The 23 best spots for happy hour in Tamarindo

Came here on back to back nights, once for dinner and once for just a little night cap. We decided to sit outside right on the beach, which I think is the go to move as long as the weather is nice enough. For cocktails we started with some happy hour strawberry daquiris, followed up by a caipirinha and Congo guaro. A little on the stronger side the first night but still delicious cocktails. I also tried their tropical old fashioned which was a fruity take on a classic favorite of mine that I would gladly recommend. My girlfriend got the beef tenderloin casada and I got the Arroz con Pollo, both were excellent Costa Rican classic choices that were so flavorful and great sized portions. We got the creamy jalapeño sauce on the side for the casada, but the meat was so flavorful it didn't even need it (but it was an excellent dip for fries!). Lastly for dessert wee got the banana split and the pineapple pie, and I was skeptical at first about the pie, but I am so sold, truly one of my favorite pies I've had and perfect with vanilla ice cream. Our server was the same woman both nights and she remembered us! She was incredibly sweet and took great care of us, and was part of the reason why we decided to come back.

We ate here several times. It was recommend to us, it was a great recommendation! We enjoyed dinner while looking & listening to the ocean. The food was delicious 😋 the service was wonderful.

If there are any vegetarians or vegans in your family or group of friends, definitely order the vegan charcuterie board. Fantastic assortment of flavors with traditional Costa Rican ingredients -- cashew paté, peach palms, green papaya, yuca, corn tortilla and more 😋 Service is always sloooow, so don't go if you're in a hurry. Go when you have plenty of time to relax, turn off your phone and enjoy the gorgeous view 🤩

This was the best restaurant i had in Tamarindo! The food was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The saff and service was amazing. The restaurant is right on the beach, so it is a tranquilo and beautiful vibe. I highly recommend visiting this gem.

Best pineapple pie in town! Cute spot in the beach. Staff is polite and nice ! Definitely come here if you can.

The food was great!! I got the Mahi filet and it was amazing highly recommend the #5 sauce! Great service our waiter was awesome very friendly! And the view was beautiful at sunset!

Beautiful spot, right on the beach. Portions are generous and food quality is excellent, though you are paying a premium to be right on the beach. Servers are friendly and very accommodating. Kitchen can be slow if you catch them at a busy time, but worth a leisurely lunch if you prefer an ocean front view.

This was a really fun place. We all got food, everyone love what they ordered. The music here was great as well as the drinks.

My friends and I went last Saturday and it was "ladies night" and we were supposed to get vodka drinks for free. We initially didn't see the sign outside but were told by another customer that we met. The bar staff didn't mention anything about it. I am a Spanish speaking person and left my 3 Caucasian friends at the bar to order our next free drinks while I went to the washroom. When I got back one of my friends had gotten charged for the free drinks by one female staff (didn't get her name). When I asked her in spanish why she had charged my friends for the "free drinks" she got defensive and thought I had said she robbed my friends. Then a male server came and I asked him why she has charged us and he said that the female staff had used a vodka bottle from the back of the bar instead of the one they were supposed to use for the nights inventory & give the "free drinks". So beware and read signs cause the staff will charge you for free stuff and/or overcharge you (my friend also gave them too much money) and wasn't given her change back. I would give this a 0 rating but I can't as the staff was dishonest and took advantage of non Spanish speaking clients. We have experienced lots of other venues with nicer people that we will be visiting again :)

Great place to watch American television especially football but lately there has been a very annoying buzzing sound. They say it's a cricket but it's no cricket. Also the service is somewhat to be desired but overall it's better than most places in Tamarindo.

Good place to watch NFL football (besides from the tvs delaying & cutting out) nice people, good food..But HAPPY HOUR is a SCAM! We ordered drinks before happy hour & placed an order during happy hour & were charged full price during that happy hour window, but what do you expect here!? Service is key & it was a terrible experience with service! Only bar in Tamarindo that treated us unfairly! Damage was already done before trying to fix the situation!

As an expat living in a country that is not all that interested in baseball, it was hard to watch games until I was told about Sharky's. Since then, I have seen many big games in a chill beach environment, and to make it even better, the food is AMAZING!!! The Buffalo chicken sandwich and sliders are amongst the best I have ever tried, and if you want wings, there is no other place that comes even close. The staff is always friendly, responsive, and welcoming. So, even if you don't need to watch sports, go for the food.It is awesome! They also have live music pretty regularly!

When you come in for happy hour and ask what drink specials are and you are told all drinks it should be specified what drinks. Ordered 4 drinks thinking it was included in the "Happy Hour" only to be charged full price. And the special was only 1 dollar off beer. This is a prime example as to why we never go to Tamarindo when we come here.

I love sharkey's...... the food is delicious and plentiful for the price....... each time I come to Tamarindo I make sure I visit Sharkey's at least once but usually more....... and come for their half price wings everyday between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Came here for an early dinner during the week and we were seated immediately for a party of two. We decided just to split some appetizers. We got the rosemary foccacia, a plate of fries, and a platter of empanadas. The fries were so fresh, crisp, and tasty I would borderline call it the highlight of the meal! The empanadas offer a good variety of flavors and they are actually baked instead of fried which makes them just a little bit lighter than your traditional version. They also serve you complimentary popcorn instead of your usual basket of bread which I think is a fun little change from the usual. Staff were attentive and very friendly, so much so that we even offered the restaurant as a possible recommendation to some other tourists that we were talking to the next day! It's a nice casual spot that's tucked in just by the beach and the decor is exactly that to match.

Cute spot by the beach. Ordered two appetizers which were delicious! Unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it too much because there were so many flies and I spent most of the time trying to swat them away. Staff seemed to just observe frantic swatting and were just 🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏻‍♀️ "It's just like that here". Fans/insect repelling candles should be provided on tables. Otherwise the food was decent, with similar prices to higher end seafood restaurants in Toronto. Above two apps - ceviche and octopus kebab with polenta fries (generous servings!) cost ~$32 CAD with the service charge already added on the bill. I'd recommend for the food and proximity to the beach, but not for the bugs.

Great option for sunset drinks. Happy hour is buy one get one free Food is average, but the calamari was spot on. Nice vibe with everyone chatting

This is the best place in Tamarindo to watch the sunset. The bar staff are always very attentive, quick and friendly. The view of sunset here is unparalleled. If you're visiting Tamarindo, El Chiringuito is a must. Drop in an hour or so before sunset, enjoy cold beers or refreshing cocktails while you enjoy the view. Stay for dinner or head into town afterwards.

the server was a bit grumpy in the morning but the food was super yummy and you can look at the ocean while you eat~ love the vibes

Service was pretty good. I got the French toast and it wasn’t as sweet as normal, but it was definitely edible.

I would give 3.5 stars. Seafood is great, but chef's choice was steak and it was...ok. It was at a lovely spot right on the beach, so it's a great spot to enjoy sunset. Bring bug sprays!!

Honestly, it has a great vibe! The place features two stages with different music styles: pop and Latin. I enjoy the atmosphere, even though it can get crowded. I also heard that there is a new owner, and many improvements have been made. Overall, the entire place is fire and hotel have a cozy feel during the day

I loved it here! I love that they have two different stages - one in the open air and one with latin music. We had fun going between the two. There were girls at one of the stages giving free shots and a live drummer at the other stage which made it so interactive. Had a fun night of dancing. We also came back on Sunday for the pool party during the day and saw an amazing view of the sunset and pretty good food!

I had the best time at crazy monkey! The food was delicious, the drinks were phenomenal, and the service was even better! Jonathan and Tito helped make our day perfect. I will definitely be back🤩😍

so the vibe of this place was unmatched, and me and my friends had the most unforgettable night!! starting from the music - the dj kept the party going all night, from the hottest hits to the classics, and we danced the night away also the service was great, coctails were amazing, and honestly if someone told me that the parties here were this good i would come much sooner haha amazing and would recommend it to everyone 👍

Had an amazing time! The staff was super friendly, prices were reasonable and you can tell that they are passionate about quality. 10/10 💕

Best sunset view in Tamarindo!!!! great service & cocktails

Well this place is a little crazy 🤪 for sure younger crowd and I don't have to tell you it's loud, you will hear it then see all the lights. Party Central!

We had heard great things about this place and were not disappointed. Pricey - yes. Worth event cent - absolutely! My daughter and I both had a nice glass of Malbec and my husband had a dark and stormy. We each had a steak - mini skirt, ribeye, and the tenderloin with Gorgonzola. We rarely order steak out because we’re often disappointed in the cook or flavor, but all were cooked to perfection (medium-rare for us) with so much flavor. We also substituted mashed for the Argentinian potatoes - but wished we had gotten one serving because they looked good on the neighbors plate. I didn’t want to eat the bread they bring at the beginning because I was saving room for the steak, but it was so good I couldn’t help myself. Atmosphere was so nice and our service was outstanding - highly recommend!

We had an amazing dining experience at Patagonia in Tamarindo! From the moment we sat down, the service was warm and welcoming—Sara, our server, was absolutely lovely and attentive throughout the evening. The meal started with delicious complimentary warm bread and chimichurri, which set the tone perfectly. We shared a fresh Caesar salad, followed by incredible handmade pasta that was full of flavor and cooked perfectly. To top it all off, we had a decadent apple caramel crepe with ice cream for dessert—truly the perfect ending. Every dish was prepared with care and tasted fantastic. Highly recommend Patagonia for anyone looking for a memorable meal in Tamarindo!

I was recommended this place by a friend in Vancouver. Called on a Friday night. They got us a spot for 13 people in less than 15 minutes. Not a a huge space so reservations are probably necessary. Service, Drinks and Food all fantastic! Possibly one of the best tasting steaks I’ve ever had.

An absolute must-try spot in Tamarindo! Especially, if you love eating quality meat. On the expensive side, but SO worth it. Rustic, mostly wood-based interior, fantastic service, friendly and attentive waiters, and great food! Beers are cold, cocktails are well-made. I ordered a couple of Aperol Spritz, delicious. The Ojo de Bife (ribeye) was spectacular. Taste, texture, cooked medium-rare to my liking…amazing. The best ribeye I have eaten in Costa Rica. The Empanadas…wow. Ordered one with Beef and one with Spinach & Mozzarella…absolutely scrumptious! Crunchy exterior, soft interior, crumbles at the bite, and reveals unmatched flavor. Absolutely recommended! Five stars! We’ll be back, for sure!

One of the better restaurants we tried in Tamarindo. Food portions were really large and decent price. Tried each of the empanadas and spinach and cheese were the best. Schnitzel (steak or chicken) was huge.

Our dinner in Tamarindo Costa Rica felt like the kind of experience travelers hope to stumble into but rarely do. Patagonia delivered from the moment we walked in. The warmth of the staff set the tone immediately. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and welcoming, and Rodney, our server, anchored the entire evening with a level of attention that made the meal feel personal. The food showed real intention. We started with mussels in a Provenz style broth that brought out the natural sweetness of the seafood without clouding it. The provolone arrived bubbling and aromatic with a richness that invited the whole table to dive in. The fried calamari was crisp and airy with a clean flavor that suggested a kitchen that respects technique. These appetizers set a high bar and made sharing them feel like a small celebration. The main dishes kept the momentum going. The tomahawk steak came out as a true standout with a beautifully developed crust and a warm pink center that held its juices exactly where they belonged. The Caesar salad had a thoughtful balance of textures and a dressing with real depth. The spinach ravioli was delicate and fresh, filled with a clean spinach flavor that was complemented rather than overpowered by the sauce. Everything tasted crafted rather than produced. The drinks added their own charm. The Cabernet Sauvignon paired effortlessly with the steak and the espresso martini hit that perfect balance between dessert and an after dinner spark. Rodney guided the evening with professionalism and an easy manner. He had the rare skill of anticipating needs without hovering. His timing was perfect, his knowledge of the menu was helpful without being rehearsed, and his friendliness matched the spirit of the entire staff. He created an atmosphere where we could enjoy the food, the company, and the setting without a single interruption to the flow of the night. Patagonia delivered an experience that blended excellent food, attentive service, and the relaxed beauty of Tamarindo. It is the kind of place that lingers in memory long after the plates are cleared. A dinner worth returning to and recommending wholeheartedly.

Lightly fried calamari was also good, just needed a little salt. Great skirt steak, with potatoes fried and salad. Old fashion was good, however the bartender was slow. Sat outside people watching. Rodney was excellent and polite.

Our first dinner in Tamarindo was at Pangas Beach Club. The vibe and aesthetic were super cute - very beach and boho. There were a lot of options on the menu which was perfect for our group of six. I ordered the chicken which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. It was packed with flavor and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I also ordered a few cocktails and we had the wings as an appetizer. The staff were friendly and service was excellent. I’d return to Pangas Beach Club the next time I’m in Tamarindo!

Recommended by my good friend who owns a home in Playa Grande. He said it was the best spot in Tamarindo for a sunset dinner and cocktails. From the moment we entered the service was excellent. We were seated immediately and given the opportunity to choose the best location for comfort and viewing the sunset. We got our drink orders in as soon as we sat and they came back quickly and were very tasty. We weren’t in a rush to order dinner and got in another drink order before we made our orders. Although the place was packed, our food came out in a short time and all together for our large party. As an appetizer, I got a lobster bisque with a lobster tail and it was delicious. For dinner, I ordered the Mahi Mahi and it was also delicious. Everyone’s food looked great and they all commented how perfect everything was.

Cozy and fancy all at once, Pangas is located right on the beach, featuring garden lights and wooden tables. Great ambience, and decor. The service was very good, polite and attentive waiters. The food - oh my. We ordered the Grilled Red Snapper…literally the best I have ever eaten. Large, soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside - absolutely divine. We also ordered the Grilled Octopus…spectacular. Very generous portion, served in chunks, soft and delicious. Absolutely recommended for seafood lovers! I will be back! Make reservations.

Amazing 10-years Anniversary dinner at sunset on near the beach but in the complete shade. Really tasty food, this MasterChef quality meals and presentation!

I had the most fabulous dinner with my friend while watching the sunset. It was easy to make a reservation we chose a 5:30p Our waiter (I believe his name is) Andres' was very attentive my glass was never empty, and he was quick to deliver my friends Cosmos as well. I ordered the Lamb Chops, my friend ordered the Octopus. We received our meals very quick, within 10 minutes. My meal was very good! The true ambiance can not be seen from the street. I will definitely recommend. Gracias Andres' !

We had our wedding at Pangas and it was truly a dream come true. The venue is absolutely stunning—set right on the beach with the most breathtaking sunsets. The staff went above and beyond to make the night special. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the service was top-notch from start to finish. The food is delicious and they offer a great variety of options and flavors. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was. Whether you’re visiting Tamarindo for dinner or planning a destination wedding, Pangas will deliver. We couldn’t recommend it more.

This place is excellent! I had the Volcanic Rock Ribeye steak, and it was very delicious! It comes with a hot volcanic rock so you cook it however you want. The place has a beautiful vibe, with a nice view of the ocean. Our server Cristian provided an excellent service, he was very welcoming, gave us great recommendations, and took care of everything we needed. I highly recommend this place!

Great local place with various food vendors. There’s some cover but no A/C. However, we found it just fine like that. We came here a few times and tried local Costa Rican food (casado), Venezuelan (fresh smoothies and tequeños), crepes, and seafood (fish fillet with salad and tostones). The food is yummy, prices are a bit better than in restaurants but still not cheap even though it’s a food court. Don’t expect much service here, it’s very much self-serve, just like in any other food court. It’s clean and atmospheric with music and greens around you.

We stopped by for late night dinner and ended up staying for drinks with the owner of the Mercadito. Fantastic Caipirinhas, fish and shrimp tacos and huge sized chicken wings! We will be back! I also love that they accept everyone not only in the restrooms, but also in general, even Batman!!

Great open air food court with reasonable prices. My family enjoyed the ceviche, the best that we had while in Costa Rica. My favorite place in the food court was the steak location, had an excellent ribeye cooked to a proper medium rare. There is also a good ice cream place for dessert or milkshakes. And then the bar has the coldest beer that I was able to get while here. Prices were reasonable and service was fast. There are a few local cats who hang out here too.

If the few beach-side hotels, this is by far the best. Best location on the beach and centrally located such that everything is within a walking distance of the main strip. In fact it is on the main strip. The breakfast buffet is fabulous. Even though they serve almost the same things every day, there is sufficient variety and the food is delicious. The staff are great and courteous. The beach is long and wide- especially in the morning at low tide Highly recommend for families and couples

What a cool little food court! This place is back off of the main strip, but super accessible. The collection of restaurants is impressive, ranging from gourmet hamburgers to top-notch tacos, hand-rolled sushi to Argentinian top sirloin. Top it all off with ice cream or belly up to the Medusa, a bar with a BOAT in it! By the way, the bartender knows his stuff. This place doesn't really come to life until dinner, which is usually after sunset here. Friendly atmosphere and good music put this over the top, securing their 5-star review. Once you find this food court, you'll want to come back again and again so you can try all they have to offer.

Great hangout place with awesome food options and live music in the evenings. Pizza and Poke places had awesome food. The best arepas from the Dona Ana’s place.

Good Food, but the Price is astonishing. Not that you have much of a choice there tho, so still 4/5.

The owner/guy at the front is a sweet heart! He asked us girls to come in and we’d get a free drinks until 11 pm and he honored his word even though the bartender said it was too late. The music is great and the have awesome drinks and art. No cover fee so definitely come here first!

Super fun atmosphere, DJ played really great mix of Spanish and English hits. Picked up at 9pm, reasonable drink prices

I went to this bar for a friends trip post collage and let me tell you it was the best bar of the entire trip. The bartenders name was Joel and roy. They were so attentive and good with the speed of their drinks. The drinks tasted great but the service is what really separated them from the other bars in the area. In my opinion make sure to to book a table and enjoy the night here.

The vibes are so fun here! I had a great time, all the music was good, and the drinks were 10/10. Will be coming back!

I am from LA and I came with my boyfriend this place has such good vibes and music. If you want a good time and a good atmosphere come here this is the place!!!!!

I had the best time here. The DJ was amazing and the vibe with a good time!

Awesome experience! Super nice and fast bartenders johel and roy The dancing place was amazing and everyone was so sweet.

The staff is super friendly and helpful. Gorgeous pool on the pool. Really lovely place in a very natural looking setting.

Was in Tamarindo for 6 days and stayed at the Wyndham so we got access to Langosta and we spent a lot of time there for access to the beach and we could leave our stuff in a secure private place. The staff is very friendly and always made sure we had what we needed. All the staff helped us throughout the day but Diego was our main waiter and he was great, checked on us often and greeted us personally and by name every day we were there. The grounds are kept very clean, the pool was always clean and there are plenty of places to sit. It is next to the public beach so the beach vendors will come up and try to sell stuff but they do not pester you, you tell them no thanks and they smile and leave. I feel like the staff at Langosta keeps an eye on them to make sure they do not bother the guests. The food is good and the prices felt reasonable for the portions. The drinks were good and they did not taste watered down at all. We also had a deep tissue massage which was wonderful. The massage was in a comfortable, private setting and the prices for the massage were better than the hotel. We showed up a little early for the massage and they were already ready for us. It was the perfect thing to do in our last day here. We took surf lessons and the lessons were good. My girlfriend and I both got to ride some waves during the lesson. I rented a board the next day and the rental boards are a little beat up. They still work but they are in rough shape. I needed up renting the next time from a guy on the beach. Overall I was very happy with the experience at Langosta!

Amazing spot to get sun or shade right on the beach! Staff was super friendly, Juliana remembered my name and acknowledged every time with a smile. 😊 I appreciated the pool drink and cabana service. The areas are clean and relaxing!

Spent 4 unforgettable days here. Great service, perfect location and decent food. The kids loved the pool too. Music at the pool, but not the beach; could be nice but the natural sounds and animals more than make up for it! We'll be back!

Nice beach club which was free with our hotel. They offer food and drinks with some vegan options. There are people coming up to you on the beach selling you stuff. You have to pay a deposit of 10 USD per towel and the gazebos are reserved for members (not sure what that meant). The pineapple smoothie was delicious. I had the quinoa bowl which was vegan. You can rent surfboards for 20 USD a day - which is great. You can also take surf lessons at 13 or 14:00. The staff was very friendly and the sunset was beautiful there.

We loved our time at Langosta Beach Club! Access was included as part of our hotel package or you can buy a day pass for $30 to have access to the pool area. You can rent beach towels for a $10 deposit each. If you just want to stop for food/drinks it seems like you can do so without a day pass in the beach area. Food and drinks were really nice, a little expensive but worth it for the amazing surrounds. I loved enjoying the beach without too much sand. You can also rent surfboards or get lessons here. The best part of the service were the staff, they were so sweet and made sure you had everything you needed, my favourite was the lovely lady!

Omg we love this private pool and chill beach environment for the day. Delicious food and drinks, everything is fresh. Tartar is a must if you like AHI tuna and the fish and chips was perfecto. Best Pina colada ive ever had, We cleaned the plate!!!! My man loves his sports so they have a nice sports bar area to check the score and everything is super clean. Be sure to bring your own towels or rent for 10$. Great music totally sets the vibe with the monkeys and iguanas just roaming around. The server Edgar and some other gentleman were so friendly, attentive, and accommodating to all of our needs. So thankful for these kind gentlemen who made this experience extra special. OneLove. Pura vida!

If you sit on the beach, you will be asked to buy souvenirs from every passing vendor. Food was great and service was wonderful. Beach was not too busy during the week. The squirrels are gorgeous and quite tame.

I was in Tamarindo with my granddaughter for several nights and this was our favorite place to eat after a sunset on the beach. I love Costa Rican food, but sometimes you want some chicken wings and French fries. The service was excellent both inside and outside. On Thursday night, they had a local guy playing guitar and singing, and he was excellent. The music definitely catered toward older folks, with a lot of old rock and roll including The Beatles, CCR, Elvis, and lots of other good stuff. It makes me happy to see young people playing and loving those good old tunes. Go for the food and great service, stay for the music, drinks, and ocean view. Oh yeah, and they have monkeys in their trees!

We ate lunch here once and I think were here two or three times for sunset drinks. The place is great! Singers, DJs, great sunset and the best place to watch the good surfers in the evening. Oh, and fire dancers. Just saying. Wonderful service, good happy hour menu.

Great spot on the beach. Chicken fingers are good. Calamari is below average. All rings and a touch greasy. Definitely ask for extra sauce for these. Service is intermittent and slower. We went through two waiters. Second waiter was the best.

I love this place for their happy hour! They offer a wide variety of cocktails for $4 until 7PM which is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the sunset. If you stick around, they also have a fire show which is incredible. The lounge chairs are super comfy and the service is quick. A special thank you to Luis who was super welcoming and friendly

Really good beach bar. Quick with the drinks (even during happy hour), good quality in drinks. They’re not cheap on the alcohol 😋. Bar bite calamari was excellent and reasonably priced. Staff is friendly and quick. There was a band playing in the early evening and during their break there was other entertainment in the form of a fire show (smart move).

We really love the El Be experience!! The staff was warm and friendly, the views of the sunset are second to none, the food is great quality and great tasting, the drinks are great too! Live music every night too! We look forward to our next trip and El Be will be on our list of things to do!!

We ate here twice on our recent trip and loved it. We sat out and watched our kids play on the beach. The cocktails and beers were good. The chicken quesadilla I had there was probably super delicious. We also got donuts at their little pastry shop as well. Overall, i thought it was very friendly wait staff and food was great.

Great little spot along the beach for some beers. Had a draft selection from a few Costa Rican breweries. We ordered beers from the bar and sat at the picnic tables that had a nice view of the ocean. Would definitely recommend during sunset!

Great little brewery and restaurant right on the beach! The beer, food, view, and service were excellent! Walter provided friendly and excellent service! He answered all of our questions, and went above and beyond to see that we had everything we needed.

We are in town on a vacation. We had 2 different tour guides (Julio, Nacho, I'm looking at you) recommend so we decided to walk on down and give it a go. Mistake. Well in all honesty my cocktail was delightful, but it went downhill from there. Once we were seated, we got drinks ordered and we looked over the menu and decided. 30 minutes later, we were asked for our food order. My friend ordered the 1/2 order of nachos. Mistake. Soon after, my friend’s food appeared. It came out so fast seemingly because they forgot to microwave it. I took a bite while I waited for my food. Nope, just laughably bad. Even on a bad night at Taco Bell, they remember to heat up the meat and cheese. Nacho cheese from a can is typically at room temp so I get that could be the mix up. But the shredded chicken, cheese, and sour cream were all pretty room temp. Feels like a dicey situation. My patacones were hot and possibly took so long as to sit in the oil for a good soak to marinate prior to frying. I ate a few bites but it was more cornmeal than plantain. I wasn’t nearly as brave as my friend and was ok going to bed hungry. My friend apparently is a gambler and her night is in the fate of the gods. I hope she keeps her phone charged. I’m real glad there’s cliff bars in our hotel room.

The food was delicious. It was my cousin’s birthday so they brought out tres leches cakes for her and she loved it. We ordered the shrimp skewers, jalapeño poppers, meso soup, mahi mahi seafood, Baja burger, shrimp rice and Costa Rican patacones. I would definitely recommend this place! Walter our server was magnificent!

Great spot for lunch. Beer tasted fresh, food was authentic with a twist. Walked right up and found a table on a Sunday afternoon. Looks like a dance floor and entertainment stage is available for evening entertainment. Recommend stopping qhen in Tamarindo.

Wonderful beachfront bar and restaurant! Large menu with reasonable prices! We had a grilled lobster which was amazing and the mahi tacos were fresh and flavorful! The local brews were great and the Volcano IPA at $6 was my favorite! Great place to watch the sunset or catch a lunch and watch the surfers!

MAGICAL SETTING, GOOD FOOD This restaurant is at the north end of Tamarindo & set in an enchanted garden lit by lanterns surrounded by a lush forest. We got there at 5:45 pm so were able to watch the beautiful sunset. We loved the cocktails and the food: we can recommend the Caribbean Chicken & the Curry. The lava cake was delicious but the fried cake had a mysterious creamy texture. The server was attentive but may have been new as he seemed a bit confused. A word of caution: if you wear scented products at dinner time you will be a magnet for mosquitoes.

We came for our birthday last night and had a wonderful experience. The live music was beautiful and our waitress was phenomenal. I have a dairy allergy and they were very accommodating. The live musician sang happy birthday and so did our waitress and gave us a complimentary dairy free churro plate. They made it very special, the food and drinks were delicious, and the restaurant was beautiful.

I went here for a quick dinner with my friends. After doing some researching, we found that this is one of the more touristy places in Costa Rica. So we looked over the menu and decided that we would order a platter that would feed up to 5 people. Although it was only three of us it was. It made the most sense. The platter came with a salad, a side of rice, side of potatoes, salad, mixed vegetables and four different proteins. In my opinion, everything on the platter was good except for the filet mignon and the other beef. The platter also had a side of halibut which to me was overcooked. It had the texture of chicken which I didn't like. It was very chewy. The service was very good and I wish was a very nice. She gave us recommendations and suggestions for drinks on the menu. She was really nice. Aesthetically the restaurant is very nice. I can imagine what it would be at night. But it before you go there, I would recommend bringing some mosquito spray with you.

My wife and I came here for the first time not knowing what to expect, and we were completely blown away by the food, the flavors, and the hospitality—it’s no exaggeration. Miss Elizabeth was our server, and she was timely, attentive, and incredibly pleasant. Thank you, Elizabeth, for making our first visit such a wonderful experience. If I could give this place six stars instead of five, I would. While dining outside, we even spotted some monkeys in the trees and a lizard nearby, which made the experience even more unique. Just a heads-up: the flies can be a bit relentless outdoors.

Huge thank you to The Red Door team for showing us so much love—even as we arrived right before closing! We were on a mission to get content for our travel blog SheGrownAndGone, and y’all understood the assignment. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and matched our energy perfectly. Now let’s talk food—that calamari was fresh and crispy, and the pasta? Rich, flavorful, and comforting in all the right ways. Everything about the night felt like a beautiful little reset. We'll absolutely be back!

Our favorite meal we had in Tamarindo!! Incredible service, lovely waiter. Would recommend the mussels and curry dish, and the skirt steak… all was amazing though! It was a slow night there but the cocktails and food were amazing. For real go there if you’re looking for a good dinner!!!

40th anniversary dinner at sunset on the beach. Angelo was an attentive host and steered us to tuna tartare, mahi mahi and ribeye steaks. The food was the best we had on the coast (and in the top quartile of a lifetime). Best choice of this trip by far. Highly recommend. Added bonus we enjoyed watching a young couple begin their journey at their wedding rehearsal dinner. Magnífico!

Great little rooftop spot overlooking Tamarindo beach! Good service, friendly and attentive. Great view. Lively ambience. Live music, karaoke, games - a local spot, mostly where foreign expats hang out. We ordered craft Margaritas, mine was with Mezcal and Chili…delicious! Recommended!

Loved the drinks, the music and the vibes. It was a quiet Monday night in rainy November, and CATA was one of the few cocktail bars still open. Service was welcoming and accommodating. We enjoyed our drinks and the complimentary snacks. Special note - my husband and I were the only ones there, I wanted to get up and dance with him to a sweet song that was playing. They restarted the song for us. :)

Delicious cocktails, very knowledgeable & friendly staff, great atmosphere to listen to the waves and enjoy a spirit. I highly recommend doing a tasting. You get an amazing variety to taste and we learned a lot about different mezcal options. ❤️🧉🌊

We had our welcome party for our wedding. It was the perfect location! The food and cocktails were great, sunset views were perfect, and staff was friendly. Everyone talked about how yummy everything was. Highly recommend for an event. We had about 50 people and it seemed ideal.

Very cool spot to sip mezcal and tequila. Owner and staff were friendly and very knowledge about the different spirits. The coffee cocktail and coconut old fashioned were amazing! Also, this is one of the only places we found in Costa Rica where you can get a Mexican style Michelada with tomato juice. 10/10! Definitely check it out! We went in December and couldn't really see the actual sunset from the bar but stil a nice vibe. My only con would be that the bar stools are not very comfortable.

Absolutely outstanding experience. From epic cocktails to incredible conversation, this place is a must! The first night we went here Liz made us incredible drinks both on and off the menu. Then she walked us through the basics and gave us tons of information about other local businesses she thought we could like. We had such a fantastic experience that we booked a mezcal tasting appoint the next evening. Shaina (I have no idea if I spelled her name correctly, sorry!) was incredibly thoughtful and a wealth of information as she guided us, taste by taste, through each tequila and mezcal brand she believed we would like. She nailed it. I’ll be back for sure!

I love this place!! One of my go to spots for delicious fresh drinks made with love! They have an incredible tasting room where you can do a curated tasting of specialty mezcal and tequila. There cocktail menu is fresh and unique, you wont find these in any old regular bar. My husband and I travel often and everywhere we go we love to have great cocktails! The vibe is cool and the view is beautiful for sunset especially if you don’t want to get sandy! The service is lovely and attentive and they speak English which is a bonus! I also checked out their salsa night on a Wednesday and it was BUMPING with good music abd great vibes! If you’re visit Tamarindo, make this one of your evening entertainment spots. You wont be disappointed!

Super delicious breakfast! I had an avocado toast and my partner took a burger - both portions were big and filling. There are many options on the menu and I think everyone will easily find something they like. Our server, Natalia, was great - from start to finish. Can recommend this place!

Such an amazing place we returned for a second day in a row! Tasty fresh poke bowls to fill hungry bellies after a long morning of surfing Well looked after by Lorna Also the best tasting Mai Tai in Costa Rica

La Oveja is a great spot in central Tamarindo. Dinner is tasty and portions are fair for the price. The real highlight is breakfast—the típicos with coffee are filling and authentic. The place has a big tree that’s literally part of the restaurant, so it feels relaxed and tropical. Inside, the A/C keeps it comfortable. Service is friendly and helpful. There’s live music a few nights a week; the volume is right, so you can still talk. Easy to find and easy to come back. Come for dinner, but don’t miss breakfast.

We came here 2 nights in a row! Best drinks and food in town. Have happy hour deals all day every day! Service is top notch. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting!!

I came here twice on my vacation because the food and the atmosphere was so good. I didn’t like the poké because that was not that flavorful. The ceviche was absolutely great, and the fish tacos were stellar. I also tried the skewered shrimps with sweet potato skins and that was fantastic. They also have evening decaf cafecitos and dessert which were such a nice end to our days here.

Fantastic experience! Billy was professional, patient, and made the dive course fun and safe. We saw amazing fish and even a whale and sharks – highly recommended!

Been in the resturant few time, Good food and design and nice staff. it does seems they are understaff with both servers and cooks. Even the most simple items we take long time to arrive.

Cannot rate this place highly enough. Good happy hour deals, tasty food options and friendly service. We came to Wild Panda every day of our stay in Tamarindo - a really good, budget friendly option. Have TVs playing surfing videos and good beats too.

Loved every location in Costa Rica except this. Got the breakfast burrito, ensured, requested and begged no pork in burrito prior to ordering….. 45 mins later burritos came with bacon. Had to cancel mine, and now will have to go on tour with no food. My friends also said the burritos were just ok.

One of the most authentic dive seaford bars in tamarindo. Stiff drinks, beautiful ambiance all while on the prowl from a white ghost.

This place is excellent for drinks and food. The ceviche and casado are both excellent. I stopped in here multiple times on my trip.

One of my favorite bars in the whole world. Amazing vibe. Fun staff. The owners are the best.

Delicious food !! especially loved the red Pargo deash, good value for money. the service is a bit slow but overall love this place and highly recommend it!

If you are in Tamarindo Costa Rica Wild Panda is a place you need to experience. The food, staff and owners are all great. If you want a spot where the locals go this is it. Pablo is the bartender/waiter and he is awesome. He made some recommendation on food to try and he was right. I had the chicken casado and my girlfriend had the seafood paella. It was so good we ate there almost every night for two weeks and its very affordably priced. Wild Panda I will be back...

The best food in the area. Hands down. We visited at 3pm for a late lunch. A few tables occupied, but Yayi greeted us immediately. Very welcoming. I needed to stand for awhile so we chose the bar. Ordered a Pepsi and a beer to start. I had no idea what I was in the mood to eat. Yayi was fantastic. Recommended the grill of the house and it was divine. Just divine. I had told her my other half is allergic to shrimp so she chose something without seafood for us. There was the prettiest avocado flower on the top of the mixed grill. Also had grilled pineapple, plantain, ribs, chicken, cheese and a mound of veggies hid under it all. We are big eaters and could only finish half of the plate. Every item on it was so flavorful. My boyfriend asked for hot sauce and was given 3 choices. One was perfectly hot for his taste. If you are near here, you must try it. So, so good.

The staff is so nice! The owners of this restaurant just opened club 41. The food is great and the staff seem happy to be there. We enjoyed our time.

Yayi, Helzin, Frank and Daniel made my families experience amazing! The food was delicious and even got to enjoy the company of “Baby Boo” such an amazing dog! Would definitely recommend. Went for karaoke night and enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitely coming back

Got us through the door with a “2 for 1 happy hour” “deal”. Then they say they’ll put the 2 drinks into one “big” cup. In the picture there’s a regular priced drink, and a “2 for 1 in one cup” drink. Can you tell which is which? I don’t like having my intelligence insulted, and the drinks were mediocre at best. Food was good though 2 stars

We got screwed. 135 USD for 6 drinks. Anyhow not a bad place to go. But just be mindful they will try and upsell -- Updated-- Premium line. So when a customer sees the menu, says "can I have a Margarita", you decide to put the premium line there. So it went from 5k a cocktail to 10k. Anyways. As I said, Nice bar and all. Just be mindful of them treating you like Gringos

Food was so delicious...top grade scrumptious! went there with my sis for a pizza lunch, Hawaiian...the best! Then Frank told us about karaoke night. Plus he played music we requested during lunch...Yes some afternoon Bachata hey! Let me tell you something about karaoke!!! 1000% will go back. Daniel the DJ was AMAZING! He made us feel like rock stars with the disco lights, especially sound control so everyone sounded wonderful. I will go back to this place anytime. Even right now if I could. Million % recommend this place. Pura vida

Great staff, service, music and wood fired PIZZA!!!! Friendly vibes, attentive, lots of seating, many fans providing a great breeze throughout. Drinks were top notch, one of the few places I could get an ‘old fashion’. Definitely recommend after or during your day at the beach, which is steps away!

Wanted to sit on the beach and enjoy my meal but the flies... Lord the flies were over barring. Didn't even get to take a bite Had to go "inside" The portion was huge! I had a surf n turf and I don't know it you can call the shrimp shrimp. They were huge Everything was delicious

Our first impression of El Vaquero/Witch's Rock was excellent. We had just finished some surf lessons (with a different company) and we were happy to get two tables for our group of 10. Initially, our server was very attentive and even offered to place the kids' orders first. This is always a win. The kids' meals did arrive promptly. Unfortunately, the adults waited for more than an hour from time of order to eat. This wouldn't have been too terrible had we not witnessed other tables (who arrived later) receiving food before us. Eventually, several complimentary bowls of chips and dip arrived along with the ceviche we had ordered as an appetizer, but not until about 5 minutes before the actual meals. I wouldn't be surprised if our orders were forgotten. With all that being said, every meal ordered was delicious. Not one complaint. The items varied from whole red snapper, macho tacos (fish), beef sandwich, burger, etc. There was some significant confusion when trying to divide the bill, but overall, the restaurant was a nice midday lunch on the beach. The view is fantastic, but Tamarindo has gotten very busy, so be prepared for crowds everywhere.

I always come here with my family for sunset. I have been a consistent customer for two years. The food, atmosphere and service has been great until a recent hire. This waitress was incredibly rude, impatient, and incompetent. When she got my order wrong and I calmly said something, she snapped at me and told me to “calm down” and to change my attitude while laughing in my face over her mistake. I was incredibly offended. I was a waitress for 3 years and never in my life would I have spoken and disrespected a calm customer that way over my own mistake. We and others have had multiple bad experiences with her and I don’t think she is competent enough for a job that involves customer service.

Super quiet and beer is very fruity!! It’s ok, but I’d would along the beech as there are so many better bars with a better vibe

Food looked delicious but seasoning was missing. The really good thing was the passionate fruit cheesecake but everything else, shrimp ceviche and the Casado was lack luster. Only flavorful item on the plate/bowl was the mango salsa. The beef, plantains and even the rice, plain.

The service here was nice but took awhile to take our order. The food took over half an hour and it was not even busy.

Food was pretty good and sizes are fairly large. Side note, they had forgotten to give us the do for the jalapeno poppers, but they did give it to us and it was pretty good.

Beautiful crowd, great atmosphere alongside of amazing drink specials at affordable price points. Resident DJs and lighting installations are what will keep us coming back

Loved the vibe and the happy hour specials. Live entertainment was excellent. Nachos were not the best but everything else was great.

Tables at edge of beach provide a great spot for watching sunset. And happy hour pricing at 4:30 makes the drinks a great deal.

Good Bar, and great mood any night of the week...easily the centre of the night life in Tamarindo.

Pacific truly knows how to throw down a good party! Every night is a great night here. Beer pong comps and dance floor breakdowns. It's all good times

This place is fire. You want to party this is the spot for SATURDAY Only! DJ’s were playing reggaeton and Latin music and it was packed wall to wall. Cover charge is $5.00. Wear comfortable shoes. Each club in the area has a specific night each day of the week. Saturday is what’s happening there. If you want to explore further there some clubs and bars to left in alley that has few more clubs along the passage. Overall drinks were well done! I will go back again for dancing and just having a great time.

Okay you have to call this for what it is a Beach bar. No Frills just a fun place. There is just a great feel to this place. The food is unbelievable. I wouldn't knock the service because this is a laid back place where nobody should be in a hurry. The bartender is a grizzly guy who never smiles and looks as if he could eat you, but you get your drinks. Gaze at people, gaze at the ocean..you can always pick up a soccer game behind the bar. The food is unbelievably good. As the day transitions to night, the night crowd is just fun, fun, fun. Get serenaded by Marachi players, dance, and don't forget to wash every thing down with with an Imperial beer, Costa Rica's finest. Right on the beach you can walk over 40 yards of sand right to the waters edge. I love this little city, I love the people. I will be back.

This was my first time in Costa Rica and the Witches Rock Surf camp was fantastic! Our advanced group guide Filipe was friendly, informative, supportive on and off the water, and a great positive personality. Although our group was not a "coached" group (see intermediate and beginner groups) he was generous with surfing tips and information on what was going on in the water at each break - channels, current, bottom, tide, best take off locations, what the waves were going to do as the day progressed, etc. At "Ollies" he gave me great local take off location tips that turned into 14 good waves in 2 hours! He gets five stars. Thanks also to Candy, Diana, Melony and the guide coach from the other group Oscar, who were all very helpful and friendly. The daily trips by van early morning to different surf spots, that would be difficult to access for non-locals, were a great outing, adventure and a cultural/ eco tour by itself - never boring. Surf off the front beach was varied in size and shape every day and available many parts of the day - evening glass off and sunsets were sometimes a second session. In house restaurant/bar on the beach with epic view and TV screens for sports and surf flics were a solid draw, and we picked that for dinner over town several times with not regret. Yes you get one free breakfast a day served all day anytime and it was solid. Hoping to go back. Keith - Seal Beach, California

My wife and I, along with two friends just got back from a week at WRSC. What a great experience! We only had about 2 hours of total surfing experience before arriving, so this review is from the perspective of an absolute beginner, although the intermediate and advanced surfers that we hung out with also seemed to love the place. Our beginner cohort was a wide mix of people. There was a group of guys who were just post-university, a few dads on a "brothers surf trip", a few childless middle-aged adventurers (our group), and even a couple of empty nesters! Definitely get to know people early in the week, you'll be spending a lot of time with them and you might just make some new friends! From arriving at the airport right up until we got dropped off again, WRSC was great. Besides the excellent location and and curriculum, the staff was the definite highlight. Having never been to Costa Rica before, I was skeptical of the "Pura Vida" attitude that is all over the marketing materials for the country, but I was pleasantly surprised. It felt different from some of the destinations that we have visited in the Caribbean - more organic somehow. It didn't feel like folks were being nice because we were tourists spending money in their economy (which some other places feel like), instead they were just plain nice people with an infectiously good attitude. A big shout-out to our instructor, Jeff, who got us both up riding waves on day one and helped us progress throughout the week. You have the patience of a saint and we look forward to working with you again on a return trip!

I had the incredible opportunity to work with Felipe during my stay at Witch’s Rock, and I truly can’t recommend him enough. He has a true gift for coaching. Felipe listens closely, tunes into each person’s individual needs, and offers specific, insightful and expert guidance that actually helped me improve, even in a group of beginners who were all at various levels. With his help and encouragement to incorporate what I was learning from him, I finally felt like I could consistently pop up, and to top it off, he’s such a kind and genuine person. He really made it fun every day of my vacation! As someone who doesn’t consider myself especially athletic, but who loves to surf, he gave me the tools to level up. Felipe’s patience, kindness, and genuine belief in my potential helped and I left Costa Rica feeling good about how far I’d come, and inspired to keep getting in the water as soon as I got home. Felipe made my time at Witch’s Rock unforgettable. I feel so lucky to have had him as a coach in such a beautiful place. I’m incredibly grateful for everything he taught me. Great memories! Pura Vida! 🌊🏄‍♀️

Returned a few weeks ago from staying for a week. It was an amazing experience! I had never surfed, snowboarded, or skated in my life, and Estaban was a great coach who helped me stand on the board and surf during that time. Free breakfast at the restaurant every morning was great and all the employees were fun and helpful, it made me love the vibe of the place. I would love to be able to go again when I get the chance!

Rented boards from the demo center because I wanted a longboard for a small day of waves. Stephania was very friendly and accommodating. She even helped me try to remove a screw stuck in my shortboard finbox. A wonderful employee who deserves a pay raise ASAP. Very impressed with the board selection- they had legit boards for advanced surfers. Highly recommend.

This was by far the best surf trip I have ever experienced. The staff at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp are accommodating, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Jeff was my instructor. He was phenomenal. Then Felipe was my instructor and he was amazing as well. Tamarindo is a beautiful beach town. I give my highest recommendation. Thank you!!

This camp is hands down my favorite place on the planet. It was my husband’s idea back in 2019 to try a surf camp…I thought the idea sounded fun but little did I know that on the brink of my 40th birthday I would find my #1 passion in life. Since 2019 I have been back 6 times (with another trip planned in less than a year) and each visit feels more and more like visiting family. I love the rooms, food, seminars, video analyses, instructors, other employees, shuttle service to and from the airport, sunsets, and of course the waves! Friends tease me about not trying out other places, but I figure why waste time doing that when I know everything will be amazing at Witch’s Rock? If you are looking for a surf camp look no further as you have found the right place!

The cocktails were okay - not very strong and a little too sweet. They provided “free shots” but they were very watered down. I couldn’t even tell there was alcohol in it. We were there during the week and so it wasn’t busy at all, which was a bummer. Looking at their socials, it definitely looks busier on the weekends.

Kinky Bar may be small in size, but it delivers a big, unforgettable experience! When we arrived around 11 PM, the place was almost empty—just one other couple—but within minutes, the atmosphere completely transformed. The bar quickly filled up and turned into a lively, high-energy space. The bartender was fantastic—super helpful, genuinely friendly, and really added to the welcoming vibe of the place. Despite how busy it got, the service stayed efficient and upbeat. The absolute highlight of the night was the drag show. The performer was phenomenal—full of charisma, talent, and presence. She owned the stage and had the entire crowd engaged and cheering. It was easily one of the best drag performances I’ve seen, and it made the night incredibly memorable. I’ll definitely be coming back for more great vibes, amazing entertainment, and that warm, inclusive energy.

Drag show was incredible. Gays kissed, danced, and felt blissful together.

LITERALLY $24 for two shots WASTE OF MONEY. Coming from a literal lesbian….. Go ANYWHERE else. On top of that totally empty on a Saturday night.

If you are fun , carefree and just wanna have fun! KINKY is the best place in town to chill. Highly recommended , drinks are absolutely good and the place is fun you can dance and you can chill and talk with your friends! Not to noisy like other bars! 100% my favorite place in town.

The website claims they open at 8pm (20). Got there on a Saturday. Music was playing but the door was locked!

Great dance music and awesome crowd

This is an amazing experience and a must do if you are looking for a way to party with other party peeps while in Tamarindo! This is an awesome way to see other beaches, pools and bars on the other side of the islands that you might not venture out to otherwise! The hosts were amazing and kept the party energy going throughout the entire trip! Upon arrival you receive a welcome shot, on the bus you get a drink and at each stop you receive a shot. We received a total of 3-4 shots and a welcome drink! I was disappointed that drink options weren’t available or that drink specials weren’t available at the bars as it seemed it would be, but overall this is a great experience and worth the money!

They hosted us while we were there for wedding weekend! Amazing time! Miguel, Shanice & Hannah were absolutely the best! The scenic route, beaches, pool & sunset was great!

Greatest time!! If you like to have fun and party, it’s the place to be. They take you to beautiful spots!

Great fun, thank you for organizing. Anytime again.

The best party bus and amazing hosts !!!!

Loved my spicy 🌶️ margarita! Nice flavor and I love the atmosphere of Plaza Via Condotti.

Amazing smoothies! The dried fruit on the top was tasty and was a perfect finishing touch. Service was excellent. Highly recommend this hidden gem!

(Translated by Google) An excellent place to have a drink with friends or family, very good atmosphere and quality service. (Original) Un excelente lugar para tomarle algo con los amigos o familia, muy buen ambiente y atención de calidad.

(Translated by Google) Delicious natural juices with perfect blends (Original) Delicioso jugos naturales con mezclas perfectas