Costa Rica’s storied spa getaway, The Retreat, unveils a $4million expansion rooted social wellness and hyper-local food from a star chef.
My dinner at Mystique started with three pieces of still warm-from-the-oven bread. This was not a test of willpower. Each was crafted from different ingredients—chickpea, corn, cassava—and my server encouraged me to try each one with a healthy slathering of citrus butter. Seven more courses followed: locally sourced shrimp served in a savory bacon-and-kimchi broth; slow-cooked brisket steeped in coffee grown on local plantations and served with a puree made from hoja santa, an herb of the Maleku people native to northern Costa Rica. If this had been an exercise in restraint, I would have buckled at dessert, a decadent plate of sugary churros paired with tapa dulce ice cream made from dried cane sugary syrup. I savored every bite.
This was not the meal I envisioned I’d be eating when I signed up for a three-night stay at The Retreat, a storied spa getaway nestled amidst a rainforest 45 minutes west of Costa Rica’s bustling capital, San Jose. When American chef and wellness guru Diana Stobo opened the original nine-room hotel in 2016, its calling card was the Naked Challenge, a program that promised to shed 10 pounds in 10 days through a serious detox regimen. The concept was inspired by Stobo’s own experience of curing ailments that long plagued her, including gastritis and thyroiditis, through nutrition and detoxification.
Years ago, she told a friend her life’s goal was to heal people through food and love. As The Retreat comes upon its 10th anniversary, she’s held tightly to that intention, while evolving it for modern times. Last June, the Retreat unveiled Santosha Wellness Club, a $4 million expansion set just below the main hotel. The new open-air clubhouse includes 10 luxury lofts, a gym and yoga studio, an infinity pool, plus two restaurants—La Diosa and Mystique—helmed by acclaimed Costa Rican chef, Pablo Bonilla.
The Retreat 2.0 exemplifies the growing trend of social wellness. In an age where loneliness has become a global epidemic, more spas are facilitating ways for guests to create connections, and food has long been a means for people to come together. And the food prepared by Bonilla also connects guests more deeply to place. As chef-owner of Sikwa restaurant in San Jose—ranked #25 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants—Bonilla tells stories through food, bringing ingredients and techniques of Costa Rica’s indigenous communities to the modern table.
At La Diosa, the poolside lounge at Santosha, he’s created a seasonal, super fresh menu of small bites such as mini tacos filled with a local root vegetable, arracache picadillo, and shareable plates like Nicoya purple corn tostada with tuna tartare and squash jam. Guests can pop in and nosh after a yoga class or gather around the communal table and sip cocktails or mocktails, like the juniper negroni made with an agave alcohol-free spirit, and watch sunset. Mystique is a delicious culinary journey that takes place in a dreamy rooftop setting. The tasting menu rivals what you’d find in a big city, with creative dishes showcasing ingredients sourced from local purveyors as well as the Retreat’s own regenerative gardens. And guests have the option to accompany each dish with a wine pairing. “It’s wellness your way,” said Stobo. “You can eat vegan or vegetarian meals at Sol Terrace then go off program one day and dine at Mystique. Or you can enjoy a glass of wine and oysters every night at La Diosa. Food should nourish mind, body, and soul. These new options create a more holistic guest experience.”
Photos courtesy of The Retreat Costa Rica