W Restaurants

from Howler Dining Guide June 2019

by Howler Media Holding, Inc.

Three Restaurants at W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal are Open to the Public

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Come On In … We’re Open!

by Rachel Cherry White

We love Costa Rica: the

weather, the beaches, the people and the food. Now, by opening three new restaurants in Reserva Conchal, the W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal has significantly enhanced our foodie scene in Guanacaste, adding new variety to tempt our tastebuds while putting a fresh twist on the Tico cuisine we know and love.

Head chef Julio Cesar Valdivia oversees all of the restaurants and was integral in creating the concept for each.

His philosophy is simple, but fun. “I always try to use local ingredients,” he says. “I simply use the best products and try to

surprise the guest.”

His innovative menus feature “elevated Costa Rican dishes”, and you may be surprised at what he can do with our humble gallo pinto.

While Valdivia hails from and studied the culinary arts in Peru, he’s worked all over the world including Dubai, Colombia and India.

The three restaurants are open to the public and each features different foods for whatever your mood. All of the menus are seasonal and will be changed periodically to freshen things up, while keeping signature dishes in place.

ZO NA

A ZUL

BEACH CLUB

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Cocina de Mercado

With an open kitchen allowing guests to interact with the chef, this market-inspired restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a casual place to mix and mingle, with both an air-conditioned indoor space and outdoor seating. Breakfast is international with a local flair, featuring café chorreado, a juice bar, pancake stations and more. Lunch and dinner items include salads, brick-oven pizzas and other comfort foods.

Must-try: Lamb shank cooked 18 hours and served with coriander risotto, with warm apple pie for dessert, topped with cerveza ice cream (a nod to the hotel owners who also own Imperial) and caramel sauce.

WHATEVER /

WHENEVER®

How to get in on the action Contact the Whatever / Whenever team to make your reservations, 24/7.

Call: 2654-3600 WhatsApp: 8489-7458

Latitud 10° Norte

Explore a labyrinth of exotic flavors in this boutique bistro, serving more sophisticated fare. Both Costa Rica and Thailand fall on the same latitudinal lines, and the dining room takes full advantage, serving traditional Latin American cuisine with Thai inspiration.

“Costa Rica is home to 4 percent of the world's biodiversity, which means we have 4 percent of the ingredients right at our fingertips,” says Hector Ladeveze, general manager of the W.

Must-try: Slow-cooked short ribs or shrimp chorreada (the chef ’s reinvention of a classic Latin American breakfast food is the breading for the shrimp). Then for dessert, take your tastebuds to indescribable heights of delight with la degustación del cacao, a multi-layered fusion of cacao tastes and textures.

Zona Azul

At this vibrant adult playground, the food is beach club but better. The irreverent menu serves up big portions and even bigger flavor. The food is relaxed, unfussy and easy-to-eat poolside.

Must try: Boss burger, followed by pecan pie for dessert.

We haven’t even talked about the mixologists and the wide array of cocktails served up at these new W Hotel dining spots. Check out our Dining Guide in future Howler issues for more information. In the coming months, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at each restaurant, including interviews with the chefs. In the meantime, go taste for yourself how they’re breaking new ground in Costa Rican cuisine.

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cool things to do every day

Monday 3 to 4pm MASTERS OF MIX

Cocktail tasting and mixing lessons at the Living Room Bar so you can be a Mixmaster too.

$25

Tuesday 11:30am to 12:30pm HANDS ON

Hang out with the chefs and learn some new cooking tips for your fave meal. $45 includes welcome cocktail and ceviche bar with four recipes.

Wednesday 7 to 9pm UNPLUGGED

Chill in the Living Room with some live music.

Thursday 8pm to Midnight

FUNK SESSIONS Get dressed in your funkiest outfits and enjoy classic cocktails while grooving to the oldies.

Hours Breakfast: Mon-Fri, 6:30-10:30am