No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeDiningOld recipe, new twist

Old recipe, new twist

Black bean soup is as old as the hills – but this version at El Sano Banano made the recipe seem new again. Thick, savory, and delicious, the soup is like a liquid version of refried beans. Add a butterfly drawn with sour cream and the warm glow of candlelight, and even paradise gets a little more perfect.

Located on a main street (there are really only two) in downtown Montezuma, El Sano Banano Village Hotel & Restaurant is famous for its comfy rooms, rainforest aesthetic, and scrumptious menu. The restaurant is the kind place where you can dress in a polo shirt and cargo pants and still dine like a yacht club member. The restaurant also hosts various cultural events, including movie screenings.

Montezuma caters to itinerant surfers and backpackers, and the town is packed with guest houses, hostels, and cabinas. But for folks who prefer middle-class lodging and first-rate meals, El Sano Banano is worth the higher price. And if you’re feeling feisty, you can almost always step outside at night and see a crowd of hula-hoopers or fire-throwers. It’s just that kind of town.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Celebrates Father’s Day the Tico Way — Slowly and Together

Across Costa Rica today, you're going to get the smell of slow-cooked meat drifting over backyard walls, while abuelo (grandfather) is being handed the...

Panama to Adopt Bukele-Style Prison Measures After La Joyita Escape

Panama will adopt the kind of "hardline" prison reforms of its Latin American neighbors to address failures of its penal system following a mass...

Costa Rica Wildlife Cameras Capture Rare Swamp Eel Encounters

I should have a near zero percent chance of recording freshwater eels with my camera traps. Not only are they found underwater, but they’re...

Costa Rica Lawmaker Challenges ACAM Over Music Royalty Fees

A ruling-party lawmaker has opened a public challenge against ACAM, the association that collects music copyright payments in Costa Rica, raising questions that matter...

Costa Rica Beach Town Debates Moving Nightlife Out of Downtown

Garabito Mayor Francisco González has opened a heated debate over the future of Jacó’s nightlife, proposing that the canton use its regulatory plan to...

Rip Currents, High Surf Threaten Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast

Those heading to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast this week are being urged to use caution as higher surf, rip currents and a pair of...

Family Confirms Body Found in Costa Rica Is Missing U.S. Tourist

The family of Ashley Nicole Phillips has confirmed that a body found in a river in Barú de Pérez Zeledón is the missing 30-year-old...

Enormous Papagayo Resort Collides With Costa Rica’s Forest Law

On a stretch of Pacific coastline inside the Golfo de Papagayo tourism zone, an ongoing standoff between developers and environmental advocates reached a new...

Costa Rica’s Route 32 Faces Lane Closures Into Early July

Drivers using Route 32, the main highway between San José and the Caribbean port city of Limón, should plan for lane closures on the...
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel