Dining in Tamarindo

The surfer town of Tamarindo has changed over the years. The influx of expats has brought a whole host of dining options to the town. Here are some of the restaurants that we visited in Tamarindo:

El Jardin Del Eden - Wonderful outdoor atmosphere overlooking tropical gardens and very good food. We would consider this hotel next time as the pool/gardens were gorgeous.

Lazy Wave Cafe - Reminescent of an Asian or Moroccan hideaway. Outstanding seafood with an exotic twist. Some seats are traditional dining tables while others are couches and low chairs in a red-tinged outdoor dining area (see above). The restaurant and the Delice Del Mar is highly recommended.

Nogui's - A good beachside restaurant on the circle. I'm not quite sure I see why so many people fall all over themselves for this place.

Nibbana - Probably my favorite restaurant in Tamarindo. The restaurant had an Asian feel - we sat under a large polynesian style covering. Outstanding pork loin and the tuna tartare was delicious!

El Coconut - An expensive but elgant restaurant. Norwegian-run and a good choice for a fancier dinner. Prices are far from Costa Rican.

Kahiki - Very cool tiki-themed bar with a good local vibe and tasty mojitos. Located next to the Iguana Surf shop.

Pasatiempo Hotel and Bar - Good if you're looking for an American-style hangout - a total gringo place. More of a party place than anything else.

Panaderia de Paris - French-run bakery attached to Laguna del Cocodrilo. Good pastries and coffee... comes with authentic French "service" ;)

Witch's Rock Cafe - Located at the Witch's Rock Surf Camp, the cafe has good casual hangout food and is gringo friendly. Defnitely not gourmet but if you're craving some "bad" food (nachos, chicken tenders, etc.) this is a good choice.