SOMA Chefs
Private chef and event catering in Santa Teresa
SOMA Chefs, now run under the name James Kelly Cuisine, is a private chef and event catering service led by Chef James Kelly, who has cooked in Santa Teresa since 2003. The team cooks in villas, at weddings and for retreats around Santa Teresa, Mal País and the wider Nicoya Peninsula. It suits groups who want a chef to come to them rather than going out to eat.
At a glance
- Location
- Santa Teresa north, Santa Teresa, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Type
- Restaurant
- Best for
- Villa groups, destination weddings, retreats and families who want meals cooked in
- Services
- Private chef dinners, full-stay chef service, event catering, cooking classes and culinary consulting
- Chef
- James Kelly, cooking in Santa Teresa since 2003
- Service area
- Santa Teresa, Mal País, the Nicoya Peninsula and wider Puntarenas Province
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy menus planned from the start
- Bookings
- Inquiry form on the official website
- Official website
- jameskcuisine.com
What it is
SOMA Chefs is one of the longest-running private chef and catering outfits in Santa Teresa. It's led by Chef James Kelly, who moved here in 2003 and opened Soma Restaurant at the Milarepa Hotel before shifting to private cooking and events. Today the business runs under the James Kelly Cuisine name, with SOMA still used for the catering and chef team. The old somachefs.com address now forwards to the new site.
There's no dining room to walk into. Instead, the team comes to you: a villa kitchen, a beach house, a wedding venue or a retreat center. That makes it a different kind of listing from the cafes and dinner spots in our restaurants guide, and a good fit for groups who'd rather eat well at home after a day in the water.
Private chef service
The private chef side covers everything from a single dinner to cooking every meal of a longer stay. Menus are built around your group, your schedule and what's good locally that week, with a lot of weight on fresh seafood from fishermen the chef has worked with for years and produce from growers on the peninsula.
Options listed on the official site include:
- A single dinner: one evening planned for your group, with shopping and prep handled.
- Full-stay service: breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the length of your trip.
- Family dining: food kids will actually eat, served when they need it.
- Wellness and nutrition menus: meals planned around training, recovery or specific goals.
- Arrival provisioning: a stocked kitchen and a first meal waiting when you land, arranged with your villa manager.
Allergies, intolerances and other dietary needs are built into the menu from the start, so ask early and give as much detail as you can.
Weddings and events
SOMA has been catering events on the Nicoya Peninsula for close to 20 years. It handles destination weddings (welcome dinners, rehearsal dinners and receptions), birthdays and anniversaries, villa events, brand and corporate dinners, and multi-day food programs for surf and yoga retreats. Long family-style tables on the beach, in the jungle or on a terrace are a favorite format. Beyond the food, the team can help with staffing, rentals, kitchen logistics and timing, and it works alongside wedding planners where one is involved. There's more background on local wedding catering on Mal País Beach's catering services page.
Cooking classes and other work
Chef James also runs private, hands-on cooking classes of about 2.5 to 3 hours for couples, families and small groups, with optional drinks pairings. Outside the kitchen, he offers culinary consulting for restaurants and food brands, and small-group food trips to Mexico City and Oaxaca. His recipe development work includes cookbook projects, and the official site says he cooked privately for well-known families visiting Costa Rica for many years.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It's a strong match for villa groups, wedding parties, retreat leaders planning a yoga or surf week, and anyone who wants a relaxed dinner at home without cooking. If you just want a quick bite after surfing, you'll be better off at one of the casual spots in town.
Getting started
Bookings go through the inquiry form on the official website, and the team says it also works directly with travel advisors and assistants planning on someone else's behalf. For busy periods like the December holidays and the dry-season wedding months, it's worth reaching out well ahead. If you're still planning the trip itself, our travel guide covers getting to Santa Teresa.
Frequently asked questions
Does SOMA have a restaurant I can visit?
No. It's a private chef and catering service, so the team cooks at your villa, venue or event.
Is SOMA Chefs the same as James Kelly Cuisine?
Yes. Chef James Kelly leads both names, and the old SOMA website now points to the James Kelly Cuisine site.
Can they handle special diets?
Yes. The official site says vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy menus are planned as part of the main menu.
Where do they cook?
Santa Teresa and Mal País are home base, and the team also works across the Nicoya Peninsula, including Montezuma, Cóbano and Tambor.
Do they offer cooking classes?
Yes. Private hands-on classes run about 2.5 to 3 hours and can be set up for couples, families or groups. Send an inquiry on the official James Kelly Cuisine website.
