Zwart Art Cafe

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#34 of 97 Restaurants in Santa TeresaCafe, South American, $$ - $$$

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Zwart Art Cafe

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Features

CUISINES

Cafe, South American, Costa Rican

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Free Wifi

Seating

Table Service

Takeout

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

Metres North Of Pizza Tomate 50, Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Does this restaurant primarily serve Healthy cuisine?

Yes

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4.2

315 reviews

Excellent

168

Good

Average

Poor

Terrible

DMs

5 contributions

Get the golden milk

Dec 2024 • solo

Got the egg burrito one day it was great the next it wasn’t the best(I think it’s the bean paste that makes it good and it didn’t have as much the second day). My absolute favorite is the golden milk. It is delicious. Have it made with soya. It’s fantastic. The vibe of the employees is great. I went in probably every day for 9 days and the owner never said hi to me. Could be personality I always looked and smiled and she just was very rushed. The employees on the other hand are INCREDIBLE. super nice and kind women that made me feel welcome and that’s why I kept coming back. I just found it strange that with a local place that she would talk to so many people but never really acknowledge me and sometimes I would be in there for an hour. Regardless the place is good and the food is good. If you go in a group you probably wouldn’t even notice.

Written December 28, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SuziSteveC

Edinburgh29 contributions

This place make me happy

Mar 2022 • couples

Enjoyed many breakfasts here during our break in ST. The owner (and artist in residence!) is a lovely lass who clearly cares very much about the world but specifically her customers and her staff who are all frankly darlings! Fresh fruit bowls are a delightful start to anyones day, the pancakes are so light and fluffy and coffee is great. It’s a lovely wee place to hang out with kind people, interesting art, gorgeous dogs and a happy, relaxed vibe. Muchos gracias señorita 😜 P.S. anyone posting negative reviews of this place is clearly missing the point - of Zwart and of pura vida!

Written March 17, 2022

The Walkers

Seattle76 contributions

Artsy breakfast spot

Jan 2020 • couples

We read that service was a bit slow so we came prepared for that. It wasn’t too bad. Slower than you might be used to but we’re here on vacation so we aren’t in a rush. Gave us time to look at the amazing art hanging all over the place, which I assume some of which might don the walls in our home someday (slow by design?). Coffee, ginger lemonade, açaí bowl and coconut cream bowl is what we tried. Very delicious, refreshing, and light enough to avoid the stuffed feeling you might get by eating heavily. Very cute spot, would recommend. If you’re sensitive to the dust I’d suggest sitting in the back.

Written January 22, 2020

santat

Thank you for your lovely review. I certainly appreciate you. We need this energy to offset anything other than the love we try to share, on multiple levels.

Written February 22, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Oskar E

Stockholm17 contributions

Close but no cigarr

Feb 2020 • friends

Could be so good with so little change! Vegan pancakes where, sad to say, really bad! Rubbery and nothing like pancakes at all. I have eaten plenty of good vegan pancakes and Zwarts does not fit in there. The rest of the food and drinks we had was good and the place has a nice vibe. In short: stay clear of the vegan ”so called” pancakes and you should be good! 😉 (And ’yes’, we did mention the pancakes to the waiter. The answer was simply: ”We all have different taste”. 🙈😄 I do agree but a pancake still needs to be at least something that resembles a pancake...)

Written February 6, 2020

santat

Truly sorry about your pancake experience. We have plenty of people that love them. If you’d like to come back we’ll do them again complimentary. May get lucky next time or switch over to a vegan pinto or the açaí bowl. We have plenty of options. Best

Written February 22, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MDL1000

Scotts Valley3 contributions

Zwart's Cafe Santa Teresa Costa Rica: BEWARE OF THIS BUSINESS!!

Jan 2025 • friends

BEWARE OF THIS BUSINESS!! My boyfriend and I visited Zwarts Cafe in January 2025 and I purchased 4 mass printed (IKEA quality) coffee cups.. regularly $20 each, but they had a sale 2 for $15.00. I wanted to help them out (even though the coffee cups were of cheap quality). I gave the woman my credit card, she charged it but said she was unable to give me a receipt but assured me she charged me $60. 00 When I got home I checked my credit card statement and found that she had charged me $120.00 for the 4 mugs. I called my bank and they told me that without a receipt they could not refund the $60 l was overcharged. I then tried messaging Zwarts Cafe on Facebook and Instagram, and FTER 3 weeks, when I didn’t get a response, my boyfriend called Zwarts Cafe and spoke to Margarit, the American owner who spoke English. Margarit told him she did not know how to issue a return, and that she was too busy to do so and then hung up on him. I have not received my money back and according to my bank I will probably never receive a refund. My bank advised me to put this review on Google to warn future customers to use cash only in the exact change for this business, so they aren’t overcharged like I was.

Written February 25, 2025

Freek

Bologna3 contributions

Delicious fresh Food!

Nov 2024 • family

Best Costa Rican coffee in town! Been twice to this place, had a burrito and pancakes both times because it’s super delicious and freshly made. Great place for breakfast and lunch 🙏🏻🇨🇷

Written November 9, 2024

Waterlilymay1

Manuel Antonio48 contributions

Thrifted a book, not much about the cafe

Apr 2023 • solo

I went to get a book only, and this place had quite good collection. However, the bookshelf needs to be more organized. I got w good book though.

Written April 8, 2023

Elisa H

Manhattan Beach45 contributions

Coffee and Chabu

Dec 2020 • none

We love the coffee and we love Chabu. The owner and staff are lovely and we looked coming here to get coffee, smoothies, and doggo love.

Written December 14, 2020

Tom H

Ottawa7 contributions

Breakfast at Zwarts

Feb 2020 • couples

This breakfast and lunch place in Santa Teresa is an amazing experience! We enjoyed some wonderful coffee and a most delicious and filling breakfast! Staff were great and the owner who is also an artist was so wonderful to meet! Gave my wife some great advice when she was not feeling her best! We totally recommend this cafe when you travel to this great Costa Rican town Santa Teresa!

Written February 15, 2020

robbowan

Stockholm759 contributions

Ok, no more

Jan 2020 • friends

OK coffee, no more. Wasn't impressed, but maybe we were there to late in the day. Shelfs were more or less cleaned out.

Written February 1, 2020

santat

What is it you mean by the shelves were more or less cleared out? What is it we are being received for? We have menus? Just trying to understand. Best

Written February 22, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Celine N

Oeiras207 contributions

A Cafe with a true soul

Nov 2019 • couples

This cafe is one of the places that defines Santa Teresa. It s located next to the best access to the beach, the decor is very simple and low key, the staff local and friendly. It s perfect for juices, surfers breakfasts, healthy simple food. I also love the art on the wall, you can just look at it or buy it! Pure and simple.

Written December 20, 2019

santat

Thank you . Always grateful for the hearts that see ours...

Written December 25, 2019

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Colleen T

13 contributions

Excellent

Sep 2019 • friends

I went here three tiles for breakie on a week long trip to Santa Theresa and each time it was great. The owner is marvellous, down to earth and is frequently present in the cafe chatting to locals and tourists. You always know a good spot when the locals frequent it too and this was one of those! The artwork is also amazing, unique and really adds to the ambience of the cafe. Great spot! Definitely check it out

Written September 22, 2019

santat

Your kind words are greatly appreciated . Small business owners get together and celebrate when the positive vibes gurgle over! Thank you! Have a wonderful day .... see you soon!

Written September 25, 2019

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jye

Sydney45 contributions

Pretentious! Don’t bother.

Sep 2019 • none

The owner cares more about her self image and surfer girl status then she does her cafe and customers. Super pretentious vibe which is so off putting. They look at you like you’re intruding by walking in. I had pancakes, the maple syrup was FULL of huge dead ants which ended up all over my breakfast. They replaced the pancakes and didn’t offer anything in return. Charged me a service fee for the shittest service I’ve had in Costa Rica. FOUL P.s if you’re a surfer, stay clear of the owner in the lineup too. 🙄 Cowabunga lady 🤙🏽

Written September 3, 2019

santat

Wow, Super sorry about the ants. Thank you for your helpful comments. I must have been having a bad day at the cafe, and a good day in the water. You don’t know me personally, I would like to think we humans can show a bit of heart. We never know what is behind a persons mood. I apologize if you had an off putting vibe. We all have our days. In the cafe’s defense, we live in the jungle, it’s been a rollercoaster living here keeping life running as a single mom with 6 employees to provide for with a very sporadic mostly tourist client base. I started surfing at 33,, and this is my spot and I have yet to injure anyone but myself!!!I have been many things in my life and I include surfer as one. I hope that you can see there are people running these small businesses on trip advisor, and while we ARE not perfect, most of us attempt to do our best. Zwart cafe is the life source to quite s few people. Who need their job. Please consider this next time. The ants are part of the jungle life and it happens here so quickly... frightening!

Written September 4, 2019

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Susanbrokesmith

26 contributions

The coolest café in santa teresa

Jul 2019 • couples

Visited swart café for breakfast and it was very good! Plenty of options for breakfast or a light meal,everything very fresh! The café is a art gallery which you can visit and even buy things, so the place is very very cool and trendy! Staff is also very friendly and helpfull. Defenitly a must visit!

Written August 3, 2019

santat

Thank you!!!’nnnnn all that love!

Written August 5, 2019

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Niamhyosa

Dublin166 contributions

Delicious coffee and breakfast

Jul 2019 • friends

This cosy café is somewhere you could stay all day. The staff are friendly. The menu was delicious and the coffee was amazing! Lots of variety on the menu, I had the pancakes!

Written July 24, 2019