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Silvestre, San José, San Jose

Silvestre

4.7
4.7
907 Reviews
$30 and under
Latin American
Calle 3A - Ave. 11 - 955, Downtown, San José, San Jose 10101

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
7:00 pm
Booked 9 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
  • Fancy
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.

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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
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Santiago Fernández Benedetto

What 907 people are saying

Silvestre reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Costa Rica

    Innovative

  • Costa Rica

    Good for special occasions

  • Costa Rica

    Most Booked

  • San José

    Best Overall

  • San José

    Best Food

  • San José

    Best Service

  • San José

    Best Ambience

  • San José

    Innovative

  • San José

    Healthy

  • San José

    Hot spot

  • San José

    Neighbourhood gem

  • San José

    Great for fine wines

  • San José

    Romantic

  • San José

    Good for special occasions

  • San José

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Silvestre offers a memorable culinary journey steeped in Costa Rican heritage. The "alma tasting menu" is celebrated for its creative storytelling and "exquisite food." Guests highlight the "warm, knowledgeable" service, with standout servers like Paloma enhancing the experience. Though some find the flavors inconsistent, the restaurant's setting and ambiance provide a "unique experience."
907 Reviews
  1. Rhys

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A truly excellent culinary experience with flavours I had never experienced before. Fantastic service that was personal and informative. Presentation of the food and the classic stylings of the food made it all visually stunning

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  2. Claudio

    Costa Rica3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome experience, you need to try this at least one time while you in Costa Rica

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  3. Hector

    Costa Rica1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 6 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is excellent. You will be pleasantly surprised by the combinations and inventions of the chef. Definitely a great option, if you like to try a variety of different flavours.

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  4. Kyle

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 6 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Alma tasting menu was incredibly creative, clever, and surprisingly. It showcased Costa Rican history, culture, geography, and cuisine across seven outstanding courses. The Silvestre beverage pairing of house fermented wines was an excellent companion for the courses. Our server kindly and enthusiastically explained the dishes and their significance to us. This experience is not to be missed for visitors to San Jose.

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  5. Troi

    Seattle2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 3 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience and amazing food! My wife deeply enjoyed the tasting menu and the journey the tasting menu took her on. I adore watching her joy and experiencing a delicious meal as well.

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  6. Randall

    Costa Rica3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 30 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Extraordinary! Legendary! Exquisite food and finest attention.

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  7. Tara

    Costa Rica1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 29 March 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    **Exceptional Service, Disappointing 7-Course Tasting with Wine Pairing** We dined at Silvestre and chose the 7-course tasting menu with the classic wine pairing, expecting a standout culinary experience. While the service was absolutely top-notch—warm, knowledgeable, and perfectly attentive—the food fell surprisingly short. Each course was beautifully plated, and the wines were thoughtfully selected, but the flavors in the dishes didn’t live up to the presentation or the pairings. Some courses lacked seasoning or cohesion, and a few just didn’t hit the mark. For a tasting menu at this level, we expected much more in terms of depth and balance. We truly appreciated the effort and professionalism of the staff, which was the saving grace of the evening. Unfortunately, the food didn’t match the high standard of service—or the price.

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  8. Caroline VIP

    Charlotte2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 28 March 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    On Thursday night, March 27, 2025, we had a mixed experience at this restaurant. The food was delightful and very filling, especially when we ordered a few shared dishes and an entree. However, the tuna dish had a slightly overpowering fishy taste. The cocktails, on the other hand, were well-crafted and enjoyable. At the end of the meal, we requested separate checks. I paid my bill last, and the server then asked me if I wanted to include a tip for my table. I mentioned that tip and tax were already included with the meal, but the server told me that this wasn’t the usual practice and that tip was charged separately. I asked if he had already charged my friends for their portion of the bill, and he said he had not. I then met up with my friends, and we paid the tip for the 10% service charge in cash. Later, when we reviewed one of the restaurant receipts, we discovered that we had already been charged a 10% service fee and a 13% sales tax, which meant the server had double-charged us for the tip, and we ended up paying a total of 20% in service/tip. Additionally, the server mentioned that he had "forgotten" to include the 10% service fee when he charged each of us for our portion of the bill, which seemed suspicious. While we enjoyed the meals, due to this unfortunate scam by the server, we will not be returning, and we will make sure to let everyone we know avoid this place.

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  9. Arjen

    Tokyo5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 28 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best culinary souvenir of Costa Rica! And a keepsake to remember it all by to boot! A beautifully restored old house is the backdrop for a journey around Costa Rica, with history, culture and tradition thrown in, as you savour beautifully presented dishes made with local ingredients. The ‘alma’ tasting menu forever ensures your soul and that of Costa Rica remain connected. And a shout-out ti the wonderful team and Paloma for helping make the night one to never forget. Muchísimas gracias!

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  10. Daniela

    Mexico City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 28 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Me encantó la experiencia, definitivamente vale la pena el menú, las presentaciones bellísimas y también los sabores. Cada platillo tiene una intención y historia que te van contando con un mapa del país. Si es caro pero es una buena experiencia. El servicio excelente, nos tocó que nos atendiera Jesús 🫶🏻

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FAQs

Silvestre is rated 4.7 stars by 907 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. Costa Rica
  3. Costa Rica
  4. San José
  5. San José

Make a booking


Booked 9 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
  • Area
    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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