Tamarindo guide
Where We Eat in Tamarindo: The Owners’ Picks
The 31 restaurants our family keeps going back to, with the walk from Casa Colorado for each one. Hover over a name to see it on the map.
Tamarindo has more than 100 restaurants, which is wonderful and also a little overwhelming when you’ve just arrived and everyone is hungry right now. So here’s our shortcut.
We’re Matt and Erin, and our family owns Casa Colorado, a vacation home a 5-minute walk from Playa Tamarindo. These are the places we actually go back to, sorted the way we think about them: what kind of night is it?
One thing we love about eating here: Tamarindo is a real melting pot, and most restaurants are run by people from the place the cuisine comes from. So the Italian food tastes like Italy. And don’t skip the street vendors, which are delicious.
Our top 5 casual spots
For the nights nobody wants to dress up (which, honestly, is most of them).
- El Mercadito. A quality food court with a variety to please everyone. Our answer when five people want five different dinners.
- La Boca. Pizza, pasta and salads, just down the street from Casa Colorado. The easiest dinner in town for our guests.
- Little Lucha. An amazing taco joint. It’s also right by the Thursday night market.
- Surf Shack. Burgers and shakes. Exactly what you want after a long day in the waves.
- Café Tico. Breakfast and coffee, done right.
Our top 5 for a sunset view
Sunset in Tamarindo is a daily event. The whole town turns toward the water, and the sky over the Pacific does something different every night. These are our favorite places to watch it with dinner on the table.
- El Chiringuito. Down the road toward the beach, with the sunset right in front of you.
- Noguis. A classic Tamarindo spot for watching the sun go down.
- Langosta Beach Club. A casual, calm beach restaurant on Playa Langosta, just south of Tamarindo. Quieter than the middle of town.
- La Palapa. Great atmosphere and lots of energy. The lively choice.
- Porto Fino. Right in the center of town, easy to reach from anywhere.
A tip: the no-see-ums come out about an hour before sunset, so put bug spray on before you sit down. Our money, ATMs and tipping guide has more of these little lessons.
Our top 5 for dinner
For the last night of the trip, or any night that deserves a little celebrating.
- Pangas. Our favorite for special dinners. If you only book one nice meal in Tamarindo, make it this one.
- Bamboo Sushi Club. Incredible sushi and bowls.
- Naans & Curries. The best Indian food we’ve ever had. Not the best in Costa Rica, the best anywhere.
- Pachanga. Homemade pasta and pizzas.
- Agua Salada. On the north side of the beach, and worth the walk.
Breakfast and coffee
Breakfast matters in our family, especially before a surf lesson.
- Waffle Monkey. Creative breakfasts by the ocean.
- Café Tico. Breakfast and good coffee.
- Nordico Coffee House. Great coffee and a from-scratch breakfast.
- Breakfast Grinds. Delicious, with a view over town.
The pizza question
Every family eventually has the pizza night. Here’s where we go.
- Walter’s Fish & Cheeses in Langosta. Authentic Italian cuisine that’s incredible.
- La Pachanga. Our pick for the best pizza in town.
- Baula. Great for kids, and the pizza is decent. Sometimes that’s exactly the brief.
Every restaurant we recommend
Here is the full list, grouped by where it is. Each one shows how long the walk is from our gate, and you can tap or hover over a name to see it on the map. Use the buttons to narrow it down.
Right on the sand
Eat with your toes in the sand. These line Playa Tamarindo from the quiet south end up to the river.
El Chiringuito
Our #1 sunset
Our favorite place to watch the sun go down, on the beach right where the catamarans board. The tapas and mains use ingredients you will not find on most menus in town, and the place hums with energy. When it is packed the kitchen can lag, but the view covers for it.
Nogui's
A beachfront classic that is at its best in the morning, when the light on the water is beautiful. Lunch and dinner are fine; breakfast is the reason to go, and it works for sunset too. Reach it from the sand or from the traffic circle. Service runs on beach time.
La Palapa
Hotel La Palapa's restaurant sits right on the sand in the middle of town, with a lively crowd and a front-row sunset.
Waffle Monkey
Waffles cooked to order with a long list of toppings, including one with ham baked right into the batter. It hides along the beach access path by the Spanish school, with fresh juices, smoothies and coffee to go with breakfast.
Langosta Beach Club
So far down the south end that the beach can feel like your own. Eat on the sand facing the water, or buy a pool day and have lunch on the deck. Mid-range prices and a very good spot for sunset, though they often host private events, so check first.
Diria Hotel Restaurant
When our kids were small we ate here constantly, because it sits next to the break they surfed most. Shady all day, fairly priced, and the beach vendors are kept out, so it is a calm break from the sand. Order the arroz con pollo.
Breakfast Grinds
Best breakfast
If we could, we would eat breakfast here every single morning. The former owner of Kahiki's runs it, locals love it, and the breakfast burritos are the move. Cash only. A fresh remodel means it is only getting better.
Capitán Suizo Restaurant
The hotel restaurant at Capitán Suizo sits beside the pool with a lovely ocean view. We tried the breakfast buffet once: classic spread, steep price. Handy if you are staying at the hotel and want to eat before an adventure.
El Vaquero
The food beats expectations: fresh ingredients and solid choices. The catch is the pace. Every visit has been slow, once over half an hour for food. Go when you are relaxed and in no hurry, and enjoy the setting.
Eat at Joe's (Witch's Rock Surf Camp)
Thatched umbrellas, surf videos on the screens and music that never stops: the most tropical feeling spot on the beach. The menu is decent rather than amazing, and service can drift, but with the surf in front of you nobody minds. We bring visiting friends here every time.
Agua Salada
A short menu where every single dish is excellent. Service has been wonderful on every visit and the food is rich and full of flavor. One of the best sunset dinners in Tamarindo, and a step above a typical night out.
Pangas
Our #1 dinner
Our pick for the big night out, up at the far north end of the beach beside the river. The setting is gorgeous, the vendors rarely make it this far, and the food is easily top five in town. Not cheap, completely worth it.
In the middle of town
A short walk up from the beach, around the traffic circle and the main road.
Café Tico
A long-time local morning hangout next to the bookstore. Great coffee, very good breakfast sandwiches and plates, and you will always share the room with a table of regulars.
Sharky's
The place to watch a game in town: American football, soccer, hockey, whatever is on. A short menu, good service and a lively crowd. In the fall, this is where we watch the Broncos.
Wok N Roll
Pan-Asian with consistently friendly service and a great view of the street for people-watching. We have worked our way through most of the menu without a miss. The build-your-own wok is a favorite, and it is a fun spot for a birthday dinner.
Nordico Coffee House
Where locals work on laptops and grab breakfast before the day starts. Excellent coffee, food made from scratch with very fresh ingredients, and seats inside or out..
NOI Bistro
Across from El Santuario and open until 5 pm. Inventive, fresh plates that do not cost a fortune, and a breakfast we count on before a surf session.
El Santuario
A newer arrival at Plaza Conchal that we were glad to see. The room feels fresh and welcoming, service is excellent, the starters are creative, the pasta is fresh and the calzones are enormous.
Little Lucha
Tacos up on the hill across from the night market, where La Esquina used to be. They deliver for most of the year and pack every ingredient separately, which makes build-your-own tacos at the house easy.
Surf Shack
We go every week
The one place we end up every single week. It is at the back of the traffic circle in the center of town: burgers, wings, hot dogs and milkshakes that are dangerous. Get the grilled cheese cheeseburger. Trust us.
Naans & Curries
Our #2 dinner
Indian food on the main road with plenty for vegetarians, and honestly the best Indian we have had anywhere. They run their own delivery and do it well, so it is our go-to for a lazy night by the pool.
Bamboo Sushi Club
A top-five favorite. Cross the little bridge from the strip of shops across from the Beach Club and you are suddenly in a jungle garden. The fish is incredibly fresh, and we have never had a bad bite.
Patagonia
An Argentine-style grill next door to Bamboo Sushi, right in the middle of town. Meat lovers will be happy, the service is among the best in Tamarindo, and it is our standby for a nice dinner with friends.
El Mercadito
Our #1 casual
An open-air food court up the road from Patagonia, and the answer when five people want five different dinners: poke, vegan, Asian, arepas, burgers and more. Family-friendly and open for lunch and dinner.
Tucked up the hill
Up the side road toward the jungle, where it gets greener and quieter.
Green Papaya
Fresh, creative tacos (fish, pulled pork, beef), big salads and a good burger. The kids love it because some of the seats are swings. A great lunch stop on the road up to La Baula and Dragon Fly.
Pachanga
Our #1 pizza
Some of the best Italian food we have eaten anywhere, across from Banco Nacional. Fresh pasta and sauces, excellent pizza and a fun crew. The gnocchi is outstanding, our kids order the sausage pizza, and the Caesar salads are huge.
La Baula
Good fresh pizza and a playground built right into the restaurant, so little kids are thrilled. The covered dining room makes it a safe bet when rain is coming. It is on the road up toward Dragon Fly; anyone can point you there.
Dragon Fly
Special night out
One of the two places we take visiting family for a special meal. Tucked into the jungle past La Baula, romantic but happy to seat a group, with a creative dinner menu where everything is delicious.
Down in Langosta
The quieter beach town just south of Tamarindo, a walk or a quick taxi from the house.
Walter's Fish & Cheeses
Our #2 pizza
Ignore the funny name. This Langosta favorite is always full: authentic Italian pizza, plus pasta and seafood dishes we would put against anyone's. Reserve ahead, because it fills up fast.
Langosta Surf Club
Our favorite place in Langosta to watch American football, with food that is far better than it needs to be. A gathering spot for visitors from everywhere, with pool, horseshoes and other games that keep kids busy too.
El Sapo
A classic pizza place in Playa Langosta, on the same road as the Langosta Surf Club. We recommend it without hesitation.
Tips for eating out in Tamarindo
- Tipping. A tip of 15% to 20% is typical in Tamarindo, depending on the service. Cash is always appreciated, but you can add it to a card too.
- Dollars or colones. Most places take either. If you pay in dollars, your change will likely come back in colones.
- Walk it. From Casa Colorado, La Boca is down the street and much of town is walkable.
- Cook a night or two. Some of our favorite dinners are at home. See our Tamarindo grocery stores guide for where to shop.
Want even more?
Our family blog, 10 Feet Traveling, has the long version, with a page for each list:
- Dining in Tamarindo
- Top casual restaurants
- Top sunset restaurants
- Top dinner restaurants
- Top pizza restaurants
Stay close to all of it
Casa Colorado is a 5-minute walk to Playa Tamarindo and just up the street from La Boca. It sleeps 12 (main house 9, casita 3) in 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, with a full kitchen and a private pool with the only private pool rope swing in Tamarindo. Check dates and see your price.
FAQ
What is the best restaurant in Tamarindo?
For a special dinner, our favorite is Pangas. For everyday eating, El Mercadito’s food court has something for everyone, and Little Lucha is our go-to for tacos.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Tamarindo?
The beach itself has the best views. For dinner with the sunset, El Chiringuito and Langosta Beach Club are two of our five favorites, and the full list is above.
Where can you get good pizza in Tamarindo?
Our top pick is Walter’s Fish & Cheeses in Langosta, with La Pachanga a close second. With kids, Baula is an easy choice.
Is there good Indian food in Tamarindo?
Yes. Naans & Curries is the best Indian food we’ve ever had, anywhere.
How much should you tip at restaurants in Tamarindo?
A tip of 15% to 20% is typical, similar to the US, depending on the service. Cash is appreciated, but you can add a tip to a card payment.