Dining Out 

Dining in Tamarindo is an international experience with restaurants featuring everything from traditional Costa Rican to Japanese fusion. Travelers can easily find cheap eats or fine dining as there is something to meet every taste and budget. Here are a few of our favorites.

Eat @ Joe’s

Witch’s Rock Surf Camp’s in-house restaurant, Eat @ Joe’s is an affordable option on the beach. The menu offers a great selection of fresh sushi, cheap beer, burgers, chicken fingers and more. Order their massive nacho plate and you won’t eat for a week. Half price happy hour drinks start at 5 p.m. Eat @ Joe’s, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Tamarindo. 

La Bodega

La Bodega is a boutique artisan food shop located in Tamarindo , Guanacaste. Serving sandwiches, baked goods and and specialty grocer items made 100% in Costa Rica. Takeaway homemade foods are available daily and fresh! Visit Frank for an iced coffee and slice of banana bread. Diagonal from Banco Nacional 

Cafe Tico

Cafe Tico is a cozy place to sit and savor a rich cup of freshly-ground coffee beneath our shaded patio. It's perfect for ordering an espresso or cappuccino to go. It's a gift shop, a market and a place to relax and start your day. 
 
Here, you can buy the most exquisite coffee in the country in quantities as large or small as your heart desires. They also carry a variety of honey produced by local bees and beekeepers, several brands of Costa Rican organic coffee, flowers, assorted jams, and only the freshest herbs and spices.  On the Road to Langosta

Bamboo Sushi Club

This chic sushi spot features intimate dining on Japanese classics like steaming miso soup, freshly caught sashimi and a variety of sushi rolls. 20M north of the Diria Hotel, road to Tamarindo. (

Nogui’s

Proud holder of the title ‘oldest restaurant in town,’ Nogui’s is a beloved local staple. Offers– freshly-caught seafood, mouthwatering meats and some of the town’s finest desserts (make sure to try their legendary coconut cream pie). Nogui’s Restaurant, on the beach at the cul de sac.

Patagonia Argentinian Grill

Argentinian owner Mauro knows meat and has created an authentic Argentinian grill in the heart of Tamarindo.  While all the popular Argentinian cuts of meat are available, Patagonia also features more traditional Argentinian courses such as its mixed grill that includes, steak, chicken, pork, sausage and blood sausage as well as sweet bread.  Patagonia is a delicious example of an ex-pat bringing what they know best to Tamarindo.  It is a popular place so be sure to make reservations..

Pacifico Bar

Pacifico Bar The place to be on Thursday evening, Pacifico draws crowds at its signature reggae night. This island-themed bar and dance club has a Rasta vibe and is a favorite among Costa Rican locals.Busy Wednesday (ladies night) through Sunday with frequent live reggae music. Pacifico Bar, far end of the cul de sac.

Pasatiempo

Local musicians play on Wednesday nights at Hotel Pasatiempo’s bar, a longtime favorite with Tamarindo residents. Local rock groups draw a faithful following and open-mic nights provide entertainment that caters to a more family-friendly crowd enjoyed by guests of all ages. Pasatiempo Hotel & Bar, 220 yds. (200 m.) southeast of the intersection at the Pacific Park Condo.

Sharky’s

One of the best sports bars in town – come to Sharky’s to cheer on your favorite team and enjoy a cold beer. Features an American bar menu of chicken wings, burgers and fries – greasy goodness. Sharky’s Sports Bar, Pacific Park Building.

Getting to Costa Rica

By Air: the closest airport to Tamarindo and the wedding is the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia (LIR) Flights to LIR are readily available from most major U.S. airlines.   

Sample Flights

The largest airport in Costa Rica is San Juan - the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO)  Flights to SJO are generally less expensive although a much longer trip to the coast.  

Sample Flights

Costa Rica Entry and Customs

A passport is required to get into Costa Rica.  Citizens of the US, Canada, Great Britain, and most other European nations can stay as a tourist for 90 days.

Language

Because of the large number of tourists in Costa Rica, most speak fluent english.  The spoken language in Tamarindo is English, and you will most likely be greeted with that upon entry to a store or restaurant.  You can get around just fine in Costa Rica with little to no knowledge of Spanish, although it is always fun to give it a whirl. 

Banks, ATMs and Money

THE COLÓN IS THE COSTA RICAN UNIT OF CURRENCY, WITH AN EXCHANGE RATE THAT VARIES BETWEEN 500 AND 550 COLÓNES PER DOLLAR. COLÓNES COME IN 500, 1000, 5000, AND 10,000 BILLS. COINS COME IN DENOMINATIONS OF 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 AND 100. OLDER COINS ARE SILVER AND SLIGHTLY LARGER, WHILE NEWER COINS ARE GOLD-COLORED AND SMALLER.

All banks will exchange US dollars and many will exchange British pounds or euros. Travelers checks can be cashed at banks or exchange bureaus for a commission of 1% to 3%. Some hotels accept travelers checks for payment, but many do not. 

ATMs (known as cajeros automáticos) are widely available in Costa Rica. Some banks charge a fee for using an ATM abroad, so check with your bank before traveling to Costa Rica. Credit cards are widely accepted at midrange and upscale hotels and restaurants. Most credit cards include a transaction fee for international purchases.

Taxes and Tipping

There is a 13% tax on all purchases in Costa Rica, including souvenirs, food, and hotels. Hotels add an additional 3% tourist surcharge and most restaurants include a 10% gratuity fee. You are not obligated to tip on top of this, but it’s good practice to do so, because the 10% fee is split among many people. If you want to tip your waiter directly, leave more money on the table.

You may want to tip other people while in Costa Rica, including maids, bellhops, or drivers. Tips for these services usually range from US$1 to US$10 a day. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip.

Leaving Costa Rica

AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR ECONOMIC STIMULATION, COSTA RICA IMPOSES AN EXIT TAX OF $29USD UPON DEPARTURE.  YOU CAN PAY THIS FEE WITH ANY LEFT OVER COLONES, CREDIT CARD OR US GREENBACKS.