We’re going to be dining out a fair amount through the year here. Below are quick reviews and links for more info on restaurants in and around Brasilito, Tamarindo, Potrero and Flamingo. We hope it helps you decide where to dine out while you’re in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica.
A quick caveat – some places, we simply had a drink to get a feel for the vibe so don’t take our word if you want to give a restaurant a go – they’re all an experience in their own right! Salud!
Restaurants in Brasilito
Beach House
Looks sketch from the road but possibly a favorite. Go around 5 pm and stay for sunset. Great food, clean restaurant, beach location can’t be beat.
Soda Marcell in Potrero
Quaint little soda at the T-intersection in Protero. Menu offers comida typica as well as several American dishes. Prices range from 800 colones to 3,500 colones. They offer breakfast as well and there is off-street parking.
Tiki’s
Across the street from the open beach in Brasilito. Large, open-air venue with 12 – yes 12! – beers on tap. Worth the visit for the beer but the food and venue are good too. Same owners as Numuand Beach House. Pretty easy to get a discount – CRIA or La Paz families, CPI students, etc.
Il Forno Pizzeria Restaurant
This is a favorite for anyone craving good pizza. We had the Tica Pizza, Focaccia garlic bread and the Greek Salad. All were very good. The pizzas are 13″ and have a thin, crispy crust. One pizza will feed two people, especially if you get a salad or garlic bread to go with.
Don Brasilitos Restaurant
This is an awesome family-friendly restaurant on the beach in Brasilito. Has a nice fenced-in playground for the kids and is off the paved road. Large covered, open-air restaurant with lots of tables and an extensive menu.
Ander’s Restaurant
Small venue, great service, great typical Costa Rican food. It’s right on the road in Brasilito. The bathroom is a bit sketch – broken toilet seat and just kind of ick – so try to go somewhere before or after.
Inside Reserva Conchal
Catalinas
At the resident’s Beach Club, this restaurant overlooks the Beach Club pool. Also a great restaurant where kids can hit the beach or swim in the pool until dinner is ready or after if the adults want to hang out a bit longer.
There’s also a small satellite cafe that is part of Catalinas closer to the beach access. It offers the same menu as the larger Catalinas but is more casual.
We haven’t eaten here yet so check out the menu and photos of Catalinas here.
Spirulina
Full Italian restaurant inside the Westin property but we’ve only had pizza here because we hit up the resident’s night where they offer a personal pizza (plate sized!) and a beer or soda for $10 per person. It’s a great deal and the pizza is pretty awesome. The kids can swim in the Westin pool while waiting for dinner to arrive.
Restaurants in Potrero
The Smokin’ Pig
Shane had to check out the Barbcue place much to my shagrin, but it was good IMO. We shared the family rack of ribs with slaw and fries. All good. Shane expected more (he’s a BBQ snob though). I left smelling a bit like a camp fire but the place was clean, the service was good and the chiliguaros were tasty! (They really should make those as full-size drinks…)
Perla’s Restaurant
A kin to an american, country-themed brew pub. Cold beer on tap and good American style food. We shared a Buffalo Chicken Wrap with fries and a couple of Imperial lights and it was the perfect amount for lunch. Total check was $16.
Costa Rica Sailing Center
A favorite! Right on the beach and with a pool. One of the best places to take kids because they just wander from the pool to the beach and back passing by the table en route in each direction. Great food and drinks as well! If you go out on a fishing boat, they’ll cook your catch for you.
Restaurants in Flamingo
Surf Box Coffee Shop and Restaurant
In Flamingo, great for breakfast, coffee or smoothies. Working remote? Great place to hole up for a couple of hours with their Wifi, AC and great breakfast menu.
Restaurants in Tamarindo
Surf Shack
Not to be confused with Surf Box in Flamingo – totally different atmosphere and food. Awesome burgers and killer french fries. Don’t miss free fries on Friday! In the heart of Tamarindo at the end of Calle Centro.
Limonada Restaurant in Las Catalinas
With Playa Danta and Las Catalinas as the backdrops, the ambiance is phenomenal here. A short, winding road north of Potrero and you’ll come upon an Italian oasis. Lemonada is right on the beach – shaded by trees. You can hang out here all day – we do so every Saturday while our 8 year old, Mckenna, learns how to lifeguard through ConnectOcean.