Rica. Books surround the dining area, (a book exchange is possible), and the staff are friendly and polite. This was my first meal in Costa Rico and it was probably my favorite. I had the Ana Rosa Special and it was absolutely delicious. Original and tasty, I definitely recommend. I had to buy some of their coffee as it was the best I have ever had. I'm sad watching it run out.

*~.•TLDR; just go. and if you don’t go, I along everyone else reading this will 😜
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There’s a reason why Cafe Rico is the #1 restaurant in Puerto Viejo on TripAdvisor and here’s a couple:

one of the BEST breakfast spots on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, hands down. the last time I was here was back in 2017, and the food and beverages are as, if not better than I remember.

I highly recommend the Ana Rosa special 🌹 It’s the perfect portion packed with all sorts of deliciousness —fried egg on top, avocado, fried yellow onion, ham slices, mushroom, side of sweet plantains, a small piece of beet (used it as a palette cleanser) all on a bed of frites —aka French fries… hehe wanted to be fancy 🧐

My partner ordered the Huevos Rancheros 🍳 and an order of the Banana Bread French Toast 🍌🍞 Both were both EGGcellent.

The staff also gave us a side of maple syrup, strawberry jam and spicy salsa sauce —the two latter looked very similar so it was imperative they pointed out which one was which 😆 the spicy sauce wasn’t exactly that, but it was nonetheless extremely tasty. I wish I could take a whole bottle and put it on all my savory dishes 🤤

We also got a sweetened iced Chai and an iced Mocha. Both were pretty good, although my Chai had a fly in it which was a little off putting 😗 but when you’re in the tropics, what can you do? 🤷🏻‍♀

Nestled in lush greenery in Puerto Viejo, this lil’ cafe operates also as a library/book swap, souvenir shop and laundromat. It definitely gets busy so you may have to wait until someone else leaves. Or, in our case, a nice fellow from Galveston Beach, Texas, USA let us take his spot… shoutout to you John! 🙌 From what I understand, you don’t have to wait to be seated, just find a spot to sit.

With that being said, there were so many different folks from around the world speaking many different languages. It really goes to show how awesome this place is. Bringing people all around the world to this lil’ cafe 🤩

Our experience with the staff was great. The cooks did a fantastic job, and came out at a decent time too. Like I said, the place was PACKED, but we only waited about 15-20 minutes for our food. The two ladies so personable and friendly… didn’t ask for their names but whoever was working on Sunday December 12th, 2021– y’all rocked!

Café Rico definitely lives up to its name and is a true national treasure of Costa Rica 🇨🇷

This Café is the best one in Puerto viejo and so amazing!!! I stayed there for 2 weeks nearly every morning. All the food from the menue is so delicious - and additional they have a daily special.
The staff is very kind - they also let me sit with my laptop even when I finished my meal hours ago.
The atmosphere is soooo special: the café ist not just a café, it’s also a library and laundry. So you have a special vibe with all these wonderful booka from all over the world.
On Saturdays and Sundays musicians underline this special place.
A must visit place!
Best regards, Veronika

Love great coffee? Love nature? Then this cafe is a must-visit while you’re in Puerto Viejo. Beautiful, quiet setting off the main road, with big trees and lush plants - perfect for watching the poison dart frogs, geckos, squirrels, birds, and the resident sloth - if you’re lucky! Highly recommend the banana bread French toast, it’s delicious.

Herrlicher Platz. Ruhe. Beste french toast ever!!! Kaffee super. Schöne Auswahl. Hauseigene Faultiere. Sehr nette Bedingungen. Kommen bald wieder. Absolut empfehlenswert.
After reviewing the prices in comparison to what you get… last years prices did grow awfully… perhaps in all other cafes in town. Really good food but little bit expensive. But Costa Rica seems completely expensive in case of food. Have been here again for pancakes. It is definitely a five star breakfast and the very best coffee in town or I believe at the complete coast.

This was probably my favorite restaurant in Puerto Viejo. Great menu which is infinitely customizable. The food was delicious and the service was even better. Roger was very helpful describing the menu and also answering questions about town. We wanted to go back before we left, but they are closed Thursdays and Fridays 😥. This is a must stop breakfast place!!

We loved this spot so much that we went twice for breakfast! The service and food were both fantastic. We sat in the garden area so the setting was cute and the birds, geckos and frogs kept us entertained. Definitely recommend visiting!

Absolutely MUST visit for breakfast. The coffee is the best and you can’t leave without trying the bread with homemade butter and jam. The resident baby sloth had just turned 1 year old when we were there. I wish we had discovered sooner during our trip…we would not have eaten breakfast anywhere else!

Read the reviews and checked out this spot for breakfast. The owners and staff are very friendly and showed me the baby sloth living on their property. Strong coffee was great as was the food. Super fresh, flavorful. I loved the jam and butter made on site. ❤

a place where time stands still ✨ delicious food, attentive staff, magical space to sit for as long as needed to read your book or a new one you’ve exchanged.

The absolute best meal I've had in Costa Rica! Everything from the coconut shell "platter" lined with banana leaf and the fresh papaya-shoot straw, pointed to how much care and precision is placed into displaying every meal. My natural jugo de piña (pineapple juice) complimented the signature dish, and just because everything sounded delicious, I added a side pancake that arrived lightly dusted with powder sugar, maple syrup, and real mantequilla (butter). Cafe Rico is located only one block over from the various tourist traps along the caribbean sea; tucked away in a lush tropical garden surrounded by books from around the world.

Although this is obviously not owned by the indigenous peoples of the area, and instead a ran by comfortable Ex-Pats from the UK, the island charm is not lost. For the immense quality and organic/vegan options, the prices still cater to even the most frugal of budgets. A must-see for any traveler looking to experience (and taste) #lapuravida! #puertoviejo #limon #CafeRico #CostaRica 😍🇨🇷 #lovejonezin

What a great place. Food was incredible and they really take care of you. Very kid friendly. We have a 2 year old and they brought out a basket full of toys for her. She had a blast and did not want to leave❤

The entrance is easy to miss, but once you find it it is truly a quaint charming cafe with plenty of books to read while you sip your morning coffee. The americano breakfast was delicious, and drinks arrive in the cutest cups. A cafe with lots of character!