Discover where to celebrate Thanksgiving in Central America with our curated list of restaurants around the region serving turkey dinners today.
Welcome to our sixth annual Thanksgiving directory! This week every year, we try to make it easier for people looking for a Thanksgiving dinner by putting some options out there.
So if you’re from the States, down here in Central America, and feeling like the full turkey dinner followed by some NFL on the tube, where do you go? After all, Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated all the way down south is it? Does anyone care about Thanksgiving in Central America?
Well, to answer the last question first, people do care about Thanksgiving in Central America. You know who? Gringos care. Especially that flavor of gringos who come from the United States.
And, to answer the first question last, although Thanksgiving isn’t an official holiday in this part of the world (any more than, say, Americans celebrate Guanacaste Annexation Day or Garifuna Settlement Day), people will be celebrating. In fact, in Costa Rica, Thanksgiving became a “day” a couple of years back. Not a holiday in any way, but a recognized day, regardless… something to, basically, attract tourists.
Shops, banks, restaurants, etc. will be open like a regular Thursday. Because, down here, it is a regular Thursday. But you’ll find a place to celebrate, for sure. We’ve scoured the internet and social media looking for Thanksgiving recommendations throughout Central America so you don’t have to:
Belize
Celebrating Thanksgiving in Belize? Here are some places to check out:
- Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill (Caye Caulker)
- Abrazos Restaurant at Villa Abrazos (San Pedro)
- Placencia Beach Club (Placencia)
- Bellavi’s Bistro (Belmopan)
- Vino Tinto (Belize City)
- Smokeez Seaside Restaurant & Bar (Belize City)
Guatemala
If you need a place to do Thanksgiving in Guatemala, look right here:
- Restaurante Las Palmas (Antigua)
- Aqua Antigua (Antigua)
- Real Intercontinental Guatemala (Zona 10, Guatemala City)
- Porta Hotel (Antigua)
Honduras
Thanksgiving in Honduras needn’t be difficult to celebrate if you know where to go:
- Bella’s Place (Roatán)
- Roatán Island Brewing Co. (Roátan)
- Utila Lodge (Utila)
- Copantl Hotel (San Pedro Sula)
- InterContinental Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa)
El Salvador
If you’re looking for a place to celebrate Thanksgiving with a feast in El Salvador, it helps if you’re in the capital:
- Jorner El Salvador (San Salvador)
- States Diner (San Salvador)
- Cadejo La Montaña (San Salvador)
Nicaragua
If you’re in Nicaragua this Thanksgiving, here’s where to get your turkey-flavored treats (also, join this Facebook group for more info):
- Big Wave Dave’s (San Juan del Sur)
- Jimmy Three Fingers (Managua)
- Hogs Breath Saloon (Granada)
- Pan de Mama (Ometepe)
Costa Rica
There are tons of places celebrating Thanksgiving in Costa Rica – as we mentioned above, Thanksgiving is a “day” in the Land of Pura Vida. Here a few to check out:
- Chubbs Escazu (Escazu, San José)
- Perlas Gastro Pub (Playa Potrero)
- Longboards BBQ (Tamarindo)
- Angelinas (Flamingo)
- Rolling Thunder Saloon (Jacó)
- Shana by the Beach (Manuel Antonio)
Panama
Finding a Thanksgiving dinner in Panama was challenging last year – protests and blockades disrupted the supply chain somewhat. This year is different, though, and things are back to normal. One thing though – it’s Independence Day in Panama today, meaning that many places will place more emphasis on that, rather than American Thanksgiving. That said, there are still some places around to get your turkey on:
- Frank’s Place (Panama City)
- Austin Mamas (Costa del Este, Panama City)
- The Rock Restaurant (Boquete)
- Cosmic Crab Resort (Bocas del Toro)
Happy Thanksgiving Central America!
We hope this gives you some idea of where to enjoy Thanksgiving in Central America, wherever you are. And if you’re in doubt, pretty much any hotel will probably have something happening. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing tomorrow, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
