Little Corn Island Eating, Drinking, Dining, Cafes, Restaurants, Bars and More
In addition to the accommodations listed on the previous page, the island features quite a few stand-alone cafes and restaurants! They offer a wide range of food styles and range of budgets, not to mention street food, like hot fresh coconut bread, Pati’s, Pico’s etc, as well as options for cooking your own food if your accommodations feature a kitchen (there are a number of small grocery shops (and one larger market at Hotel las Delfines) around the island for purchasing ingredients). Some hotels have on-property restaurants as well, and they are mentioned in their accommodations listing.
We are lucky on Little Corn to have a great variety of dining and drinking options on such a small island, and mostly all of them within a few minute walk from each other!
Local beers are usually $1.5 to $2 and rum drinks are typically about $4. There are happy hour deals available in some places with 2-for-1 specials not uncommon.
Tranquilo Cafe
Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, cocktails.. and nightlife! This popular beachfront cafe opened in 2009 and specializes in great Burgers, Fish Tacos, and the best Wings on the Caribbean Coast, along with Smoked BBQ platters, daily specials, and a lot more. Their menu features many Veggie and Vegan menu options as well, including salads using fresh locally grown greens.
Fresh-brewed, premium Nicaraguan coffee and espresso drinks, and iced gourmet cold brews (Try their Funky Monkey!), delicious smoothies and shakes, and local tropical fruit juices. And you can finish your meal off with their handmade ice cream desserts and freshly baked brownies and cookies.
At night you’ll find a variety of social events:Wednesday nights, they feature a cultural drumming group followed by a local DJ. Thursday night there’s a lively Pub Quiz trivia contest. Saturday Night is also a bonfire party night with live local DJ, putting out great island-vibe music that will get you moving on one of their 2 dancefloors. Live music is common here as well, with the largest music venue on the island. You’ll meet other travelers (and islanders) swapping stories about their day over ice-cold beers and a wide range of tropical cocktails and cold beverages. In addition to the national beers, Tranquilo also features the widest selection of Nicaraguan micro-brew beers on the Atlantic Coast. Free WiFi (digital nomads are welcome, and after a recent upgrade, they are known to have the fastest internet on their side of the island).
Open Mon-Sat. Kitchen, Bar, and Gift Shop open at 9am, Kitchen till 9pm, Bar open until late. Happy hour 2-for-1 drink specials 5-7pm (get there early for free popcorn made with local coconut oil!) Snacks $4-$6, Meals $6-$12. Visit Tranquilo Cafe’s Facebook page
Turned Turtle Restaurant at Little Corn Island Beach and Bungalow
Located on Cocal beach, a short 13 minute walk from the village one of Little Corn Island’s and Nicaragua’s most highly ranked restaurants offers toes in the sand, reef view, 7 day a week, tasty breakfast from 8am to 5pm (starting at only $2.49), mouthwatering lunches or early dinners until 5:30pm (starting at only $4.9). As well as a delicious “specials” and “snack” menu (Fresh fish filet, Baby Back Ribs, Shrimp, Lobster and more) Snacks and desserts start as low as $2 and are served 10 to 5:30. Free WiFi for restaurant patrons.
Beautiful beach setting, isolated quiet tropical island elegance, great service and fast service times combined with friendly helpful staff make this a popular dining and cocktail place for singles, couples, friends, and families. The only place on the island with a kids menu also many vegetarian and some vegan offerings. Serving semi famous Pina Coladas, huge Margaritas, and the islands most unique frozen drink, “Big Jeff’s Mudhole” and more. See reviews here.
Cafe Desideri – Everything here is prepared using fresh local produce and quality ingredients. They strive to use locally grown organic crops, much of which come from their own garden, locally caught fish, shrimp, and lobster. Dishes are prepared fresh, ranging from sandwiches, burritos, and salads, to pizza, pasta dishes, and the house specialty, and very popular, Lobster Thermidor. Offering a variety of brewed coffees, cocktails and wines. Located directly on the beach, you can spend the day in one of their hammocks or beach chairs.
Café Desideri also hosts live music nights throughout the season showcasing musicians from Nicaragua and from around the world, it all depends on who’s passing through.
Breakfasts $5-$6, meals $6-$20. Free WiFi
Check them out on FB @ Café Desideri
(Under New Ownership June 2024.. Same great place, but some good updates and changes coming too)
Fry Fish Bar – On the North End (Otto Beach), next to Yemaya Resort. Beautiful, natural beach setting, featuring Caribbean-style seafood appetizers and entrees including Lobster, Shrimp, Whole Fish, and Conch… Ice Cold beer and cocktails. Romantic location, island music. Immediately became a “must-try” place during any Little Corn visit, and a reason alone to add at least a day to your time on the island. Open 8am to 6pm daily, closed Tuesdays. A nice plus is there is a snorkel gear rental shack a few feet away, and you can go right off the beach.
Miss Bridgett’s – Set just back from the main village path, and very close to the dock, an island original that is a backpacker favorite due to its reputation as having the cheapest lobster meals on the island. And although the wait for food can be a bit long, you won’t be disappointed with the huge meals of 2 or 3 lobster tails in garlic sauce. Also serves fresh fish and other items. Worth booking in advance though to try and cut down on that wait for food. They’re also known for making a great Rondon seafood stew. Breakfasts from $3, meals $6-$10
Kamiavan Vegetarian Eatery- Recently opened on the Dereks Place eco-lodge location is Little Corn Island’s first (and long awaited!) vegetarian restaurant!
Serving healthy, tasty and creative vegetarian and vegan meals. Their menu includes a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks, sweet treats, fresh fruit juices and milkshakes, handcrafted Nicaraguan beer, kombucha and a fancy selection of Mocktails as well.
Mango’s Pizza – This great little place is on the west side of the island at he “Bottle House”, on a cliff with a view of Big Corn island. Their huge pizzas are great for sharing, and they’ll also deliver if you’re feeling really feeling lazy after your dive or snorkel! $5-$10 Open Mon-Sat till 9pm.
The Shack – Recently rebuilt! On the main path close to other restaurants (directly across from Tranquilo Cafe) and stores, The Shack offers reasonably priced snacks as well as full meals. The very helpful Rodcliffe will gladly cook meals to your own specification, which may appeal to vegetarians and those not wanting a huge meal. You can also arrange fishing trips here and Rodcliffe will cook your catch for you afterward. Open every day from 6.30am, perfect for those who want to eat before their morning dive or fishing trip. Breakfasts $4-$6, meals $5 & up.
Rosa’s – The ever-popular Rosa’s Restaurant is situated in a clearing in the woods, halfway along the main path between the west side and the east side. Particularly popular is their $3 breakfast, complete with fruit bowl and coffee with a choice of pancakes, omelets and legendary french toast. At the time of writing also open for lunch and dinner on some days, but generally closed on Sundays. Meals $6-$9
Habana Libre – Run by a Cuban chef (Rolando), this long-established island restaurant serves good Cuban cuisine. Fresh seafood is particularly good here with a number of tasty sauce options, and typical Cuban dishes are available on request in advance. You can also enjoy real Cuban rum with your meal. Open daily for lunch and dinner (check with them in advance, since their schedule is a bit unpredictable).
Other honorable mentions until next update: El Bosque (On the path to the beach between the health clinic and the old Casa Iguana property), and also Melissa’s Dining Room right on the main path next to the health clinic. Both are local owned and feature traditional island fare. More details to come, but definitely worth a check-out while you’re here.