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Ceviche
The dish that tells Julián’s story: fresh fish and octopus with red onion, cilantro and chile in a milky tiger’s milk, finished with fanned avocado.
Private chef · Southern Caribbean, Costa Rica
Your private chef in Puerto Viejo, seasoned by the Caribbean
Julián cooks Costa Rican, international and modern menus with Caribbean influences in your villa or Airbnb, from Cahuita to Manzanillo. He shops, cooks and serves, then leaves the kitchen spotless.
The ceiba
Deep roots, generous shade
Ceiba Dining Co is a private chef service run by Chef Julián Acuña that cooks in villas and Airbnbs in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo and Cahuita, on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast (Limón).
Julián has cooked on this coast for nine years, since arriving as sous chef at Hotel Aguas Claras in Playa Chiquita, a hotel featured in the MICHELIN Guide.
The ceiba is the sacred giant of the tropical forest. Its roots run deep; its crown shelters everyone beneath it. We cook the same way: Costa Rican at the root, open to the world, seasoned by the Caribbean. Ceviche bright with lime. Meat and seafood over live fire. Homemade corn tortillas. Proteins are never frozen, seafood is ocean-fresh and produce is local and organic.
Then we bring it to you. Think of it as a villa chef for the evening: dinner reaches your table while the jungle hums outside, and when the last plate is cleared, so is the kitchen.
What we do
Three ways to eat well on the coast
Julián handles every service personally. Each booking is quoted individually, based on menu, group size and location.
Private Chef Dinners
A plated three-course dinner with a Costa Rican touch, or a generous family-style table, cooked in your kitchen and served at your table. Wine or non-alcoholic pairing on request.
Learn more
Breakfast & Specialty Coffee
Gallo pinto, huevos rancheros, homemade tortillas with cheese and sour cream, seasonal fruit and fresh juice, with Costa Rican coffee brewed in a chorreador. One morning, or your whole stay.
Learn more
Pantry & Grocery Setup
Arrive to a stocked fridge: fruit, fresh juices, local cheese, eggs, banana bread and snacks for the beach. Share your host’s contact and Julián arranges the rest before check-in.
Learn moreFrom the kitchen
A taste of the coast
Three plates from Julián’s own menus. Every menu is designed for you.
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Grilled octopus
Octopus off the grill with green beans, grilled zucchini, a silky purée and a bright herb oil.
— III —
Grilled jumbo prawns
Jumbo prawns from the grill with caramelized sweet plantain and a fresh salad of cucumber, avocado and tropical fruit.
Four simple steps
How does booking a private chef work?
- 01
Request a quote
Share your dates, villa location, group size and any dietary needs in the quote form, or on WhatsApp or by email if you prefer.
- 02
Receive your menu
Julián proposes a menu and a clear quote, groceries included, based on menu, group size and location.
- 03
Confirm
Adjust anything you like. A deposit secures your date.
- 04
Sit down
Julián shops, cooks in your kitchen, serves at your table and leaves every space he used spotless.
Where we cook
From Cahuita to Manzanillo
We cook in villas and vacation rentals in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo and Cahuita, in Limón province, Costa Rica.
- Puerto Viejo
- Playa Cocles
- Playa Chiquita
- Punta Uva
- Manzanillo
- Cahuita
The restaurant comes to you
Why a private chef instead of eating out?
Stay where you are
No driving dark jungle roads after sunset, no taxis to arrange, no dashing through the rain.
No reservations
Your table is always free, at the hour you choose, with the view you came for.
Cooked for you
A menu built around your tastes, your children and your dietary needs. Not a fixed card.
Nothing to clean
When dinner ends, the kitchen, the oven and the trash are taken care of. You keep the evening.
How much does a private chef cost in Puerto Viejo?
Every booking is quoted individually, based on menu, group size and location, and groceries are always included. Send your dates, where you’re staying and how many guests through the quote form, and Julián will reply by email with a menu idea and a clear quote.
Which areas do you serve?
We cook in villas and vacation rentals in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo and Cahuita, in Limón province, Costa Rica. Staying just outside these areas? Ask; we’ll tell you honestly whether we can reach you.
Are groceries included?
Yes, always. Julián does all the shopping himself and picks the best local ingredients: never-frozen proteins, ocean-fresh seafood and organic local produce.
Can you handle allergies and dietary restrictions?
Yes. Plant-based, gluten-free, kids’ menus and specific diets are all welcome, and Julián has real experience with them from cooking at a diet-focused hotel. Kosher isn’t available, as it requires certification. Because he cooks in your rental’s own kitchen, a completely allergen-free environment can’t be guaranteed.
How far in advance should I book?
About 15 days’ notice is ideal, especially December to April and around holidays. Last-minute requests are welcome whenever possible, and a last-minute fee may apply.
Reserve your evening
Your table is waiting
Share your dates, where you’re staying and how many will be at the table, and Julián will reply personally by email with a menu idea and a quote. Just a quick question? WhatsApp is faster.
Request received
Prefer WhatsApp? Send these details there insteadOther ways to reach us
- WhatsApp+506 6220 4149
- Instagram@ceibadining
- Emailinfo@ceibadining.com
- Phone+506 6220 4149
- LocationPuerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica · serving Cahuita to Manzanillo