San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience - Fine Dining Restaurants in Monteverde, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

The location and the private pod you get are fantastic. The 6 courses rating menu we had was a journey around Costa Rica. The food was amazingly good, if this was in Europe it would have a Michelin star. The staff were great. I cannot recommend this place enough.

San Lucas Treetop Dining in Monteverde is pure magic. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a deeply immersive culinary journey through the diverse regions and flavors of Costa Rica. My fiance and I chose the 9-course sunset tasting menu ($172 per person/tax & tip included), and it instantly became one of our Top 3 dining experiences worldwide. First things first—this is an exclusive experience. San Lucas only serves 8 or 9 private glass pods per sunset slot, so reservations are a must. Sunset experience is a 9 course menu whereas Lunch and Late Dinner sittings can be 6 or 9. They are very punctual, and for good reason: the timing of each course and the sunset seating are all carefully choreographed. We unfortunately had a misty/cloudy evening so we didn't witness the sunset in full effect, but spectacular regardless. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted at the gates where your reservation is confirmed, then whisked away in a golf cart past the property’s gates and up through a beautiful, forested complex. It already feels like something special before you even sit down. Once seated in your pod (perched among the trees), your specialized server/guide introduces the surprise menu—each course inspired by a different region of Costa Rica and created using seasonal, local ingredients. Ours was led by Jeffrey, who went above and beyond to make our engagement celebration memorable. He explained each regional course with warmth and passion, and even gave us a ride back afterward to meet our taxi. Truly exceptional service. Our 9-course experience included: 1. Beginning the Journey – Artisanal breads, mushroom butter, agua de sapo sphere 2. Puntarenas: The Rich Coast – Smoked fish & piangua ceviche, oysters, tuna caldosa, naranjilla juice 3. Guanacaste: Pujagua Corn – Pork empanada with chicasquil, lemon gel, and ancestral corn 4. Limón: Mekatelyu sometin – Scallops with coconut air and Caribbean sauce 5. Cartago: Mountains and Volcanoes – Confit potatoes with duck magret and Emmental cheese (my personal favorite) 6. San José: Where Cultures Blend – NY Strip with avocado cream, kale, puffed rice, and plantain (a close second) 7. Heredia: Farmer’s Market – Pineapple, lime sorbet, ginger, coconut water 8. Alajuela: Mangos and Nicknames – Squash dessert with caramelized pecans and sugar cane honey 9. Monteverde: Golden Treasure – A sweet final bite to complete the journey Each dish is a work of art, and Jeffrey shared the cultural and culinary stories behind the ingredients—turning the meal into an exploration of Costa Rica itself. The cocktails are also fantastic. We tried a rich Old Fashioned, the bold and herbal Golden Toad Poison, and a perfectly balanced Spicy Margarita. Highly recommend adding the drink experience. They offer pescetarian, vegetarian, and vegan versions of the menu as well, but note: dietary restrictions must be communicated in advance due to the surprise format and nature of the dishes. Final tips: Arrive on time—everything is timed and limited Choose the sunset seating if you can Ask for Jeffrey—he’s phenomenal Be ready to slow down, savor, and be surprised San Lucas Treetop Dining is not just a meal—it’s a celebration of Costa Rica’s soul. If you’re in Monteverde, do not miss this experience.

Such a fun experience! We did the 9 course dinner with one of the cocktail pairings and another wine pairing for a honeymoon celebration dinner. Some of the food and drinks are better than others, but it is a really fun dinner and they have done a great job making it a once in a lifetime experience. We loved the “passport” through the different regions of Costa Rica (each course is supposed to represent a different region) and they did a little magic trick at the end (no spoilers!). It is pricey ($515 for the dinner for 2 + the wine and cocktail pairings) and don’t expect the same quality of food you might in like NYC or another big food city, but it is a really unique experience we both thoroughly enjoyed for a fancier meal.

What a unique experience. A private glass pod in a tree house on the side of a mountain is pretty spectacular. I ended up dining alone as I tacked an additional day onto a business trip and my partner was not here and the team made it extra nice for me with a very friendly and engaging service by Jeffrey, who was just fantastic. All 9 courses were so unique and told a true Costa Rican story all along the way with very beautiful presentation and very unique flavors. I was very impressed with the entire experience as it was very well thought out, easy to book, easy to execute. It did take the roughly 2.5+ hours so it’s a full on experience and hope to come back some day. Thanks to you all for a great experience to end my final night in Monteverde before a bunch of business meetings. It was very special, including the exploding chocolate at the beginning and the magic trick at the end ;)

This place was breathtaking! We did the sunset seating with the 9 course tasting and cocktail pairing. Such a great experience with Fabio. Service was impeccable. The food options were creative, varied and delicious. I'm not posting food pics to keep the experience a surprise. They have blankets in case you get chilly. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! Our group adored our wonderful server Erick and bartender Daniel. They made us feel like royalty. The food was exceptional and paired perfectly with the knowledge we learned of Costa Rica and it's culture! It was interactive, insightful, and delicious! We were also surprised with a fun celebration for our 6 year wedding anniversary! This was on our first day visiting Costa Rica, and it truly set the standard for our trip! I cannot recommend this experience enough! Worth it, book it, enjoy it!

We had a good time overall, some dishes were amazing and the view and location is unique. The kids menu is not worth the price but still a good option so that your kids have an exciting time as well. However, our dinner lasted nearly 3.5 hours instead of max 2.5 we were told, so our daughter fell asleep and couldn’t enjoy the last two meals. When I raised this at checkout there was no explanation or apology. Also my emails went unanswered.

The location, view, atmosphere, and presentation are absolutely impeccable. Service was excellent - special thanks to Fabio, who truly elevated the evening. A few dishes stood out and were genuinely enjoyable, though others fell short, particularly the oysters, which didn’t meet the standard expected of a place like this. The Brut we ordered also lacked quality and tasted rather cheap. Overall, we had a pleasant evening and I would still recommend visiting for the ambiance and service. That said, the value for money is somewhat debatable.