Restaurant

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Name: Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Address: 730 St Clair Ave W, York, ON, M6C 1B5, CA
Price range: $

Latin American•St. Clair West•$

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is one of the best latin american restaurants in Toronto for cheap eats, especially if you want a strong option in St. Clair West.

Pura Vida is owner Jaime's Costa Rican living room on St.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Pura Vida is owner Jaime's Costa Rican living room on St. Clair West, and from everything reported about the place, he didn't round the corners to make it more broadly palatable — which is exactly what makes it interesting. This is one of the rare Toronto rooms where the cocktail bar and the kitchen appear to have been designed in conversation with each other rather than stapled together as an afterthought. The Latin music on Friday and Saturday nights is described by regulars not as ambient backdrop but as the actual program. At these prices — the kind where you can eat and drink without doing math in your head — the crowd is pretty much anyone who wants to feel briefly transported on a Tuesday night. The menu centers on a short roster of dishes that reflect classic Costa Rican logic: acid, sweetness, and fried plantain doing real structural work. The Pura Vida Ceviche is built around white fish and lime, grounded by sweet potato and patacones — the pairing of citrus-forward fish with crispy fried plantain is reportedly what the dish is known for, and it reads as a compact argument for the whole cuisine. The Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains pushes that same contrast further: shrimp, mango, and avocado on fried green plantains, a combination that sounds like it's trying too hard but consistently draws praise for pulling it off. The Pura Vida Special is a casado-style plate with a choice of proteins; jackfruit is the one diners and food writers tend to single out, particularly for anyone who hasn't had it treated as a serious main rather than a novelty. Jaime is known for walking guests through the menu, and by all accounts that context is genuinely useful rather than performative. The room is reportedly more intimate mid-week; Friday nights at 730 St. Clair West fill up faster than the neighbourhood might suggest, so booking ahead is the practical move.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Toronto guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

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Taste Score 7.9/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

345 reviews

Toronto

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

7.9/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 345 reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Budget-friendly

Neighborhood

St. Clair West | 730 St Clair Ave W, York, ON M6C 1B5, Canada

Price

Budget-friendly

Taste Score

7.9/10

Address

St. Clair West | 730 St Clair Ave W, York, ON M6C 1B5, Canada

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

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Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar on video

Video: Vins TV (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: Jaime Molina (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Menu and ordering

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is listed in the Budget-friendly price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Pura Vida Ceviche

Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains

Pura Vida Special (jackfruit)

Why go

What makes Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar worth the move

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is a clean first click in St. Clair West in Toronto when you want a latin american option you can trust. Pura Vida Ceviche and Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 345 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 345 Google reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats

Style

Latin American in St. Clair West

Spend

Budget-friendly

Best for

Cheap Eats

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 345 reviews

Price point: $

Popular dishes: Pura Vida Ceviche, Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains, Pura Vida Special (jackfruit)

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

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Google snapshot

9.4 from 345 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar yet.

Cabacoa opened on St.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 730 St Clair Ave W, York, ON M6C 1B5, Canada
Price: $
TastyPals score: 7.9/10
Google rating: 9.4 (345 reviews)
Cuisine: Latin American
Neighborhood: St. Clair West

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Restaurants in St. Clair West

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar serve?

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is a Latin American restaurant located in St. Clair West, Toronto. Pura Vida is owner Jaime's Costa Rican living room on St.

What is Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar best for?

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is best for cheap eats. Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is a clean first click in St. Clair West in Toronto when you want a latin american option you can trust. Pura Vida Ceviche and Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 345 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar?

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is in the Budget-friendly price range ($). Google rating: 9.4 from 345 reviews

What should I order at Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar?

Start with Pura Vida Ceviche, Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains and Pura Vida Special (jackfruit). These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar worth visiting?

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar holds a 9.4 Google rating from 345 reviews. Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is a clean first click in St. Clair West in Toronto when you want a latin american option you can trust. Pura Vida Ceviche and Tropical Shrimp Paradise on Crispy Plantains also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 345 Google reviews.

Where is Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar located?

Pura Vida Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is located at 730 St Clair Ave W, York, ON M6C 1B5, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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