No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsDining and NightlifeEl Avión: A restaurant in plane site

El Avión: A restaurant in plane site

The Fairchild C-123 in Manuel Antonio is shocking on many levels: The first thing you notice is that the nose of an airplane is sticking out of a restaurant. Its presence is so surprising that your car might weave a little as you drive past. The plane is old and rugged-looking, painted the olive-drab color of U.S. military equipment.

But more shocking still is its story: During the Nicaraguan Civil War, the CIA used two such planes for secret missions. When one of the planes was shot down, the world learned that the U.S. had been covertly aiding counter-revolutionaries, and the Iran-Contra Scandal was blown wide open. The second plane was abandoned until 2000, when the owners of El Avión purchased the plane and incorporated it into their restaurant’s architecture. The name “El Avión” literally means “the airplane.”

This airplane’s twin sister set off an international scandal when it was shot down while delivering supplies to counter-revolutionary forces in Nicaragua. Three of the four crew members died in the incident.  The survivor, Eugene Hasenfus, was captured by Contra forces. Some business cards in Hasenfus’s wallet, along with the felled plane’s logbooks, revealed that the CIA was behind the airdrops. Norman Stockwell wrote a great account of the incident here.

The symbolism of the cargo plane is pretty heavy, but the restaurant is not. The two open-air dining rooms are large and relaxed, the cocktails bars are well stocked, and the service is extremely friendly. If you sit by the edge, you’ll enjoy one of the most spectacular views on Manuel Antonio – a sprawling valley of dense woods, which sprawls around the water and frames a small island. The menu is a cornucopia of steaks, burgers, and sandwiches, and despite the gimmick and the panorama, eating there is very affordable, especially for the area.

While the titular airplane was once used for shifty black ops, it is now a place of happy revelry: Guests can photograph themselves in the cockpit, and the fuselage is home to a full-service bar. The interior walls are plastered in bumper stickers, ensuring a good-humored atmosphere. The plane itself is a monument to Costa Rica’s darkest period, but El Avión is a testament to its bright future.

Robert Isenberg/The Tico Times
Robert Isenberg/The Tico Times

Trending Now

Low Dollar Exchange Rate Threatens Costa Rican Industry

Ten of Costa Rica’s leading business chambers have sent a joint letter to the Central Bank calling for an immediate adjustment to the country's...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

Remittances to Central America Surge 20% Amid U.S. Deportation Fears

Family remittances in Central America grew by around 20% in the first half of 2025, according to official data—a rise that experts attribute to...

Costa Rica Faces Economic Blow as Intel, Pfizer, and Qorvo Announce Restructuring

Intel announced that it will shut down its chip assembly and test plant in Costa Rica, part of a broader global restructuring aimed at...

Keylor Navas Joins Pumas After Controversial Exit from Newell’s

Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas is officially the newest player for Pumas UNAM, but his move from Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys has been anything...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica