Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula Restaurants

Seafood and fresh fish are tops here, followed by fast food—pizza, tacos, barbecue—to satisfy the hordes of hungry surfers and beachgoers. But there are many sophisticated restaurants, too, offering Asian-fusion, Italian, French, and international cuisine, especially in the tourist-heavy beach towns of Hermosa, Flamingo, Tamarindo, Nosara, and Sámara. Many restaurants, especially tourist-oriented ones with dollar-denominated menus, do not include the 13% tax plus mandatory 12% service. By law, menus are required to show the total price including tax, but many owners flout this law. Be sure to ask if taxes are included; otherwise you may be surprised by a bill that’s 25% higher than you expected.

Sort by: 2 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. Bistro Cantarana

    $$

    You can usually count on good food at this second-story restaurant in the trees. You can get wild with crocodile fingers, or try something more familiar, like the handmade pizzas. There are several vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free options on the menu. Presentation is always beautiful, and service is efficient and friendly.

    Hotel Cantarana, Palm Beach Estates, Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
    2653–0486

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood like tuna poke bowl and fish tacos
    • Unfussy breakfast fare
    • Homemade tortillas and sauces

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
  • 2. Makoko

    $$$

    At El Mangroove’s trendy poolside restaurant, guests can dine with a glimpse of the ocean or head indoors to the more formal dining room enclosed in glass. Most ingredients are locally grown, and nearly every item on the menu is organic, including the grass-fed beef. Start with red snapper carpaccio with grapefruit and fennel, or the seared scallops with caramelized cauliflower. Signature entrées include cavatelli pasta with grilled octopus, and the remarkably tender ribs served with apple-jalapeño puree. Portions are small, which means you may have room for the chocolate cheesecake. The mosquitoes are enough to ruin your meal, so wear long pants or dine indoors.

    Playa Arenilla, Guanacaste, 50503, Costa Rica
    4701–0000

    Known For

    • Seared scallops
    • Worcestershire-glazed short ribs slow-cooked for 24 hours
    • Extensive wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video