No vacation to Costa Rica — or anywhere else in the world — is complete without a long list of restaurants to try. Sure, you may not get to all of them … but what if you did? Either way, you’re going to need a list of the best places to eat in Tamarindo if you want to get the most out of your stay in this gorgeous oceanside town.
Happily, Tamarindo restaurants are among some of the best in the country, and we dare say in all of Central America. With multicultural influences and a huge variety of fresh, home-grown foods, you’re sure to find something you love among these Costa Rica eateries. Read on!
Plaza Tamarindo local n 10, Av Central, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, 51101, Costa Rica
Who says you can’t enjoy Mediterranean food while enjoying the best of life along the Pacific Ocean? Antichi Sapori clearly isn’t hearing it, because their Sicilian restaurant has consistently earned awards as one of the best places to eat in Tamarindo, including a 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Winner.
A quick glance at their offerings makes you realize why. Fresh seafood such as shrimp and mussels tossed with traditional Italian pasta and cream-based sauces, paired with wines, beers, and cocktails. The pistachio gnocchi and seafood linguine are two dishes people come back for on their last night in town, both made from scratch, and don't miss ordering the tiramisu or the cannoli before you even think about leaving.
100 meters west of Banco Nacional Costa Rica Tamarindo 50309, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
How could an establishment that bills itself as “The Hidden Garden of Tamarindo” possibly disappoint? We dare to say it couldn’t, and that’s before you add in its unique Mediterranean-Peruvian fusion cuisine or its beautiful hangout areas. (There is Jenga!)
Open from 5:30 pm to 12 pm every day except Sunday, this is the perfect place to put on something nice, get a drink, and enjoy the best of what Tamarindo restaurants have to offer. With fancy cocktails, gorgeous salads, noodles, meat, and dips, you'll never run out of flavors to try.
The menu changes nightly and gets written up on a chalkboard. A server walks through it every table, so don't be shy about asking questions. Go for the tarragon mahi-mahi or the shrimp huancaina if they're on, and make sure you order at least one cocktail, because the rum passion fruit and the watermelon cucumber mojito are genuinely some of the best drinks in Tamarindo. And yes, get the crème brûlée.
50 mts de bus Alfaro, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica
If you love a libation, then chances are you’ll consider Tropic Tamarindo one of the best places to eat in Tamarindo … and drink, of course. Their mixologists are among the best in the country, and their cocktail menu reflects that creativity. With fresh fruits and herbs that reflect Costa Rica's natural abundance, every drink promises a story, or so the restaurant promises.
Add in delicious ingredients like octopus, peppers, and citrus, and mix them with traditional foodways, and you have an unforgettable experience. The tuna tartare patacones, grilled octopus, and mahi-mahi are the ones people keep talking about. Each cocktail emerges as a creative fusion of flavors. If you have a free afternoon, their cooking and mixology class is one of the best things you can do in town, full stop.
Calle del Parque 4to y 5to piso sobre el Supercompro frente parque Oneida, skate park Guanacaste Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica
As the name suggests, one of the finest Tamarindo restaurants sits above ground level, with a glorious view of the ocean stretching into the distance. The Roof offers pizza and cocktails as well as a range of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. Their signature offering, though? Dinner and drinks at sunset, where you can watch the Western sky come to life in a blaze of glory as the sun sinks below the horizon.
The wood-fired pizzas are solid, but the grilled seafood paired with a tropical cocktail is the most recommended combination. Get there early enough to grab a spot along the railing. Once the sky starts changing color, you'll understand why this place stays busy every single night.
Corona St 40 50309, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Green Papaya is another of those Costa Rica eateries that pairs traditional tropical dishes with rustic décor for a most relaxing effect. As their Facebook page says, you can enjoy great food, good vibes, and awesome people with a Mexican fusion twist.
Although they offer all sorts of grub, they’re known for their tacos. With greens and beans, avocado and cabbage, grilled shrimp, and other seafood, their elevated street fare is sure to please the whole family. The grilled shrimp tacos are the ones to get fresh, generous, and exactly what you want after a day in the sun. Wash it down with a cold local beer or something fruity from the bar, and you've got yourself a perfect low-key evening in Tamarindo.
Central Ave 250, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
If you like falafel or Mediterranean food in general, then chances are the name of this restaurant has you convinced already. If not, well, it's still one of the best Costa Rica eateries you'll find in town.
Traditional offerings such as hummus, pita, fries, and kebabs make for the perfect pre-beach lunch or post-swim dinner. dd fresh salads, sparkling beverages, and shawarma, and it's an experience unto itself. Build yourself a mezze plate with the baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves, and fried eggplant, and you've got a meal that's hard to beat at that price point. The chicken shawarma is the most-ordered item on the menu, crispy, well-spiced, and stuffed into fresh pita. It's the kind of place you end up at twice in the same week without planning to.
Main road to Tamarindo, 500m SW from Auto Mercado, in front of El Tesoro, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica
Pangas Beach Club is exactly what it says it is: a club along the beach, with wooden tables and chairs clustered under beautiful palms, all within view of the gently rolling Pacific Ocean. Whether you spend an hour or four, you’ll find R&R in spades.
Although the food is pricier, you get what you pay for: It's absolutely gorgeous. Upscale offerings such as ceviche, carpaccio, bisque, and lobster tail complement crusty bread and fresh drinks. The wahoo carpaccio and the prime beef served on sizzling volcanic rocks are two things worth ordering on their own, and happy hour pulls in locals who know a good deal when they see one.
Corona Street 150 meters behind Hotel Pasatiempo Guanacaste Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica
If you close your eyes and imagine what “Tamarindo restaurants” look like in your head, you'll probably produce a picture that's pretty similar to the Dragonfly Bar & Grill. With woven basket lamps hanging from the ceiling and an open pavilion with wooden furniture, surrounded by twinkle lights and palms, it's everything you could want from your Central American adventure.
Plus, that menu. Empanadas. Yucca croquettes. Grilled shrimp. Blackened Mahi Mahi … and sushi to boot? No one's leaving hungry, that's all we're saying. There's also tuna tartare, Thai beef, and filet mignon on there. This place is way more than just a beach bar. The martini list is long, live music happens Friday and Saturday nights, and the whole vibe makes it hard to leave early. Make sure to make reservations before you go, because tables go fast.
C. Central 152, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
“Okay,” you’re thinking, “but I really care about that sushi. Where do I go?” Never fear, friend, there’s a place for you, and it’s called the Bamboo Sushi Club. When it comes to Costa Rica eateries, this one keeps its eye on the prize. With a menu full of Asian and Nikkei food, you’ll enjoy Japanese fusion at its best.
Like many of the best places to eat in Tamarindo, Bamboo focuses on the freshest local ingredients. Squid, tuna, cassava, peppers, microgreens, and sesame seeds complement more signature ingredients such as Nikkei sauce, yellow chili oil, and squid ink. They've also got poke bowls, sashimi, dumplings, and combo boats, and almost all the fish is caught right here in Costa Rica. It's a great spot for a date night or a quiet dinner with friends.
100 meters west of Banco Nacional, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
If live music, beautiful floral centerpieces of wild ginger and bird of paradise, and sparkling patio lights sound like your idea of Heaven on Earth, then welcome to La Oveja Surf House, last on our list of the best places to eat in Tamarindo.
Their menu runs the gamut from gorgeous coffee drinks and boozy cocktails to melting burgers and creamy dessert confections. Eclectic décor and cozy seating round out the experience. Their specialty coffee drinks are worth coming in for on their own, pair one with something from the pastry case, and you've got a slow morning sorted. It works just as well as a late-night stop after dinner somewhere else, whether you're after a cocktail or just a quiet corner and something sweet.
Have more questions about the best places to eat in Tamarindo? We have more answers. Stay in Tamarindo is an area expert who can not only advise you on the top Costa Rica eateries, but also on what to see and where to go. Indeed, our knowledge of the area and the information we provide with your booking is basically like getting a travel guide … for free!
Whether you want to learn more about our rentals or about this beautiful part of the world, we're here to help. All you have to do is get in touch with a team member today.
