Guidebook for Tamarindo
Food Scene
By far my favorite restaurant on the beach. Patterned after the little beach front bar/restaurants that dot the Southern Coast of Spain, this place does not disappoint. They have a simple, but well cooked breakfast with fantastic coffee in the morning. They have a menu of small tapas as well as full plates. The best time to go is during Happy Hour, between 4:30pm and 6pm. Perfectly timed for the sunset. Many times they have a live band playing and you can watch the boats come back from the sailing tours, dropping the tourists off right in front of the restaurant. Beers are just c1000 colones, which is about $1.75. Best deal in town and they also have specials on mixed drinks and wine.
75 locals recommend
El Chiringuito
By far my favorite restaurant on the beach. Patterned after the little beach front bar/restaurants that dot the Southern Coast of Spain, this place does not disappoint. They have a simple, but well cooked breakfast with fantastic coffee in the morning. They have a menu of small tapas as well as full plates. The best time to go is during Happy Hour, between 4:30pm and 6pm. Perfectly timed for the sunset. Many times they have a live band playing and you can watch the boats come back from the sailing tours, dropping the tourists off right in front of the restaurant. Beers are just c1000 colones, which is about $1.75. Best deal in town and they also have specials on mixed drinks and wine.
I know it sounds crazy, but the best Eastern Mediterranean food in Costa Rica is at this little joint in Tamarindo. The Chicken Shawarma and their fried Eggplant are my favorites, but you can not go wrong with the hummus and pita bread. They also have a great Lamb Kebab. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a different kind of food experience.
26 locals recommend
Falafel Bar
250 Av CentralI know it sounds crazy, but the best Eastern Mediterranean food in Costa Rica is at this little joint in Tamarindo. The Chicken Shawarma and their fried Eggplant are my favorites, but you can not go wrong with the hummus and pita bread. They also have a great Lamb Kebab. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a different kind of food experience.
Best waffles in Tamarindo, or anywhere in Costa Rica. They have tables on the beach too. Great staff.
19 locals recommend
Waffle Monkey
Best waffles in Tamarindo, or anywhere in Costa Rica. They have tables on the beach too. Great staff.
Great Italian cafe. Good breakfast sandwiches, wonderful staff and a/c inside for those hot days.
8 locals recommend
Buon Appetito
Calle CentralGreat Italian cafe. Good breakfast sandwiches, wonderful staff and a/c inside for those hot days.
Tamarindo is rightly known for its great food scene. There are quite a number of really good Italian restaurants and cafe's and there are many places to get a good quality pizza. However, my favorite restaurant, Italian food and just experience, is Walter's place in Playa Langosta. You will need a car or take a taxi, and you will need a reservation, but it is well worth it. They also have live music on Friday nights. Walter is the chef and when I go, I just tell him to recommend what I should eat and drink. I have never been disappointed.
46 locals recommend
Walter's Fish and Cheeses
Tamarindo is rightly known for its great food scene. There are quite a number of really good Italian restaurants and cafe's and there are many places to get a good quality pizza. However, my favorite restaurant, Italian food and just experience, is Walter's place in Playa Langosta. You will need a car or take a taxi, and you will need a reservation, but it is well worth it. They also have live music on Friday nights. Walter is the chef and when I go, I just tell him to recommend what I should eat and drink. I have never been disappointed.
Located just 100 meters from our place is this wonderful and eclectic, permanent street market. There are ten stalls with different types of food, from Asian fusion to gourmet desserts, all surrounding a bar made out of an old sailboat. There is also a stage for live music and a children's play area. There are lots of different tables for couples to large groups. it is open until 11 pm, so after most restaurants are closed, you can still grab a bit late. My favorite place to eat is at the Argentinian Sandwich shop by Patagonia. If you are not into the meat thing, they also have Pura Vegan. No matter what you are in the mood for, there is something for everyone!
64 locals recommend
El Mercadito de Tamarindo Gourmet Food Market
Located just 100 meters from our place is this wonderful and eclectic, permanent street market. There are ten stalls with different types of food, from Asian fusion to gourmet desserts, all surrounding a bar made out of an old sailboat. There is also a stage for live music and a children's play area. There are lots of different tables for couples to large groups. it is open until 11 pm, so after most restaurants are closed, you can still grab a bit late. My favorite place to eat is at the Argentinian Sandwich shop by Patagonia. If you are not into the meat thing, they also have Pura Vegan. No matter what you are in the mood for, there is something for everyone!
Drinks & Nightlife
You like playing horseshoes? Shooting pool? or any other bar game you can imagine? All while watching your favorite baseball or football team on one of the tvs and sipping a cold beverage? Well, this is your place. The owners have essentially created the greatest man cave/rec room in Costa Rica and opened it to the public. However, if you are not a local, or staying in one of rental villas across the street, you are not likely to even know it exists. They serve typical bar food that is good and a good price and the place is great for kids and family celebrations. They also have poker nights, bingo fundraisers and cribbage tournaments. Days and hours of operation are notoriously variable.
13 locals recommend
Surf Club Bar & Grill
Barcelo LangostaYou like playing horseshoes? Shooting pool? or any other bar game you can imagine? All while watching your favorite baseball or football team on one of the tvs and sipping a cold beverage? Well, this is your place. The owners have essentially created the greatest man cave/rec room in Costa Rica and opened it to the public. However, if you are not a local, or staying in one of rental villas across the street, you are not likely to even know it exists. They serve typical bar food that is good and a good price and the place is great for kids and family celebrations. They also have poker nights, bingo fundraisers and cribbage tournaments. Days and hours of operation are notoriously variable.
If you want a taste of authentic night life that is outside the tourist bars near the beach, you need to visit Villa Costa. It is located in the neighboring village of Villareal and you will either need to drive or take a taxi. They have karaoke nights, disco nights and live music. It is less expensive to drink here and the food is local, plentiful and good. I like getting their mixed meat platter or their arros con pollo, rice with chicken. Might be the best I have ever had in Costa Rica. If you like beer, then order your beer by the 'baldazo', which is a bucket of beer with six in it with ice and limes.
6 locals recommend
Bar Villa Costa
152If you want a taste of authentic night life that is outside the tourist bars near the beach, you need to visit Villa Costa. It is located in the neighboring village of Villareal and you will either need to drive or take a taxi. They have karaoke nights, disco nights and live music. It is less expensive to drink here and the food is local, plentiful and good. I like getting their mixed meat platter or their arros con pollo, rice with chicken. Might be the best I have ever had in Costa Rica. If you like beer, then order your beer by the 'baldazo', which is a bucket of beer with six in it with ice and limes.
Arts & Culture
Tamarindo is a great place to visit year round and it has something for every member of the family and age group. For this reason, people come here to enjoy the sun, the surf, the food and the adventures. Why not also learn the language? CSI is the best language school in the area and has been teaching students from 2 to 99 how to speak Spanish for over 15 years. They are located right on the beach and have local, professional teachers and first class curriculum. During the summers they also have family, children and teen camps. Take a vacation and come back with more than great memories; come back speaking Spanish! They also have their own surf institute, so you can take surf lessons too.
Coastal Spanish Institute
152Tamarindo is a great place to visit year round and it has something for every member of the family and age group. For this reason, people come here to enjoy the sun, the surf, the food and the adventures. Why not also learn the language? CSI is the best language school in the area and has been teaching students from 2 to 99 how to speak Spanish for over 15 years. They are located right on the beach and have local, professional teachers and first class curriculum. During the summers they also have family, children and teen camps. Take a vacation and come back with more than great memories; come back speaking Spanish! They also have their own surf institute, so you can take surf lessons too.