Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pura Vida

    4.2 (10 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Waitlist - Pura Vida

    Live Current wait: 0 mins

    Pura Vida Reservations

    Order Pura Vida Takeout or Delivery

    Pura Vida Photos

    Business Info

    Recommended Reviews - Pura Vida

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Geraldine G.

    Very good first time experience with Costa Rican food. We went with the recommendations and the only thing I wish I had tried was the ceviche but that's for next time. Must try is the Costa Rican coffee served in a traditional manner. Next must try is their empanadas! Housemade and the dough is phenomenal. Filling we tried was beef.

    House Salad, Tropical Shrimps Paradise on Crispy Plantains, Casados / Pura Vida Special with Grilled Fish, Arroz con Camarones
    Sel Z.

    Having newly opened, Pura Vida already garners word of mouth as being a cozy and casual spot for Costa Rican food in the city. The interior is bright, airy, and inviting, with lots of greens and a big screen depicting Costa Rica's rainforest. The ambience if very casual. They offer dine-in, take-out, and delivery. Service is fast and friendly. There are street parking and Green P parking nearby, as well as TTC stops (bus, streetcar, subway) only steps away - a very convenient location to get to! They serve Costa Rican classics such as gallo pinto, fried plantains, all-day breakfast, tacos, empanadas, and soups. All the dishes we tried were excellent, with colourful plates, lots of vegetables, and nice flavours. 1) House Salad (spinach, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, carrot, white onion, avocado) - Fresh, good portion, good mix of vegetables in a salad. 2) Tropical Shrimps Paradise on Crispy Plantains (shrimps, mango, red onions, garlic, avocado, and cilantro, served on fried green plantains) - I thought this dish was unique, modern, and inventive by mixing the ingredients that you'd typically find in a ceviche, and putting them onto crispy vessels of fried plantains (that stayed crispy despite the wetness of the content that they were holding). Each bite consisted of the crispy plantain and burst of flavour of the shrimps, chunks of mango, cilantro, and other ingredients. It tasted refreshing and had a bit of a kick (perhaps from the garlic). 3) Casados / Pura Vida Special (gallo pinto (Costa Rican-flavoured rice and beans) with coleslaw, mixed vegetables, fried plantains, and choice of protein) - We chose grilled cod fish fillet as the protein selection. This dish was hearty and had the best of Costa Rican staples. 4) Arroz con Camarones (Spanish yellow rice mixed with shrimps and vegetables, served with house salad) - This came out a bit different from the Arroz con Camarones that I was used to at other Central American establishments. The rice was more akin to fried rice with shrimps with peas and carrots, but it was still pretty good. 5) Stir-Fried Jackfruit with Red Bell Pepper and Corn - This was an add-on that we ordered (instead of getting a whole extra Pura Vida Special dish with the jackfruit). This was probaby one of my favourite dishes here. Glad that they offer vegan option as a protein choice in the casados, and you can also get it on its own as a side.

    Tres leches
    Daniel P.

    Pura Vida ( 750 St Clair west) Arroz con camarones (6/10). Personalmente tenin muy pocos camarones y el olor del ajonjolí era fuerte al inicio. Tenían un sazón bueno pero no extraordinario. La mejor parte del plato fueron las yucas fritas. Ceviche tropical (7/10). Estaba muy rico y refrescante. El mango era el sabor principal y ocultaba mucho al del pescado. Con un poco de limón hubiera quedado mejor. Tres leches (9/10). Muy buen postre tres leches. Las almendras tostadas le daban un buen toque. Servicio (10/10). Muy amables y atentos. Overall: 8/10. Volveria para probar más platos. El ambiente me gustó bastante.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa B.
    186
    741
    1177

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Review Highlights - Pura Vida

    Pura Vida ( 750 St Clair west) Arroz con camarones (6/10).

    $32 ARROZ CON CAMARONES

    Read more highlights

    After Seven

    After Seven

    4.7(69 reviews)
    4.5 kmDowntown Core

    Found this cocktail bar through a friend and immediately made a reservation after seeing the menu…read more The ingredients are complex but intentional, with East Asian influences. I found myself wanting to try most of the cocktails, which is a rarity. We got the Strawberry Tetsu to start (inspired by Uncle Tetsu's Japanese cheesecake), along with the Cloudy Oolong (tea-based cocktail with a salted caramel cheese foam). The Strawberry Tetsu tasted like a dessert and was delicious, with a graham cracker crumble rim. The Cloudy Oolong had a strong tea taste which I loved, as sometimes the tea can get lost in a cocktail. The foam on top was addicting and paired nicely with it, similar to a bubble tea. Next, I had the Burnt Yuzu which was light and refreshing from the citrus. The bar is hidden behind Misfit Ice Cream, with a speakeasy vibe to the interior. Large windows line one wall with a view to the exterior, but are tinted enough that people walking by cannot see in. Service was great, although they do have a strict 1 hr 45 min time limit for seating, regardless of whether the bar is packed or not.

    After Seven is one of the more creative cocktail bars in Toronto, hidden behind what appears to be…read morea small dessert shop. We walked up to an unassuming entrance that is part of the experience, and once inside, the atmosphere shifts completely. The space is intimate and cozy with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and a relaxed speakeasy vibe that makes it easy to settle in for a couple of drinks. The transition from the street to the interior feels deliberate, and the low-key energy of the room encourages lingering. The cocktail menu leans heavily into Asian-inspired flavors, and that is what makes it stand out. Every drink feels thoughtfully developed rather than relying on presentation alone. We tried the Cloudy Oolong, which was especially memorable with its rich tea flavor and creamy cheese foam that added a savory depth to the cocktail. The Strawberry Tetsu offered a dessert-like profile without becoming overly sweet, balancing fruit and tea notes in a way that felt refined and well composed. Each cocktail arrived beautifully presented and balanced, making it easy to appreciate the amount of care that goes into every glass. The menu is creative without being gimmicky, and the flavors are well integrated, with each drink offering something distinct. The staff were welcoming and happy to explain the menu or offer recommendations if you are unsure what to order. They guided us through the flavor profiles and offered thoughtful suggestions based on our preferences. Service felt attentive without being overbearing, and the overall pace made it a great place to relax rather than rush through a drink. The team checked in at the right moments and kept the experience feeling personal and unhurried. If you are looking for a cocktail bar that offers something different from the usual classics, After Seven delivers a memorable experience. Between the hidden entrance, intimate setting, and creative drinks, it is the kind of place that is easy to recommend whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for one of Toronto's more unique bars. The balance of atmosphere, craftsmanship, and service makes it a standout in the city's cocktail scene.

    Photos
    After Seven
    After Seven
    After Seven

    See all

    Bovine Sex Club

    Bovine Sex Club

    4.0(62 reviews)
    4.3 kmAlexandra Park, Queen Street West
    $

    A classic Punk / Rock n Roll Bar in Toronto CA. Basically the CBGB's of that scene…read more It's been around since the early 1990's and is exactly what a spot like this should be. Very nondescript outside facade - no sign telling you what it is other than a small "BSC" (for Bovine Sex Club) painted near the door. Hard to miss though as the exterior is made up a punk rock style sculpture of rusted bikes & other assorted ephemera. The interior is similar, visually. Great sound system & chill vibes pervade throughout. Weirdly the stage is right in the entrance of the club, on your left, with a long bar along the right side, heading back. Great, crowd, great location in cool area with lots of restaurants & plenty of parking - both on the street up to 2 hours & extended parking for a flat-rate of CA$20 (~$14 USD) from 6:00pm until the next morning, just 2 blacks away.

    The Bovine is a fantastic place that is the same today as it was decades ago. not only that, but it…read moreis also one of the cheapest pints that you can find. Now, are the taps dry? Maybe. Are the beer cans running out? It's possible. But, it's a dive in the way of the old dives. And the acoustics for bands are... not great. But they are a sign of what once was. Without attempting to try to present a front of a time long gone, The Bovine simply exists today as it once did in that time long ago, before Smokes stickers, before iPhones, back when people would just go to a bar to talk with those they didn't know the morning prior. Bring cash though, unless you're looking to make some big orders, because credit card is a minimum fifty-dollar spend.

    Photos
    Bovine Sex Club
    Bovine Sex Club
    Bovine Sex Club

    See all

    Pura Vida - latin - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...