Nekajui Resort Brings High-End Culinary Experiences to Costa Rica
The new Ritz-Carlton Reserve features world-class coffee programs and expert-led Peruvian dining.
1Luxury Arrival in Papagayo
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, officially opened in February 2025 on Costa Rica’s lush Papagayo Peninsula. Spanning 1400 acres, the resort offers 107 rooms and suites featuring carved wood motifs and private plunge pools. Guests access the beach via a dramatic funicular that descends cliffs populated by local wildlife like howler monkeys.
2Global Culinary Fusion
Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz leads the property’s dining program, including the main restaurant Puna and the intimate six-seat counter, Paruro. Muñoz brings experience from renowned Spanish establishments to create fusion dishes. His menu highlights local seafood and unique ingredients, featuring standout items like a deboned, prawn-stuffed chicken wing served across both venues.
3Exclusive Cocktail Culture
The resort features Cooper’s, an invite-only speakeasy-style bar that emphasizes adventurous local distillates. The menu incorporates unconventional ingredients such as goat cheese, cascara, and mango leaf into classic cocktail riffs. Guests can secure access to this moody space by engaging with their personal concierge or building rapport with the service staff.
4Specialized Coffee Program
Café Rincon houses an on-site micro-roastery managed by Fabi Rojas, who sources beans from all seven of Costa Rica’s coffee-growing regions. The program highlights the country's diverse flavor profiles, ranging from coastal crowd-pleasers to high-altitude, prize-winning geishas. Rojas maintains direct relationships with local farmers to ensure access to these premium harvests.
5The Vandola Brewing Method
The resort promotes the use of the vandola, a unique one-piece clay carafe and pour-over cone designed by Minor Alfaro in 2015. This ceramic vessel helps maintain coffee aromas while the base valve allows for gentle oxygenation. This process is intended to sweeten the flavor profile compared to traditional brewing methods.
6Regional Ingredient Sourcing
Chef Muñoz prioritizes local ingredients that are traditionally uncommon on Costa Rican menus. Despite the country’s vast marine territory, sourcing fresh, high-quality seafood remains a logistical challenge for the culinary team. By focusing on these regional elements, the resort aims to elevate the local gastronomic identity within a high-end luxury context.
7Design and Guest Experience
The architecture of Nekajui emphasizes a connection to the Guanacaste region through outdoor access and traditional wood motifs. Villas and treetop tents provide expansive living spaces for larger parties. The property’s layout integrates the main campus with natural features, including a secluded beach cave and warm, bath-like ocean waters for guests.
8Strategic Market Positioning
As the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central or South America, Nekajui targets travelers seeking a complete escape in remote environments. By combining high-level culinary expertise with a hyper-local focus on coffee and spirits, the resort differentiates itself from standard luxury offerings, positioning the property as a destination for serious food enthusiasts.
Original article: Bon Appétit — Nekajui Resort Brings High-End Culinary Experiences to Costa Rica