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Silvestre, San José, San Jose

Silvestre

4.8
4.8
890 Reviews
$30 and under
Latin American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 19 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Innovative
Silvestre is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of San José, Costa Rica. Chef Santiago Fernández offers a well-thought-out, curated small seasonal menu that brings you the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Silvestre is a worthy stop, as part of your exploration of the city, also perfect for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion. We also offer an impressive conceptual menú degustación about the Costa Rican soul, its flavors and everything in between.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Latin American, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Latin
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm
  • Phone number
    8308 3388
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Santiago Fernández Benedetto
  • Neighbourhood
    San José
  • Cross Street
    Calle 3A - Ave. 11
  • Parking details
    Valet Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 890 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Costa Rica

    Best Overall

  • Costa Rica

    Innovative

  • Costa Rica

    Good for special occasions

  • San José

    Best Overall

  • San José

    Best Food

  • San José

    Best Service

  • San José

    Best Ambience

  • San José

    Best Value

  • San José

    Innovative

  • San José

    Good for groups

  • San José

    Healthy

  • San José

    Great for fine wines

  • San José

    Great for outdoor dining

  • San José

    Romantic

  • San José

    Good for special occasions

  • San José

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Silvestre offers a truly exceptional dining experience in a beautiful historic setting. Guests rave about the "unique dining experience," "wonderful and flavorful food," and "superb service." The tasting menu, often described as a "culinary journey," features innovative dishes that tell a story, deeply connecting with Costa Rican culture. The attentive staff and cozy atmosphere make it a "must-visit" for food enthusiasts.

890 Reviews
  1. Visabella

    Central Coast1 review

    2.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Review of El Silvestre, San José, Costa Rica – 2/5 Stars Ah, El Silvestre—where artistic ambition and culinary execution seem to have had a bit of a falling-out. If you’re looking for an avant-garde dining experience that leans more into “concept” than “delicious,” you’ve found your spot. But if you’re hoping for a meal that actually delivers on flavor and service? Well, buckle up. Let’s start with the first course: a minimalist masterpiece (and by “masterpiece,” I mean two literal lines of food—one of beans, one of palm bits—with a lone yuca croquette). The drink pairing? A house vermouth with Costa Rican water apple, which sounded promising but didn’t exactly kick things off with a bang. One thing they did get right was the interactive element: with each course, you’re given a little keepsake to help build a Costa Rican map. A cute idea, though it does make you wonder—should the highlight of a fine dining experience be a craft project? The second course featured a sardine sitting atop a fish cake, accessorized with a cracker made from its own bones. A bold move, sure, but not exactly the most enticing bite. Meanwhile, “Pacific Side” offered lion fish tartare? between crackers, which was… fine. Then came my least favorite course: an aggressively dry corn cob with a dusting of spicy berry powder, supposedly meant to evoke butter and cheese. The biscuit that accompanied it claimed to have jam inside of the corn cob, but the secret filling was so well hidden I had to interrogate the server to confirm its existence. The biscuit itself? Overloaded with baking powder, which made it feel like a chemistry experiment gone wrong. The fourth course was a real head-scratcher: a cauliflower tamal sculpture with a smiley face (yes, really), alongside collard greens, sausage, homemade ketchup, and crispy carrots. If you’ve ever dreamed of a fine-dining hot dog, congratulations—your moment has arrived. Full Review on Google

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  2. Aaron

    Costa Rica1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Tasting Menu at Silvestre was not only dellicious but also a very fun experience. Thanks so much for a memorable night

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  3. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Pittsburgh2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 3, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    My wife and I were expecting great things as reviews were consistently good. Food was mediocre. Expensive. Wine by glass choices were not a good value. Main dining area filled up and was quite noisy. Back patio looked charming but had limited tables. Saving grace was the delightful server Paloma. We would not return.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It is pricy but worth it. Drinks are great, desserts no so much

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  5. Michael1964

    Monterrey6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Acabo de llegar de almorzar en el restaurante y me encantó. ¡Excelente servicio, excelente concepto, excelentes platos, y excelente ambiente! Felicitaciones.

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  6. AlejandraL

    Costa Rica2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    La comida estaba deliciosa, la experiencia muy buena y definitivamente volveremos. Estabamos de aniversario y nos chinearon mucho! Se los agradezco con el corazon.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 27, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Beautiful creative cuisine, beautiful local produce. every little detail was very interesting. but the menu was a bit heavy, lots of "gluten", also lacking a lot of freshness and herbes. Overall great ingredients, a cuisine that lacks a lot of punch and freshness.

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  8. Carlos

    Costa Rica3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience with the “menu degustacion” and great food as always!!! The waiters really know about the product.

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  9. Fabiola

    Costa Rica1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Una experiencia muy interesante y agradable. Los sabores y la creatividad imperan. El servicio del personal es superior

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  10. Catherine

    Toronto6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hands down one of the best meals we’ve had around the world. We enjoyed a couple cocktails to start followed by the Alma Tasting Menu with Chef’s Wine Pairing. This was a truly unique experience savouring indigenous ingredients in 7 courses in thoughtful and playful ways as we explored foods throughout the country. We didn’t want it to end. Everyone was so attentive, accommodating a food allergy, carefully explaining every dish and we never felt like anything was rushed or that we were waiting for the next dish. Muchas Gracias

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FAQs

Silvestre is rated 4.8 stars by 890 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 19 times today
Google Map for Silvestre

Calle 3A - Ave. 11 - 955, Downtown, San José, San Jose 10101

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Calle 3A - Ave. 11
  • Neighbourhood
    San José
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Latin American, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Latin
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Santiago Fernández Benedetto
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
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