Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. Costa Rica
  3. Costa Rica
  4. Alajuela
  5. Alajuela
Don Rufino, La Fortuna, L Fortuna

Don Rufino

4.7
4.7
658 Reviews
$30 and under
International

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 28 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
  • Great for fine wines
Don Rufino is about contemporary food, with a local touch. Fine, local, fresh ingredients, the use of novel cooking techniques and great passion, are the main components found in our kitchen and in each dish served.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    International, Fusion / Eclectic, Meat
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00–16:00 Dinner Daily 17:00–21:30
  • Phone number
    2479 9997
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Santiago Fernández Benedeto

What 658 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Costa Rica

    Best Overall

  • Costa Rica

    Best Food

  • Costa Rica

    Best Service

  • Costa Rica

    Innovative

  • Costa Rica

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Don Rufino in La Fortuna is a culinary gem, offering a "phenomenal dining experience" with innovative local ingredients. Patrons rave about the "amazing service" and "creative, flavorful dishes" like the Grandma chicken and bone marrow. The ambiance and extensive wine list enhance the upscale, memorable experience. Highly recommended for special occasions.

658 Reviews
  1. Kelly

    VIP

    Houston

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I eat here every time I come to La Fortuna. The food is the highest quality, creative dishes, wonderful cocktails. You will be amazed!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Gary

    Washington DC

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent food and nice presentation. Service just OK. Not quite snotty but definitely not attentive. Never asked how food was after being served. Seemed more like a factory for getting people in and out.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Yuriy

    New York City

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Tourist trap. We had ceviche, Grandma's chicken, and robalo white fish. Food was below average as far as taste, though well presented. Considering that prices are 1.5 to 2x over most of the restaurants in town, I kept wondering, why is it relatively well reviewed? As far as the ambience goes, the restaurant is nicely decorated inside, but you get a view of the gas station & appliances store across the street. Service was good. Overall, I think you could do better in almost any other restaurant in town.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Cat

    VIP

    Minneapolis

    36 reviews

    3.0

    36 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Great food but poor service and loud ambience. (Realizing we went on Valentine's day)

    Is this helpful?

  5. William

    VIP

    Tahoe

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really enjoyed this place. From the drink service by cart to the presentation of the food to the attentive staff all were perfect.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Kristýna

    Costa Rica

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food. Great place. Must do when in La Fortuna. Found this place in some blog post as a rec and that was a great rec. Really excellent dishes, perfectly seasoned and combined tastes tohether. Higly recommend

    Is this helpful?

  7. Kate

    Yorkshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service would defo recommend. Great location too

    Is this helpful?

  8. Amy

    Washington DC

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on 5 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If your dining experience is important to your travels, this is the place that is worth the splurge. Exemplary service, wine that was remarkable, and the food was thoughtful, creative, and delicious. The desserts are Michelin Star worthy. Yeah, that good.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Abraham

    Fort Lauderdale

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 February 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was horrible would not recommend. Pricey and not worth it

    Is this helpful?

  10. Chef Jewel

    New Orleans

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 31 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was amazing. Thank you for making my girls birthday dinner amazing.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Don Rufino is rated 4.7 stars by 658 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 28 times today
Google Map for Don Rufino

Calle 466 Ave 142, Downtown, La Fortuna, L Fortuna 1417

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    Alajuela
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00–16:00 Dinner Daily 17:00–21:30
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    International, Fusion / Eclectic, Meat
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Santiago Fernández Benedeto
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo