November arrives with an invitation to sit at the table, gather your loved ones and try flavors we don’t always have within reach. From November 1 to 30, Thanksgiving Fest 2026 returns: the Sabor USA food festival is celebrating its third edition with eight restaurants and special menus inspired by the Thanksgiving tradition.
This year the festival grows: it reaches the Pacific coast and Guanacaste, adds new cuisines and launches a partnership with Mastercard that brings a courtesy for those who pay with a Mastercard Black card. Below, we go over everything you should know to plan your visit.
What Is Thanksgiving Fest?
Thanksgiving Fest is a food festival organized by Sabor USA, an initiative of the United States Department of Agriculture. Its goal is to introduce Costa Rican diners to American agricultural food products through restaurant experiences, chef collaborations and activities that put those ingredients on the plate.
Since its first edition in 2024, the festival has aimed to make Thanksgiving an opportunity to discover new culinary offerings as well. In this third edition, the participating chefs combine American ingredients, contemporary techniques and plenty of creativity to offer different takes on the same celebration.
A Three-Course Menu at Every Restaurant
Each participating restaurant has prepared a special three-course menu: appetizer, main course and dessert. Prices range from ₡35,000 to ₡38,000, taxes included. It’s a great chance to enjoy a complete dinner, designed for the occasion, in a single sitting.
Because each kitchen designed its offering for the festival, no two menus are alike. Some focus on fire and smoke, others take a more contemporary approach, and others blend tradition with the tropical landscape surrounding the restaurant.
Eight Restaurants, Eight Ways to Celebrate
The list of participants spans three areas of the country. These are the announced offerings.
In San José
- Cabo y El Fuego: celebrates fire cooking, with slow-smoked ham and turkey served with traditional side dishes.
- The Cloud, Hilton Sabana: a contemporary interpretation with dishes such as squash cappuccino, pork tomahawk and stuffed turkey.
- Cultura 5, Gran Hotel Costa Rica: slow-cooked beef brisket, flame-grilled turkey and desserts inspired by traditional seasonal ingredients.
- Roma Rooftop, Sheraton San José: combines herb-roasted turkey, beef tenderloin and a spiced squash cheesecake.
In the Central Pacific
- Casa del Río, Santa Lucía Jungle Hacienda: an experience that includes stuffed turkey, bourbon and coffee beef ribs, and squash cheesecake.
In Guanacaste
- Matiss y Malu, El Mangroove: lunch and dinner offerings with roast turkey, cuts of beef and dishes that combine traditional ingredients with an experience facing the tropical surroundings.
- Mono Bistro, Playa Flamingo: slow-braised beef ribs, roast turkey and fresh desserts.
- The Red Door, Tamarindo: brings together flavors of land and sea, roast turkey and leche frita with vanilla ice cream.
With this variety, anyone looking for a dinner in the city, a beach getaway or an experience in the midst of nature will find an option that fits their plans.
Thanksgiving Flavors, Reimagined
The classic Thanksgiving table has very recognizable stars: turkey, beef and pork, cranberries, squash and pecans. The festival starts from those ingredients but invites chefs to reinterpret them with their own techniques, presentations and combinations.
The result shows in the menus. There is smoked, flame-grilled, stuffed and roasted turkey; cuts of beef braised for hours; and desserts that play with squash, a very local ingredient that fits naturally into the autumnal spirit of the date. It’s a way to see how a foreign tradition can engage in dialogue with Costa Rica’s food scene.
From Gratitude to Friendsgiving
Beyond the food, Thanksgiving Fest wants to share the meaning of Thanksgiving with the public: giving thanks, gathering with family and friends and recognizing the value of sharing.
The festival also extends that spirit to Friendsgiving, a celebration that brings groups of friends together around the table. For those who don’t have a family dinner on this date, or who simply prefer to celebrate with their close circle, it’s an ideal excuse to plan an outing and create new traditions.
Mastercard Black Adds an Exclusive Courtesy
The big news this year is the partnership with Mastercard. Those who enjoy the participating menus and pay with an eligible Mastercard Black card can receive a glass of Indigo Eyes wine or a cocktail made with Jack Daniel’s to complement the experience.
The promotion will be available at all eight participating restaurants throughout the festival. Before making a reservation, it’s a good idea to check with the restaurant or on the official website for the terms of the courtesy and card eligibility.
An Experience That Keeps Growing
The third edition strengthens the festival on several fronts: new restaurants, a presence in more areas of the country and the participation of partners who share the goal of bringing these flavors to more consumers. Moving from an offering concentrated in San José to one that includes the Central Pacific and Guanacaste is a clear sign of that expansion.
Practical Information to Plan Your Visit
- Dates: November 1 to 30, 2026.
- Format: three-course menu with appetizer, main course and dessert.
- Price: between ₡35,000 and ₡38,000, taxes included.
- Restaurants: eight, located in San José, the Central Pacific and Guanacaste.
- Special benefit: a glass of Indigo Eyes wine or a Jack Daniel’s cocktail for those who pay with an eligible Mastercard Black.
- More information: www.ilovethanksgivingfest.com
Since the festival lasts the whole month, there’s room to choose calmly, gather your group and book in advance, especially on weekends. Each restaurant has its own offering, so it’s worth reviewing the menu details before deciding.
About Sabor USA
Sabor USA is an initiative of the United States Department of Agriculture that promotes awareness and consumption of American agricultural food products through culinary experiences, restaurant collaborations and activities that bring these products closer to Costa Rican consumers.
A Table for Giving Thanks and Sharing
Whether with family, friends or as a couple, Thanksgiving Fest 2026 offers a reason to go out and eat something different during November. Eight kitchens, eight interpretations and one shared purpose: to make sharing a table the heart of the celebration once again.
