Where to eat: the 50 best restaurants in Tamarindo

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!

We ordered the beet carpaccio w/ blue cheese crumbles and the seared ahi tuna tacos and they did not disappoint. The food and ambience was great and our server Carlos was very friendly and attentive. Happy we came on a Sunday to enjoy the half off Margaritas and taco specials.

We are vegan, and we unfortunately didn’t like the food at all. My bf had the vegan stir fried tacos, which was soggy, with mash potatoes, mix of asian veggies drowned in soy sauce. The quesadillas wasn’t bad, but I didn’t really like the vegan cheese. The starter was good tho, we had the vegan ceviche with heart of palm, and the spicy sauce was very good. Wouldn’t go back tho.

Loved the atmosphere here. We had the beef burrito and beef enchiladas. Both were delicious and I definitely want to come back and try more. The restaurant has swings you can sit in for seating which is really fun and unique.

What a great place in Tamarindo! We had a great experience, our server Claudia was great! The food, amazing. Mahi tacos are incredible. The wife got vegan coconut curry veggies with rice. Margaritas are extremely good here. Cool vibe, great eat. Go here!

Our first time in Costa Rica and came to the green papaya via google reviews and wanting tacos. Luca was kind and knowledgeable and made great recommendations. Tacos were delicious and the vibe was great!

Couldn’t wait to come back & it was worth it! We came here 5 years ago and were excited for the shrimp tacos and hot sauce that we loved the last time. Luckily it was just as good this time around! We decided to go with the mahi mahi tacos which were huge (sharable) and SO GOOD. Margarita was pretty good as well - definitely recommend. Service was fantastic - Luca was friendly and attentive. She recommended the mahi mahi which is why we went that route over the shrimp and we were not disappointed! The food came out really fast. It’s a cash only establishment, but there is an ATM next door if needed. Also 5 stars for the kitty that was there!

They have a separate and very good vegan menu. We had the vegan tacos with corn tortillas, vegan quesadillas and Buddha Bowl. Large serves, fast service and nice atmosphere.

The food was actually AMAZING. Flavorful and fresh. They had an excellent selection of drinks, entrees and desserts. It was our most expensive meal in tamarindo, $142 usd for 2 people - but that included cocktails, entrees and dessert.

It’s a very cute restaurant with nice staff. The menu was interesting has a lot of Asian inspired items. The red snapper was well cooked but could not get over the sauce . It was very sweet . The seafood pasta and the drinks we both got were good.

Great nice quality dinner and great service! We ordered the sashimi & nigiri plate, the sesame seared yellowfin tuna, and a tres leches which were all delicious. For drink we had the dragon fruit mojito and the Paloma which were both excellent!

Dragonfly is a nice spot for dinner for all types of occasions. Menu has a nice variety of options including sushi. We tried some gyoza, three sushi rolls, mozzarella empanada and the kale salad. Sushi was nice and fresh and the kale salad was great. They also had some light live music which was nice!!! We didn’t order drinks but they a nice selection to choose from.

We had a fantastic dinner here on our last night in Costa Rica. Highly recommend the Buddha bowl (and I added seared tuna). The tuna was cooked PERFECTLY, and the bowl was so flavorful. Delicious tofu and the sauce was amazing. 10/10 would recommend!

Dragonfly was an amazing place due to its quality of food/drinks. Great atmosphere to enjoy dinner & drinks. Personnel was very attentive. It was admirable to see Bernardo make great drinks, talk with guests and manage multiple task at once. Pura vida 🤙🏻

I liked this place one of the better restaurants in Tamarindo. The ambience is really nice, live music and we sat in the top area which was relaxing for us. The must try items are the tuna tartar it was amazing and the skirt steak with the bone marrow! That steak was the best steak we had here, an amazing cook and great flavor. We loved the empanadas. The sushi was good a little too much rice on them but very tasty and cool presentation. Good service too we’d return and do it again.

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.

Beautiful ambiance! Spray bug repellent before arriving as this restaurant is entirely outside! A little disappointed with the food. We ordered veggie spring rolls (delicious sauce, nice and crispy), miso soup (flavorful and warm), two different tuna rolls (both were kind of lack luster) and a tofu bowl (a ton of food, good vegetarian option, sauce was flavorful, the ratio of rice to veggies was balanced). We were able to just walk up without a reservation. We did not drive here so we cannot speak to how parking is!

Easily a 10/10—the best sushi I’ve ever had. The service was outstanding; Maurice and Chef Sergio were so welcoming and guided us through an unforgettable chef’s tasting. The atmosphere was perfect, and every single dish was absolutely mind-blowing. A must-visit spot to bring your friends!

I had a fantastic time dining here today! I tried the Tico Roll which has plantain on top - what a creative and delicious dish! I also had the Hibiscus Margarita at the recommendation of Mauricio (fantastic member of the staff who took good care of me while I dined here). I can’t wait to come back for more of their dishes. Easily the best sushi in Costa Rica that I’ve had the pleasure of trying!

Amazing food, everything is so fresh. Mau (Mauricio) was our server and you’d think he owned this place with how passionate he is. He had photos at the ready and his every recommendation were 🔥 We will definitely be back! Highly recommend the Tuna tataki, Crunchy Nigiris, Ahí tuna nigiris, Tico roll, spicy tuna, Tex mex rolls

Bamboo Sushi Club was perfect for a late night meal when we were hungry. The vibe was super cool, the decor and ambience were on point and the service was really nice. The sushi was incredibly fresh and the tuna was locally sourced which we loved. Salmon and the tuna were the best. We loved the steamed dumplings too, very light for pork. The fresh juices were unreal. I had the best pineapple juice of my life here. A great spot in Tamarindo for fresh sushi, good energy and a fun atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Nice servers and cute decor. Fish quality is very low and probably frozen badly. Sashimi falls apart under its own weight, rough texture, and everything tastes like air. Rice is gummy, overly sweet, and missing enough vinegar. Very nice presentation though.

Gonzalo was amazing!! We came 3 years ago on our last trip to Tamarindo and it was great. We decided to come back again and it was even better than what we remembered! Order everything he recommends!

I love this place! Eaten there many times and I just keep going. The chicken shawarma pita is super tasty and a full meal. If you get, don’t order any appetizers.

Went here for lunch with my family and had an amazing experience. Emanuel was very friendly and helpful with recommendations, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We ordered the Mixed Grill—especially loved the ribeye beef skewer! It came with warm, fluffy pita, tasty garlic sauce, creamy hummus, and rice. We also got the falafel plate which is a great vegetarian option. The hibiscus lemonade and ginger lemonade were super refreshing, and the passion fruit ale was a unique must-try. Great food, wonderful service, and an overall enjoyable dining experience.

Loved this place! I only had the shrimp skewer appetizer, which comes with a delicious salad, hummus, tahini and baba ghanoush. It was a generous serving, almost like a full meal. I swapped the tahini for tzatziki though to keep the calories lower and it was delicious. Even the shrimp on its own without dipping it in anything was perfectly grilled and seasoned. My spouse had the Greek salad and loved it. All the ingredients are fresh and tasty. The prices are also very reasonable. And the staff is an absolute joy, especially Manuel. He was super friendly, informative, and genuinely positive and lovely to talk to. Will go again!

I read the 1-star reviews left previously by others before giving a 5-star to balance and check myself. When rating an establishment one must factor in location, comparative food in the area, and the history of the world. For example, pricing is always high in a beach town. This is the only Middle Eastern place in a town with mostly Latin food places, therefore gathering ingredients from distributors for Middle Eastern food is not easy. Owned by an Israeli, one commenter of a 1-star review tried to accuse this place of cultural appropriation. Fool, Israeli folk have been eating falafel alongside their Arab cousins since humans first ground beans on this portion of the globe. As for the person carrying on in their 1- star review about a dead bug, YOU ARE IN THE TROPICS! The food, service, and atmosphere were all perfect. Falafel Bar is by all means 5-star.

Food was INCREDIBLE—authentic, fresh, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Sol was so lovely, helpful, and knowledgeable. The pita is made from scratch and is absolutely mouthwatering. Will be returning!

Wow. No place has ever wowed us so much that we went back TWICE (that's a lie, but it happens rarely). We went for lunch twice at Falafel Bar Tamarindo while staying nearby. The Fish Falafel was flavorful, perfect texture and had great balance. (For the review about the fish bone, bro - Chew your food. 🙄) The salad had great flavor, the pitas are so fluffy and are cooked perfectly. The hummus was smooth and spiced nicely. All of it 👌🏼 The Mixed Grill - every kebab was seasoned well and cooked to where the meat practically fell off. Delightful. The water is fresh and the beer is cold.

Best falafel in Costa Rica. The chumus tasted great. And really soft and fresh pita. Sol and Ema were kind and friendly. Fast service.

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!

We had the pepperoni, the Baula, and the Chèvre and all 3 were great! Friendly service too!

This could have been a 5 star review as the Pizza, service and atmosphere are lovely. What spoiled it for us was the Tico 'trick" when you come to pay. If you try to pay by credit card they take your card, then walk away and come back with a piece of paper saying your card did not work and can you pay cash. We INSISTED to pay by card and eventually went behind the bar with the server and watched her enter the transaction into the PDQ machine, and funnily enough it worked !! This has happened to us in a few places when they want cash payments instead credit cards. Left us with a sour taste, and will not be returning!

Excellent!!! We loved this place…so much that we ate here twice while on vacation! :) The pizza (and salad) is delicious, very friendly staff, and quick service. The ambiance is really nice and our kids enjoyed getting to play outside while waiting for our food. Highly recommend!!

We wound up here on Easter since most other restaurants were closed. This is a pizza only place with plenty of tables. The pizza itself was decent and d the service was quick.

Amazing pizza and best service you could ask for all in a beautiful restaurant setting. The restaurant offers authentic Italian pizza with great drinks and desserts. Servers were able to communicate well in English and Spanish and the manager speaks Italian as well. Go for the pizza but do not skip the dessert or limoncello. As a bonus, there is also an outdoor eating area with a playground for younger guests.

First of all the restaurant itself looks straight out of a travel magazine. It’s beautiful. The play area for kids is a huge bonus for those with little ones. The pizza was delicious with the crust being a perfect balance of crispy and chewy. Blue cheese was a surprise of our cheese pizza and we ate every slice. Highly recommended

Lovely decor, indoor and outdoor area. Beautiful play area outside. Great to keep little ones entertained. Staff were friendly and attentive. Pizzas were amazing. Lots of choices. Traditional Italian style stone baked. Very good size, lots of toppings too. Salad was a good size too. Highly recommend if you are in the mood for pizza. Live singer on Friday night too (may have other nights but this was when we attended)

The food here was absolutely amazing! Everything tasted super fresh, and it came out so quickly 🍽️✨ There were plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, which was such a nice surprise. I ordered the watermelon agua fresca, and wow… it was incredible! 🍉💦 I highly recommend it! We actually chose this restaurant because of Nichole, who greeted us outside with a friendly smile and a coupon for churros 😄🍩 She told us all about the place, and she was just the sweetest! Throughout our visit she made sure we had everything we needed and truly made the experience even better. Ordering was fast, the food came exactly how we expected, and it was so easy to have a conversation at our table without too much noise 💬💛 The décor was super cute, and the artwork around the restaurant was beautiful 🎨✨ Overall, such a lovely experience — delicious food, great vibes, and wonderful service! Highly recommend! 🌟💕

This place rocks! Great food, great staff, great prices. Best nachos ever and definitely a shareable portion! Fabi our waitress made it so enjoyable. Her great smile and warm personality makes you feel special. Be sure to check out the daily specials and Taco Tuesday is not to be missed!

Our second time here in a week. The food is outstanding! Tacos are so fresh, so delicious; best in town for sure. The margaritas are also amazing. We’ve been to Mexico many times and this spot is as good or better than anything we have had there. Fish, birria, barbacoa and conchinitia. Awesome. Melanie is an excellent server! If there is a line up it’s worth the wait!

taco tuesday spent the right way with super fresh (and cheap!) tacos, app specials, and top-notch margs (get the cucumber). indoor & outdoor seating available with a nice vibe overall. our server, melanie, was super friendly and gave us great recommendations. 10/10 recommend if in Tamarindo Beach!

Amazing food in a clean, modern setting. My server Susana was very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend the shrimp tacos and the fish tacos. Also: dogs on a leash are welcome 😊

The food, ambiance, and staff here are amazing! Nicol is a friendly and warm person and she even gave us lots of recommendations on where to shop and places to check out. The churros here are a must have! Don'y bother with the small - go straight to the large order ☺️ Pura vida!

Such a lovely place!! Delicious drinks and amazing tacos! We had Nicol as a server and she was fabulous. So kind and accommodating. Thank you so much!!

We enjoyed breakfast here. It is a little expensive considering but everything is expensive in Tamarindo. There was no wait, we were served quickly and the ladies are really nice.

Excellent brunch option for the area can be found here at Noi. This was our first time experiencing the Tamarindo area and after eating here this will become our go to for breakfast when we are ever back in the area. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as your typical brunch selections, but the ingredients are fresh and the owner was awesome and welcoming. Prices are fair as Tamarindo in general is pricey anywhere you go, so dont feed into the other reviewers complaints about cost. You should always expect for prices to be high in Tamarindo and when you compare Noi to other similar options this is the best bang for your buck.

NOI Bistro was our first meal in Tamarindo. The owner was hospitable and friendly! She gave us a lot of great recommendations about things to do and see in the area and even had us try a cocktail she’s thinking about adding to the menu. The restaurant is super cute and cozy. I ordered a smoothie and the breakfast burrito - both were yummy! The salsa that came with our meals was soo good that I bought two bottles to take home. We were a party of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meals. Pricing was very reasonable and fair - service was excellent. It was a great start to our trip and whenever we’d drive or walk by NOI on golf cart, the owner would say hello. Next time I visit Tamarindo, I’ll make sure to return to NOI Bistro.

This place offers a decent selection of snacks, including vegetarian options.

Really delicious and flavorful food! There was a small 5-10 min wait for a table but the owner was so nice she let us sit at the bar and order so by the time we got a table our food was ready. Really a 10/10 experience with food that filled and fueled us for a long day. Food portions are excellent for the price. Recommend 1000%! We got French Toast, Huevos Rancheros (came with sweet potatoes fries), and a Burrito (that came with fruit).

Great location and good food. Price to match. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. Highly recommend this restaurant for early breakfast and a good time. Owners are super cool and hard working.

Excellent food! I’m visiting Tamarindo for a couple of weeks as a tourist, and decided to have breakfast and coffee at this place during my first morning in town. First of all, the staff here are amazing! So friendly and helpful. The location is perfect as it was a two minute walk from my hotel and situated in the heart of downtown. Everything was fresh and delicious. I ordered the “Avosmash” meal with toast, avocado, fried egg, other toppings and a side salad. Very healthy too. I encourage you to try the homemade table sauce if you order a savory meal. It’s got some kick but not too hot. I’ll be back here no doubt.

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.

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.

A spectacular menu with superior tastes, plating, herbs and service. seriously, one of the best unique restaurants in continent america. Super fresh, very special dishes (sea food, meat, veggie from appetisers, main to desserts) in a variate set of options. great wine, very good service. Even the Gluten Free options for celiac guests worked very well. All in all, we had an amazing dinner, thanks to Shlomy and the team.

Shlomy's is always a wonderful experience. Two out of the three times I've been, there was a band or musician playing (the third time was during Covid). Their menu has a vegan section, with other vegan menu items clearly marked. I've had all of the vegan dishes, including they vegan apple crumble, the seared mushrooms, and the cauliflower. Everything is delicious! They even bring you your own vegan bread basket 🙂 They have menus is English and Spanish and you can order in either language. Also pictured is the Mahi Mahi, which I obviously did not eat but was told it was really good, and the orange mash was delicious. If you find yourself in Tamarindo, I highly recommend going to Seasons by Shlomy. It's a little confusing to get to, but if you keep following the path, eventually you'll get to a pool and that's where Shlomy's is set up. It's well worth it!

Seasons is a small restaurant in a boutique hotel, with great atmosphere and decor. Situated poolside with wooden rafts and floors, it was a very enjoyable meal. They offer a variety of options including vegan, gluten free and omnivore. The service was friendly and the food was tasty.

Attentive and friendly service with a nice atmosphere. Enjoyed our drinks and meals very much. They take credit card (we read earlier reviews saying cash only).

Tucked away little secret in Tamarindo that is well worth the small effort it takes to find. I ate early so I nearly had the place to myself and my server, Gabriel took excellent care of me. The space was Costa Rican chic and the meal was fantastic. Would recommend to anyone coming to Tamarindo and looking for a memorable meal

Loooved my filet. You can tell the beef has been well raised. The octopus seemed out of place with the beans though. Too tart and stand out for my taste..The live band was lovely. They make their way to everyone's tables. This restaurant seems like one of the few more formal ones in the area.

Absolutley excellent food and ambiance. We heard about Seasons from our AirBnB host and were not let down. We had the calimari special, as well as the red snapper. Everything was prepared perfectly. We even got to meet Shlomy himself who was dutifully bussing tables, prepping food, and greeting guests. This is a must visit if you're in Tamarindo

Excellent quality food with wonderful service! After 20 days all over Costa Rica this was one of our favorite meals. We had the smoothie with fresh fruit (6 kinds), organic Greek yogurt, pure raw honey, chianti seeds and homemade peanut butter. Cold and very filling on it's own. We shared the Ensalada Especial with chicken. Que Rico! A cool relaxed atmosphere outside on their shaded deck.

We enjoyed a sandwich which also included a beverage and a side of home made plantain chips. Everything was excellent. The chips were delicious with a taste of fresh lime juice. The bread was home made and truly superb - like a super soft foccaccia. The beverage we chose was passion fruit juice ... so good it's addicting. The sandwich had fresh lettuce, tomato and grilled shrimp. The split our meal onto two plates so we could share. This lunch meal won't be forgotten. La Bodega restaurant is simple, unpretentious and absolutely excellent.

A great place to grab some breakfast and coffee. My boyfriend and I had a great experience here - good vibes, good food. We spoke with Richard for some time and it was so lovely getting to know more about him and connecting over our shared interests. Everyone at La Bodega was so friendly and made sure we were having a great time. I got the omelette with sausage and my boyfriend got the breakfast sandwich with sausage. Both delicious. Make sure to try the hot sauce, it's fabulous. Not to mention, the prices here are great and the service was exemplary! It's a bit further off the main road but still very easy to get to. Would love to come here again. Wishing you all the best.

best sandwich ever!! great food quality, all organic, all fresh, the homemade lemonade was great, the sauces were really special and homemade!! the banana chips and the sauce were also great!! went there 3 times, when I was staying in Tamarindo, was always perfect!! will come back sometime!!

I ordered take-out here. While I was waiting I had a nice conversation with one of the employees and also got to see the monkeys crossing their bridge and playing in the trees. The breakfast sandwiches were tasty. I recommend trying the one with the trout if you’re adventurous.

La Bodega is a sweet spot just off the main strip in downtown Tamarindo.. I stopped in on this rainy morning for a coffee but ended up grabbing myself a breakfast sandwich.. The owner was there and he was not only helpful but super friendly too.. Their prices are surprisingly low and the food amazing.. The latte that I ordered was perfect and even though it was raining I was able to enjoy my food outside on their cover d deck.. While waiting for my breakfast I checked out their selection of local food and health products and even though I didn’t have much money on me, I plan on grabbing some when we I return with my family for breakfast.. A great spot for a great cup of coffee, give La Bodega a shot next time you’re looking for a pick me up in Tamarindo..

Had breakfast here on my way out of Tamarindo. It was excellent. The service was quick, attentive, and very energetic. Inside there was all different local goods for sale. I would definitely recommend it.

What a great little gem of the beaten path in Tamarindo. It's extremely rare for me to visit the same restaurant twice when I'm enjoying time away from home. Hands down the best in the area with freshly made pizza and pasta. This Sicilian family is getting right with their simple yet very yummy options for dine in and/or take out. I originally went to them for pizza, but I got a little jealous when I saw some of the pasta dishes. I realistically had no room, but I wanted more. Came back the next night for pasta, and it too did not disappoint. Don't skip out on the place if you are in the area!

Oh Em Gee what can I say, from the host to the server the service was spectacular and so genuine. His wife, the Chef is AHHmazing at her craft. The menu is specific to their expertise which I appreciate. We felt so welcomed we barely wanted to leave. The food was amazing. We ordered a few of the specials on the menu and they did not disappoint. We were gifted a few digestives as a Thank you and that put the cherry on the cake!!! We came back another night after eating at a disappointing place and the host was ecstatic to see us. Round two didnt disappoint either. More to come on those pictures.....

My wife and I tried this place because of the great reviews, and it was conveniently close to our hotel. The owner personally waited on us, and he couldn’t have been nicer — super friendly and able to chat in both English and Spanish, which made us feel really welcome. He recommended the spaghetti, so we ordered that along with a supreme pizza. 🍝🍕 Let me tell you, the spaghetti completely blew us away — way better tasting than it looks in the photos. This place is a must-visit, and please take my word when I say skipping the spaghetti would be a big mistake! I think it was about 35 or $40 with the drinks So also very affordable in the area.

Amazing experience. The owner was so friendly and attentive, he was a true host. Made us feel so special and welcome. We had the mixed seafood linguini and the vegetarian version of the pistachio gnocchi (subbed bacon for artichokes). Plus he gave us bruschetta for an entree and tiramisu for dessert. The food was amazing, the best Italian food we’ve had in years. It’s pricey (for us Australians) but worth the price in my opinion. A great experience.

All the restaurants we ate at in Tamarindo, and this is the only one I feel compelled to write a review on. My dad is from Sicily and I've been eating this type of food my entire life. This restaurant is one of two places I've ever been to in my adult life where the food tastes like my family's food. The ingredients are real, the recipes obviously home-grown. We loved the food here so much we ended up going twice! It's tucked away in a little shopping center and there are only 6 or 7 tables so a reservation is helpful. Peppe is a fantastic host, interacting with each guest - you can tell he's truly passionate about the food. He takes care of the guests and I believe his wife runs the kitchen. I'm so thankful we found this place and got to experience 2 outstanding dinners while on vacation!

Authentic Italian gem in Costa Rica! Everything exceeded our expectations with amazing service, fresh and creamy pasta, and dishes that tasted like homemade Italian love. Every bite was a taste of Italy! Highly recommended for a genuine Italian experience in Costa Rica. Let’s not forget the amazing service and attention given to each customer, 5/5 stars!

Very welcoming and caring owner and staff. Amazing authentic Sicilian food. We had dinner here twice in one week because it was so good.

Great meal here! Portions are super generous (we took leftovers home), service is warm and friendly, beer is spot on. We’ll be back!

I make a point of stopping in here every time I come to Tamarindo. I love the chill atmosphere! Every server has always been very friendly. Our server tonight and last night was Merci, not sure if I got her name right, super nice! Best burger and onion rings in town! Especially the onion rings! The coating is so crispy, they just hit the spot! I do usually have to salt them, but otherwise some of the best I’ve had. Prices are super reasonable!

Decided to come here for an afternoon snack and it did not disappoint. The servicer was good, she was super friendly and helpful. We had an order of Chicken Wings with Onion Rings. Everything was cooked perfectly, the BBQ and Hot sauce were delicious. Decent view of the ocean as well. Definitely need to visit this place again.

We’ve had a lot of good in Costa Rica but for me this one was the very best. All of the other meals have kinda blended together in my memory but this one stands out! Seated facing the ocean with amazing prices, sweet caring service and awesome food…don’t miss this gem!!

Okay takeout wings, not as crispy as I would have liked despite eating them shortly after being prepared. The sauces were tasty, favorite was honey garlic

My favorite spot for casual fare, good food, great atmosphere.. Was my first time in Costa Rica and surf shack became my favorite fare spot.. esp after surfing.. not the closest to the beach, but beach view.. quality drinks with quality eats…

Amazing burger place! Such a fun area too, right by the beach down a little path from town. The decorations and vibe were so beachy and the prices were very reasonable for what you got—the burgers were HUGE. Could easily feed two people.

Waffle Monkey in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, was so yummy! It felt a little indulgent, like dessert for breakfast. It was so tasty, both the savory and the sweet ones. Met some really sweet people while there from Arizona. I rated it lower on atmosphere, because since it sits on one of the public beach access walkways, its atmosphere wasn't as "clean" as it might have been if located elsewhere. However, that's not to discount its vibe, nor speak to the cleanliness of the kitchen. (I have no direct knowledge of the kitchen.) The vibe is very much aligned with the vibe of Tamarindo. Takeaway: Great treat or breakfast!

I’ve come here an embarrassing amount of times on my trip. The staff are friendly and you can’t beat a yummy breakfast with a view! The chocolate lovers, nuts about chocolate, & chicken and waffles are all very yummy. Great place to go if you have a waffle craving 🤤

This place is delicious! I completely understand the obsession. My wife and I got waffles, frappe coffee and a side of bacon. A bit pricey but the food and views are so worth it.

The ladies that work here are all so friendly & accommodating. We literally ate here every morning of our stay in Tamarindo. You will not be disappointed! Every shop on the sidewalk down to the beach is wonderful 👌

Waffle Monkey made the food list simply because of the name. Tried it for breakfast on day 3, and I thought it was incredible. We had the Waffle Monkey and Chicken and Waffles with a slushy (passion fruit/strawberry mix). Oh, we also had a side of bacon. Everything tasted great (except the chicken). The chicken lacked flavor (my opinion). Waffle tasted great, bacon was very crispy, bannans were fresh, and slush was very good, too. The Atmosphere gets 4 stars because it's outdoor eating, and I don't care to eat outdoors with the flies and bugs...that's just me. Highly recommend this spot while in Tamarindo. They are open from 7am to 3pm.

We were really looking forward to trying this place, but unfortunately, the atmosphere made us uncomfortable. While we were dining, a person wearing a MAGA hat walked by, and the owner and his son (Australians living in Costa Rica) along with the neighboring Forget Me Not Beach Boutique owner loudly praised them. It felt inappropriate and made the environment feel unwelcoming. We won’t be back, and I will share this to everyone to make sure people know. Too funny being an immigrant business owner in Costa Rica while supporting fascism and discrimination among those who are working for you, living amongst you, and who welcomed you into their country (their Latino workers).

The sandwiches were both so good! The meat and the bread were both such good quality. The cookies n cream waffle (added Nutella) was amazing, the ice cream it came with was super thick

Everything about this restaurant is a 10/10 experience. The aesthics and energy draws you in, the food and drinks keep you here, and the service and hospitality makes you want to come again and again. As tourists, we were more than satisfied with the food as it was delicious. But we were also appreciative of the warm felt energy given by staff that suggested multiple locations to visit in Costa Rica that'll make our trip that more special. All in all, Wok n' Roll in Costa Rica is a must try!

The vegetarian and vegan options were a delight, catering to the diverse dietary preferences of our group. The food was quick, convenient, and offered a variety of refreshing drink choices.

A perfect spot in Tamarindo! The Kim Chee Fried rice was amazing! My wife had the best sushi roll of her life, the namesake, Wok 'n Roll !

Really excellent food. Enjoyed a great night out with our family and friends. Best meal we have had in Tamarindo.

Don’t miss this restaurant when you’re there. On vacation here in Tamarindo for a few days. Found this restaurant on our first day for appetizers. Came back a second time for a full meal. Our meals were delicious. Owner was there hosting us. Enjoyed the atmosphere, food and conversation with owner.

Great spot in downtown Tamarindo for sushi and espresso martinis! Great zen atmosphere with the hustle of the city going by! The food is delicious and a wide selection of different Asian inspired dishes! And the fish is always fresh! So fresh!

The owner of the restaurant is onsite, friendly and very helpful with recommendations. The use fresh local ingredients and the variety of vegan options enticed us to visit several times during our stay in Tamarindo.

Best banana bread i’ve ever had in my entire life. staff is super sweet, the coffee shop itself has really cool art and just overall. a 10/10

We stopped for coffee and a snack and ended up having the yogurt and granola and the banana bread French toast! Coffee is excellent as was the food and service. The mural is so cute with interesting facts about Costa Rica. Loved it.

Great chill atmosphere with outdoor seating. Came in for an iced coffee and their banana bread which was good. Iced coffee was okay, not the best compared to iced coffee in New York. Banana bread was also good but not the best I have ever had.

Best place to get breakfast in Tamarindo! All the smoothies are incredible and the food was 10/10 every time! Huge portion sizes as well! The muffins are also fantastic!

We enjoyed brunch today at Santa Rita. The staff is friendly, food tasty, and decor is well done. We had a burrito and smoothie bowl along with coffee. The iced coffee had coffee ice cubes and was lovely. The lady taking our order recommended hot sauce for the burrito. When it came they provide 3 different sauces of varying spice levels which was fun to try. Our boys were offered coloring materials and fun pop it’s to entertain them while we ate. The kindness was very appreciated. They both had a wonderful time. Definitely a favorite spot in Tamarindo!

Fantastic. The best coffee I've had in a long time - get the iced Bomba! I will be back for another before our trip ends. Patio is great, staff is great, as was the food. Just go, you won't regret it.

This is a really nice hidden spot on the 2nd floor for breakfast. Their smoothies are magical, the staff is great, and they make almost everything in-house — even their bagels. It quickly became our favorite place for breakfast!

If you’re here during the rainy season, lather yourself in bug spray before stopping in. But with that aside, my god is this place fantastic. We went here twice during our stay and the pumpkin ravioli and then the lobster ravioli was just phenomenal. The gelato is very fine and I wished I could try more flavors. I’ll miss their cat as well.

I wish I could give this place 7 stars. Table for 4, lobster ravioli, ravioli bolognese, chicken parm and lasagna. All of our dishes were superb! They do hand made pasta. We had drinks and shots and everything was 10 out of 10. Definitely dont miss this spot when you visit.

We were really excited about this place given the great reviews, but ended up pretty disappointed, especially given how expensive the whole meal was compared to other restaurants. I ordered the lobster ravioli, and didn’t even finish it because it didn’t really taste like lobster, it was dry on the inside and drenched in oil on the outside. The assorted cheese platter with honey appetizer was delicious though, and the chocolate gelato was pretty good. But none of it was worth the price in our opinion. The server was absolutely lovely though and the place looks really nice.

Great food, amazing atmosphere with live music that was perfectly suited to the atmosphere and wasnt obnoxious or overly loud. The staff was very friendly and even gave some great recommendations. The market inside was awesome and had some great options for any locals or tourists to choose from. The gelato was fantastic, easily comparable to some of the best I have had in Italy.

We had the pizza “Bari” and a Tiramisu. Both were extremely delicious and we had the impression that the quality of food is very high at this restaurant. Additionally, the waiters are very kind which made the entire dinner experience even better. If you are looking for authentic Italian food and great service this is your place!

Amazing food and service here yet again. Here on holidays from Australia and loved it last year and so I’ve spent most of my evenings eating here this year, walking across the road from Cala Luna. Bruno is hands down one of the best waiters I’ve ever had at a restaurant anywhere in the world, explains everything perfectly, very friendly. Highly recommended!

Bruno was absolutely outstanding, friendly, and helpful finding menu items for our afternoon stop. We had appetizers which were delicious and plentiful for us two.

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.

This is a wonderful low key spot for sushi for inside or take out! The fish is FRESH and made with care and the owner is so nice. He welcomes everyone and speaks perfect English as well. The mint lemonade is amazing, definitely get that!

Hidden gem in Tamarindo for a variety of reasons. #1 fresh fish #2 owner Jeyfer…makes sure you are taken care of the right way. Just a sweet person. Also very knowledgeable about ALL THINGS Tamarindo. #3 Great cocktails (frozen mojito 🔥) #4 GREAT VALUE…reasonable prices which is unusual for Tamarindo. My family ate here twice during our week!!!

We stopped in after a long day of tours and travel and this was perfect. The service was fast and waiter very nice. Unfortunately they were out of unagi but sometimes that happens at sushi joints. Prices were reasonable. Would come again.

This place is great! For lunch, we got both tuna poke bowl and salmon poke bowl take-out and they were amazing. The perfect amount of food too! The owner was really friendly and the food came out quick. We watched them slice the fish and make the bowl in front of us. Definitely recommend!

TAMARINDO Wabi Sabi Sushi Really great food—we ordered sushi and a poke bowl, and they were fantastic. We came here 2x during our 3 days stay. The staff was very kind, and the drinks were also great. 😊

Excellent sushi rolls. Jeyfer is friendly, detail-oriented, and makes THE best sushi rolls I’ve ever tasted. And that’s saying a lot because I eat sushi often. I can tell that this is his labor of love. His restaurant is quaint, clean, and has a great vibe. I felt right at home. I will definitely visit again when I’m in Costa Rica. 10/10 would recommend.

Our party of 8 enjoyed many menu items, and all were of the highest quality and very delicious! The owner was very gracious and charming and provided great service. It was my birthday, and he surprised me with a dessert of tempura banana, ice cream and even a lighted candle on top! What a sweetheart!

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.

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!

Wonderful food and atmosphere. The service was outstanding. Everyone was very friendly. We love that we could walk out to the beach for sunset photos and walk back. Great for large groups. Definitely try the shrimp risotto and the ceviche appetizer.

My extended family hosted a birthday celebration for 60+ people at Agua Salada, and cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. 1. Food: Buffet for such a large party was excellent. Was plentiful and the quality was amazing! 2. Drinks: Bartenders were quick and friendly, even during the party, the servers was running around always ready to take empty glasses and take new drink orders, no trip to the bar necessary. 3. Service: Impeccable. We had tents in case of rain, and when it started to drizzle, servers opened umbrellas and walked people back and forth from the tent to the bar. Servers, cooks, management... everyone was so friendly and wanted to join the party! We even went here for takeout food the day before the large party and were extremely happy with everything, you wont be disappointed. Family run business. Go here when in Tamarindo.

We rented out Aqua Salada for a 60+ private event and it was absolutely fantastic! The staff was incredible, food tasty, and atmosphere perfect. Everything was seamlessly coordinated and every one of our requests were matched. From cocktail hour to dancing, the staff ensured our group had the most fantastic time. I would recommend Agua Salada for your next event in Tamarindo or for a brunch /dinner stop.

Jas was an awesome server and the food was delicious! We loved the pan con tomate for the appetizer and the fish sandwich was wonderful! The ambiance with the seats by the ocean was refreshing! Dessert hasn’t arrived yet but came highly recommended so we are looking forward to it!

One of the most sophisticated meals I’ve had in Costa Rica. Glen, Mumford, and Dylan provided exceptional service throughout my visit and I enjoyed the chic and laid back atmosphere. Add in convenient parking and you pretty much have it all. Bravo!

Amazing food and atmosphere! Joseph was our service and he was awesome! My husband had the snapper and it’s the best he’s ever had! I had the veggie burger which was deep fried avocado and it was delicious! Highly recommend 👍

We just finished our meal at Agua | Salada and it was an amazing experience, we had the Aji ceviche, Mahi Mahi, and skirt steak, all absolutely delicious with beautiful presentation, perfect textures and flavors cooked to perfection. From the moment we walked in the door the staff were warm and friendly, our patio table was very romantic and the service was amazing, especially our server Anthony. The price for what you get is very reasonable compared to the other options in town and the quality was the best we've had on our visit. We look forward to dining here again, thank you! If you're considering this establishment you won't regret it, just don't wait until your last night in town like we did because we want to try the rest of the menu.

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.

Delicious veggie tacos. Delicious healthy beet smoothie. Best food I’ve had during time in Tamarindo. Very nice customer service. I’m coming back before I leave.

Convenient location on the main road across from the beach. Fresh and healthy meals that are quite tasty. I would recommend starting with the calamari appetizer followed by the blackened mahi mahi salad as well as the hibiscus tea. Skip the cinnamon roll at the end, it was fine but nothing particularly memorable. The server could have been a bit friendlier but we all have bad days. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend this venue for lunch.

Always so fresh and beautifully presented! Always my favorite place to eat each time we come to Costa Rica! Excellent and most friendly service!

Healthy food in a not so healthy environment. We went there for lunch after reading the glowing reviews on google! It wasn’t busy at all so we got served fairly fast. We sat at the booths and right after I sat down I noticed that the seating was super dusty and dirty. I thought that was kind of gross but kind of ok at the same time as it’s an indoor/outdoor restaurant and things like that can happen. I got a salad and before I started eating I realized there was a super long hair in my plate. I immediately told the server, she brought me a different Salad and was genuinely sorry about what happened. I got grossed out again but things like that happen... I guess. The new salad comes with a little bug walking around. I didn’t say anything though. It could have been from the lettuce. I understand that things happen I just don’t know how everything happened to me!!! My $10 Salad was ok, nothing special. We also got a $15 sandwich which was good. I think the place is quite expensive for what it is. The ladies who work there are super nice though.

Best burritos in town and definitely a recommendation. We loved the custom burritos where you can choose lots of options. My wife is veggie so she wouldn't choose a meat option. The waiter was so kind to let her choose an additional option instead. The sausages were delicious and the portions were big enough to fill our bellies. Even free wifi was provided. We would definitely have come again if we were still in Tamarindo.

Sprout is the perfect combination of organic and gourmet cooking with American-style fast food. They prepare their own salsas, dressings, mayonnaise's and breads using local ingredients straight from producers. Their seafood comes from fishermen who are committed to sustainable practices and only use 100% organic chicken. Sprout serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, also with a cafe & bar on site. Located just a few steps from the beach, on the main strip in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

My wife and I ate there. She loved it, I liked it. Quiet vibe across the street from the beach.

This is another place to try while in Tamarindo. This restaurant is downtown and delicious. The restaurant feels very nice and fancy while being reasonably priced. We ordered an amazing sushi boat that we ate very quickly, haha! The service is very good, and the staff did a wonderful job.

I celebrated my birthday here and had a great meal and experience. Génesis was our server, who was a delight to meet and an excellent server. Our meal was delicious as seen from the photos below. The Mariachi came through and serenaded me which was so nice. It was warm and humid but tolerable. There was an AC area but it was very cold in there so we opted for outside. The road noise can be a bit much when trucks or motorcycles drive by.

El Pelicano is a delicious high-quality seafood spot located on Tamarindo’s main strip. With an open dining area and beautiful interior, you really get to appreciate how fresh the food must be as you listen to the ocean crashing in the distance. Highly recommend. Check your resort or hotel to see if they have a voucher for your meal.

Genesis and Tracy are amazing servers. Created a wonderful atmosphere for my Fiancé and I when we came out for her birthday. The food here is amazing too. Everything we had was 5 stars. I highly recommend this place.

The restaurant was directly across the street from my hotel and it had great rating so I gave it a try. Fernanda seated me and made the best recommendations. I had the octopus appetizer and the sesame crusted tuna, which was da bomb. Five star service for sure. Great food right on the main drag five star experience.

Great food, cocktails, and service! The prime were a little smaller than other nearby restaurants. The ceviche was good and the fish was good. It has a curry sauce, which didn't seem to fit the vinye of the area, but it was still tasty.

Genesis was a wonderful and hospitable host. The sushi was as delicious with a beautiful presentation and the entree was perfect. A great espresso martini and fried ice cream rounded things out nicely. And the value for the meal in a tourist town was outstanding. We’ll be back.

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!!

Great place to eat a traditional Costa Rican breakfast. Western options also available. Does offer cocktails and speciality coffees. Staff all speak English really well and are very kind and friendly. There is an inside and outside seating . The patio lets you have a nice view of the city. Good was delicious . I ate here at least 5x while in Tamarindo.

This little cafe in Tamarindo is one of the few where you can find outdoor seating on the terrace, and indoor seating with AC. The decor is classic coffee shop with Pura Vida vibes. There is a lot of seating so you’ll never have to worry about finding space to enjoy your meal or work on your computer. The menu isn’t exceptional, but there is something for everyone—I really like the açaí bowls and breakfast menu. They have a great selection of coffees which is the most important of all! If you are looking to work here, they have great WiFi but it does get noisy so keep that in mind if you have meetings. It’s a great cafe and definitely recommend a visit!

Don’t miss this gem of a coffee shop on the second story of the Tamarindo busy strip. It has a great view for sitting outside people watching or getting stay inside for shade and quality air conditioning. Best coffee in town and the consistency stayed the whole vacation. Not to mention the food is so fresh with great portion sizes. The staff are all polite and in great spirits.

Pour over coffee is great! Dylan made a good recommendation between Peabody and black honey. The dessert was okay. I wish they have cakes. But overall, good place for coffee!

Really great coffee shop on the second floor of their building, with many serving options and a full bar (allowing for my favorite: Amarula cold brew). Very cute little shop with indoor and outdoor seating; the indoor area is well air conditioned. Cozy in the classic coffee shop way rather than feeling like a corporate outpost or tourist trap. That said, certainly not the cheapest cup of coffee in town. Beyond their coffee and cocktails, they have a number of pastries and snacks available (most, maybe all, gluten free, and some vegan). They also have a well-curated stock of chocolates, honey, and bags of their own diverse roasts, plus a few branded merch items.

Very quiet place with a quaint atmosphere. Sat on the balcony with a nice soft breeze, and the love of my life sitting beside me, couldn’t have asked for a better morning!!!

My wife and I had an amazing experience doing the coffee workshop at Nordico Coffee House. The employees were super friendly and informative and the coffee was the best I had in Costa Rica. We were able to try 4 different coffees made from different processes and loved them all. The owner Olaf came up to our table and gave us great knowledge of the coffee world and was a gentleman. I highly recommend trying their coffee and doing a quick coffee tasting/workshop!

Breakfast right on the beach? Yes, please! This restaurant opened earlier than most, and we were there promptly at 7. :00. With the sun rising so early in Tamarindo Beach, you'll want to get up and enjoy every moment of sun and sand. There were interesting choices on the menu, and I really liked the Nordic breakfast.

Delicious! Great food and drinks. Great music. Right on the beach! What more could you ask for?! We recommend the sautéed clams and muscles as appetizer and the spicy rainbow bowl!

Simply fantastic. We went here twice and each time was better than the other. The food was perfect. In fact, ceviche was the best we've had in Costa Rica. And let me not even begin complementing their coffee, but I will. It's superb. Cappuccino was beyond delicious with perfect presentation. Oh yeah, did I mention they're also right on the beach? Bullseye.

We came here for lunch. They have an inside area with bar and tables where they have AC and the beach area where you can eat as well. They have a lot of options to chose from. They have a high chair with a toy that keeps your baby entertained. We had the casado bowl and the spicy fish bowl. They were both good and filling. The spicy fish bowl was not too spicy either. It could have a bit more fish though. Service was efficient, they could smile a bit more. Music was a bit loud inside. We enjoyed our lunch all together.

Excellent place for a brekkie, the coffee quality is great, the environment is good and the service too. Yummy food and good tunes . 🙂

They took some time to take the food food the table, the ceviche was good but not a big portion, the panini of res was hard… it seems better in the photos of the IG. But it was just hyped

Ordered a fish of the day-was told that it’s congreo-got served slim mushy flaky filets of grilled tilapia /most people would not tell the difference as congreo is pretty rare deepwater fish, but it does have a complete different taste and texture from my experience catching g it myself and cooking it. Also burgers were over salted!

If you are in Tamarindo, you HAVE to come here!! We did the 5 course meal and everything was delicious. I am not a seafood person and the mussel ceviche and fried fish were amazing. The dessert was by far the best dessert i’ve had, a pumpkin ice cream and OMG the most delicious ice cream i’ve had. The drinks were both creative and flavorful, each drink had a special holder and made the experience so much cooler. The icing on this place was their dogs. Tequila was the sweetest little pup and kept us great company, but not too bothersome. The atmosphere here was great, and we were sad to see that we were the only ones there for a 6pm dinner. I cannot stress enough how amazing of a dinner this was to celebrate our engagement. Please take a chance on this place when visiting CR!!

One of the best Food experience in Costa Rica! All dishes are made with love. You need to try the wordclass ceviche with rich flavour! We came for a second time when we stayed in Tamarindo for a couple of days. Highly recommend :)

Most memorable meal of our time in Costa Rica and up there in best dinners we’ve had in all of our travels! Owner (Diego) and Chef Ignacio took excellent care of us. Ignacio met our excitement for local ingredients in the tasting menu and spent time and care explaining everything he made. Every course was perfectly cooked, packed with creative flavors, and highlighted high quality local proteins and produce. Cocktails were equally delicious with cool presentations. Other aspects that stood out about Tropic was the chill vibe, friendly house pets (Tequila, Margarita, and Cacao), and their support of local farmers, craftspeople, and fishermen.

The food was ok and did have some nice creativity. The presentation of the food was clean. I just feel the drinks didn’t have to be served in toys and used baby flamingo slippers with spots of mold on the inside. I also didn’t like the dogs running around the place when your paying $550 USD for a family of 5. I’m a dog guy but I think there is a time and place for that. I get it it’s different culture but dogs were literally chasing cats while we were eating.

There were so many great places in Tamarindo but after my first meal I had to come back to try more of the menu. Fine choice!! The food and drinks are on point, quite exquisite in fact!! You must visit at least once during your visit!!!

We had an 11 people reservation for my friend’s 30th birthday. Diego was very accommodating with extending restaurant hours and even brought us a cake with candles at the end. There was an unfortunate city power outage during our dinner and the kitchen worked on phone flashlights to deliver amazing quality food!! Diego also has adorable dogs entertaining guests that made it much more special. Highly recommend this place!

Absolute best meal we had of our entire trip. The ceviche was unbelievable. Also verrrrry much enjoyed the braised beef with coffee sauce. Amazing! And atmosphere is so fun and romantic.

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.

American owned breakfast spot with excellent views. The vibe was relaxed and the food selection included burgers, tacos, and lots of breakfast items. The service was superb and the prices were reasonable. The burger was juicy and fries were crispy. I recommend this local hangout for breakfast anytime, good service, and fair pricing.

We stayed at the Iguana Surf camp (attached to Breakfast Grinds) for a week- hung out and ate most of our meals here. Paula and Luke, the owners, are amazing. They made us feel like family and that we had been welcomed into their lives for the week, as did the other waitresses Cami and Sophia. Everything is made fresh and everything is delicious and good quality. My husband and oldest son loved the burgers and fries; my younger kids loved the chicken quesadillas, milkshakes and smoothies. I tried something different from the menu every day and it was all delicious. The coffee is perfect and my favorite part of the trip was drinking coffee here and watching the early morning surfers. (The restaurant is open air- so great view of the beach across the street). When we ordered food and drinks to take to the beach, everyone around us asked where we got the food because it smelled/looked so good. A machaca burrito with eggs and avocado after morning surfer lessons is a good way to start the day!

Visited Tamarindo 2 days in a row and the teens wouldn't eat anywhere else once they'd tried this place. Lovely view, cooling breeze and great atmosphere. Friendly service and the 10 different dishes we tried were all excellent with huge variety. Definitely recommended. Beachfront parking nearby makes it easy to access as part of a day trip

Amazing food owned by an amazingly friendly couple! Luke and Paula are so nice, we had breakfast everyday during our stay in Costa Rica. The omelette is amazing

Best Breakfast Ever!! One word, gravy.... southern US homemade gravy. The service is amazing. The views are beautiful and it is right across from the beach. You can also go for lunch or dinner but the breakfast is amazing. A must try place when in Tamarindo.

Best breakfast for American tourists! The omelette, pancakes, home fries and the orange juice are AMAZING! The coffee is great too! We stop by everyday to enjoy breakfast 🥞 during our vacation and wouldn’t pick another spot bc it’s always so good! The staff are also very friendly and helpful! Highly recommend if you love traditional breakfast like we do!

AMAZING value for money. Cool chill surf/skate vibe. Can't believe they literally hand make the tortilla chips -- amazing! The cappuccino was really bad - used brewed coffee?!? The red egg sauce wasn't good.

Not impressed with the food. Flavor in seafood plates was non-existent. I was highly anticipating the risotto with red wine and received a sweet tasting risotto that tasted like sugar was added. Interesting meals. Not sure if those rating were persuaded ratings or actually earned. I ordered a Medium steak and got a well done, hard to cut meal. Again, Interesting take on steak. Hardly any flavor and I'm never the one to complain so I didnt. I left quietly and vowed not to try it again. The service was unimpressive. Our waiter doesnt know her menu or perhaps new. Either way disappointing. Appetizers were the only thing that were ok.

The pizza and the drinks were incredible, I highly suggest you to try this pizza and any of the dishes they have here. The personnel is very kind and friendly! Loved the way they treated us!

Ate a late dinner here twice and it was consistently pleasant both times, even though we were dining within the last hour before closing. This was one of few restaurants that were open till 10pm and they didn't rush you to finish you meal even if it was after closing. The place is expansive, much more so than one would think from the roadside so take a walk around to look at table options before deciding where to sit. There is a lovely garden area to the back for example. I loved the decor and how cozy it made the restaurant feel. The appetizers are very generously sized, so may be worth sharing if you're not enormously hungry. The seafood linguine was so good!! The octopus was meaty and wonderfully grilled, the shrimp were plump and tender and the sauce was rich while still marrying well with all the seafood present. Pizza options are plentiful and big enough to share amongst two (or have a couple slices to take away if you order for one). The only downside experienced was an inconsistency in the cocktails. Some were quite strong and delicious, while others were very weak and tasted more like a juice / soft drink than an alcoholic beverage. Overall serving staff were attentive and food generally came out fairly quickly.

This was my first time traveling to Costa Rica, and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction than dinner at El Santuario. From the moment I walked in, I felt genuinely welcomed – the ambiance is warm, cozy, and elegant, with just the right touch of Italian charm tucked into a tropical paradise. But what really made the experience unforgettable was Diana, my server. She was incredibly kind, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations that made it feel like I had a local friend guiding me through the meal. Her genuine warmth made the evening feel special and personal. The food? Absolutely incredible. Every bite tasted like it was made with love and fresh, high-quality ingredients. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauces rich and flavorful, was the perfect meal. If you're visiting Costa Rica (Tamirindo) and want a delicious, authentic Italian meal with exceptional service, El Santuario is a must. A big thank you to Diana for making my first night here so memorable. I’ll definitely be coming back! Also gluten free friendly!

We were so excited to check out El Santuario based on the crowds, the grill, and the overall vibe. It's a beautiful restaurant with live music the night we visited. The drinks were great, too, and the sangria looks amazing. Unfortunately, the menu is fairly limited and the quality of the food was mediocre. Added to the average flavour of the food (and the fairly unappetizing presentation), the service was abysmal. We had to ask twice for water and the cheque. Our food did not come out at the same time and the server did not bring us silverware, so we had to ask someone else for that. It may have been an off night for our server, but coupled with the food, I would not go back.

Cool spot, close to the beach. We ordered the chimichurri steak - well seasoned and a calzón - tasty too. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay but it wasn’t good - it was flat and felt like the bottle was opened for a while and had I known that I would have ordered something else. You’re paying for everything so you might as well enjoy. On another note, we asked for tap water - in Costa Rica tap water is perfectly safe to drink and unless you have a burning desire to spend $10 on a plastic bottle of water - this should be entirely a choice. They told us they didn’t have tap water, and our only option was buying plastic bottle water which obviously we did. Aside from this - which I hope the restaurant corrects, the experience was good and the food tasty. Might go back at some point.

We had an absolutely incredible meal here last night for a romantic night out. The staff were so friendly, the food was amazing (and homemade focaccia is always a plus!). The mixed grill for one (seen here) is absolutely loaded with food and we could have shared it with plenty leftover. Delicious!!

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.

Everything was wonderful. I ordered the divorced eggs, chicken was a little over cooked but the sauce helped, I also loved the hot sauce. My boyfriend got the rancheros eggs and he said it wasn’t bad but wasn’t the best. Freshly squeezed orange juice was great as well

Such a great and authentic cafe! The breakfast was absolutely delicious—fresh and flavorful. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. The service was just as impressive—warm, attentive, and so friendly. Perfect spot to start the day. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a cozy atmosphere, great coffee, and a seriously good breakfast! 🍳

They offer an array of selections that appeals to all eaters, vegetarians, carnivores and vegans. Our server, MariLu is extremely attentive, kind and honestly like Family. Their organic (real fruit, not processed syrups) smoothies are the best. The most difficult part is figuring out what to order. We took a fruit smoothie to go, because it was too hard to resist.

¡Muy delicioso! Not quite so hidden anymore, this little spot has huge flavor and fresh options. I have been coming to Cafe Tico for five years now and I am in love with this place. Breakfast or lunch or just for a drink, it is a must stop when in Tamarindo. Very kid friendly and accessible. I always get a specialty coffee drink or smoothie with my breakfast/brunch/lunch here. All outdoor seating but mostly shaded. Thank you!

Came here for our last breakfast in Costa Rica, and right off the bat we loved just how cute this place looked. Starting with some fresh hot coffee and OJ and we ordered the breakfast tacos and the Tipical breakfast. The tacos were definitely the way to go, the Tipical was good, but honestly lacked a little seasoning and wasn't particularly exciting at the end of the day. But one hidden gem is their got sauce they had on the table, just a small little unlabled jug that was quite hot but delicious, I was tempted to steal it and bring it home with me! The woman running the place was incredibly sweet and attentive and would be one of the reasons I'd be happy to comeback to Tamarindo and try some more of their coffee specials!

Came here this morning to get a smoothie and the banana espresso one was absolutely amazing! The service was amazing and definitely recommend it, won't regret it! The owner was a total sweetheart considering I was dealing with a lot this morning, so decided to come back for a breakfast. Muchas gracias de nuevo, pura vida! 🙏🏽🇨🇷😭

Amazing little spot in Tamarindo! We accidentally stumbled upon this gem while checking out the tours available in the area. Jay, the owner is awesome and puts so much passion into his cooking, and it shows! He and the staff are so friendly and take pride in making you feel at home.Our family during our 12 day stay in Costa Rica made this our regular go-to for breakfast. Some of the items we highly recommend: (vegan options available) Poached eggs on toast with fresh avocado spread and tomato Bacon and scrambled eggs smoothies Poor Man’s Breakfast Cafe Americano Espresso Frozen Banana Pancakes Fresh fruit Breakfast tacos (veggie option, this was my absolute favorite) Homemade Simple Syrup (served with coffee) Homemade salsa on the side is to die for!! (Check out the online menu for details) Service- Excellent Ambiance- quaint little place nestled in town surrounded by the jungle life and local vibes, casual and chill, family oriented Price- great for the service and fresh food! Will miss this place when we head back to LA! Thanks again Jay for the amazing food, hospitality, and sharing your local contacts for things to do while we vacation! Pura Vida!

Huge exceptional portions for price. Everything was fresh. Nachos were tasty but not Americanized. Cheese was not spicy, sauces were a bit but not the hot were used to as Americans. Service was exceptional polite and accommodating. The salad was very tasty citrus salad dressing was good overall it was a lot of food that tasted super fresh. The mango smoothie was super fresh but nothing is sweet. Nothing like candy and heaps of assed sugar. Which was a treat and eye opener as to how unhealthy everything we drink and eat is.

Not bad for what it is. Love the atmosphere, right on the beach. Nachos were pretty good. The chipotle burger was ok, little too well done. We came back a second time. Had the poppers, nothing great. Definitely on the hotter side. Had the lobster, very good! Their garlic butter was fenomenal. Compared to a lot of other places the price is good as well.

Got a quesadilla and shrimp platter. The food was alright nothing to go crazy over. Service was good. Nice view of the beach.

The staff here is the best. Breakfast burritos are the favorite…rest of the menu is really big; I’d say most things are average. Their gallo pinto is the best in town. Fun atmosphere outside with rain protection

Nice place, really quick service. Price was fine, for residents is always a little bit more expensive. Giving 4 stars as my “patacones” were good but not enough toppings like cheese or guacamole.

Very nice view and atmosphere and great food. It’s right there on the beach as soon as you get into town. This was our first restaurant we went to at the beginning of our trip. My girlfriend got the pokè bowl her mother got the pulled pork sandwich and I got the wings, everything was great and was reasonably priced.

Excellent food and service. Good size meals, you won't leave hungry. Beach front restaurant, beautiful view. We will be back.

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!!

Great, authentic and fresh Italian food! A great option to switch up from the days of fish my Husband and I had on our honeymoon. Our server was also the owner (from Lake Como)- so friendly and nice. We had the caprese salad, gnocchi pesto, pizza and desserts. We loved it all! My only complaint (not related to the food or service) is to invest in the bathrooms!

We had the most amazing meal tonight at Enea’s. We have walked by a few times this week and finally decided to give it a go tonight — so glad we did! The buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto were so fresh and yummy. My husband had the lasagna and I had the spaghetti bolognese - we can’t say enough good things! The food and service were top notch! We only wish we had come sooner in our trip!

I finally tried this place after many visits to Tamarindo and I highly recommend it! The Bruschetta was some of the best I’ve ever had - we ordered another it was so good! The homemade ravioli was huge, so come hungry! My spaghetti was cooked perfectly and the sauce made me want to lick the bowl. The wine list is great, staff was accommodating, and the overall atmosphere is very welcoming. Stop here for a wide variety of incredible Italian food!

We had the pizza and the ravioli The food was great but took 1 one hour to get served We went there for my wife birthday I announce that was her birthday but they were careless

Delicious Italian food in Tamarindo! We had a very nice meal here last night with delicious food and friendly accommodating service. The Caprese appetizer was delicious as well as the cheese filled ravioli and shrimp pasta. Pleasantly surprised at the fresh flavors and home-made pasta. Would highly recommend and return again.

We really enjoyed our meal. We were given free Bruschetta which was very delicious. I had spaghetti meatballs as their suggestion and my boyfriend had fettuccine seafood. Good customer service and polite staff. Nice atmosphere. The best Italian restaurant in the town!

Wonderful dinner at Enea's! We are on our 4th trip to Tamarindo and somehow just ate at Enea's for the first time, but will go back. The pizza is the best in town, and a good value- enough for two people to share. We also had the caprese for an appetizer and shared spinach lasagna. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Highly recommend.

Excellent pizza with a great sunset view. Our server was very animated and clearly enjoys her job. On the smaller side for outdoor seating, so worth asking a reservation.

First of all, in rebuttal to the bad reviews, this is a non-corporate run enterprise in a high-rent district. I imagine they too would like surplus staffing in order to provide the white glove service these 1 star rating tourists expected. What I saw was hard workers trying to manage a sunset hour dinner rush. What I ate was a tasty pizza from a well-thought-out menu in a beach town. Comparing apples to apples, after having been in plenty of beach towns, this joint deserves 5 stars.

Read good reviews, decided to check it out. Made reservations for sundown hour. Located on the top of building in the middle of Tamarindo, The Roof is home to perhaps the most mesmerizing view of the Pacific and the sunset. We got to see the sun go down in all its phases, the sky changing colors until the sun was fully sunk into the horizon. Amazing Margaritas! Well-prepared, tasty and good amount of Tequila. We will be back!

Amazing views of Tamarindo, Gaby our server was friendly and entertaining. Group of us ordered pizzas all were ok, lacking taste. Adding chili peppers and olive oil didn't really help. Too bad about the tasteless pizza the service, location and view were spectacular!

Everything was fantastic! Me and my girlfriend had pizza with 2 cocktails and they were absolutely to die for! Sylvia the bar tender was also amazing with her service and even provided us with games to play while we waited to eat! They took pictures of us and the ambience was so beautiful, being on top of a rooftop eating a pizza of 4 stagioni. I 1000% recommend it for anyone who’s looking forward to eating some pizza with an amazing view!

Wonderful dinner experience! Great service and staff, and the pizza really is fantastic. The view is also just fabulous.

A top a sun kissed hill in the heart of Tamarindo, The Roof Restaurant is a hidden gem. This open air, haven specializes in fire roasted pizza. But it’s the view that is worth several flights of stairs (they also have an elevator). That lead to a panorama view of the Pacific Ocean. Where the sun dips slow each evening with stunning colors of orange, pink, and indigo. Yet the true sparkle of the evening came from our fiery and utterly charming waitress, Gabriella, affectionately, Gaby, or as she playfully dubbed herself, a.k.a. Sylvia. She navigated our boisterous large group with jokes , Spanish lessons all the time keeping the drinks and food flowing. Thank you, Gaby, see you soon ,save us a table

It's a nice looking restaurant with tables inside and outside. Prices are higher than in other places. I tried a Calzone pizza which usually contains ham. As I don't like ham they were very friendly to change it to some other ingredients. The dough didn't taste like the real Italian dough. The same applied for the cheese which wasn't real Mozzarella. I know that they are selling some weird cheese as Mozzarella in Latin America but for a higher price for the pizza one could expect to get real Mozzarella cheese. The filling was surprisingly a lot but didn't have a good taste. They serve salt and pepper at the table but this doesn't really work for a Calzone.

Great little spot with good pizza and friendly service. The “La Esquina” was perfect. Nice to find a spot off the main strip, too.

Lovely and fresh food, nice location and friendly customer service. We have been several times during our holidays and it’s never disappointing. Also a good value for money. I totally recommend it.

Nice quaint restaurant. Pizzas were excellent. Wood burning oven. Great service. If I had a longer vacation I would have gone back to try the pastas dishes.

Great family owned Italian restaurant food is delicious and the staff super friendly, and a pop up band rounded out the evening

Great pizza, great service, awesome people. The owners are very friendly people and I can’t wait to go back for their specialty pizzas!

Love this place and food! I recommend pizza 'Daniel' with a mojito prepared by the heartwarming owner. The best pizza . Amazing staff and restaurant - will definitely come again.

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...

We had an absolutely unforgettable experience at this restaurant! From start to finish, everything was perfect. Booking was a breeze, and our host/server Antonio made us feel completely welcome—he was knowledgeable, helpful, and genuinely friendly. The restaurant itself is stunning; it felt like we were dining in the middle of a lush jungle, surrounded by beautiful décor and vibrant greenery. The live music added such a wonderful, relaxing ambiance. The dinner was nothing short of amazing, with every dish beautifully prepared and full of flavor. To top it off, we were treated to a complimentary honeymoon dessert and melon shots at the end—such a thoughtful and memorable gesture. Every detail made our evening feel special. We can’t recommend this place enough!