Restaurants in Northern Peninsula
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Andre’s Beach Bar
The best pizza place in town also has one of the best breakfast spots, serving omelettes and eggs Benedict. English and French are spoken.
reviewed
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A
Lazy Wave
Dine at a table if you must, but the best place to enjoy your meal and glass of wine is on the covered pavilion, where you can curl up amid pillows in cushy lounge chairs. If you're out to woo that hot thing you met last night, this hip nightspot, built around a huge tree, is a good place to start the evening. There's a solid wine list, good mix of cocktails and Asian- and Euro-influenced bocas as well as a full menu.
reviewed
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B
Dragonfly Bar & Grill
Dragonfly is a local favorite, probably not just for its refined menu, but also for its lovely atmosphere in the festive tent-like structure of the dining room. The menu has a Californian bent, featuring fresh items such as pork chop with chipotle-apple chutney and the Thai-style crispy fish cake with curried corn. Linger a while over your wine and perhaps you can also find room for a divine dessert.
reviewed
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C
Zouk Cafe
Most definitely the hippest place to eat in Coco, you won't be surprised to know it's Italian-owned. Breakfast offerings include brioche and espresso, and as the day moves on, so goes the menu, with green salads to cool you in the heat of afternoon, and a kitchen serving fusion cuisine late into the night to fuel your second wind at the downstairs bar.
reviewed
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D
Pachanga
Don't leave town without eating here - it may be the best meal you have in Costa Rica. The Israeli chef, Shlomy, serves innovative dishes with Mediterranean accents that change daily depending on the availability of local ingredients. The restaurant is understated yet elegant, which focuses your attention on the perfection of Shlomy's cuisine.
reviewed
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E
Louisiana Bar & Grill
Put some heat back into your diet with spicy Cajun classics including jambalaya, seafood gumbo and po'boys. But if you're not feeling it, you can opt instead for fish cooked a dozen ways - from seared with Asian ginger-sesame sauce to grilled with macadamia pesto. Either way, try to get one of the balcony tables to check out the street scene.
reviewed
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F
Carolina's Fine Dining
This is one place worth the splurge. Sophisticated continental cuisine highlights skillfully prepared sauces, tender cuts of meat, delectable fish and an impressive selection of imported wines. To truly appreciate the culinary experience, opt for the five-course tasting menu with a full wine tasting (₡ 38,000).
reviewed
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Wok & Roll
Korean-American owner Kandice routinely inspires fear in local fishermen throughout the Nicoya. She is famous for scrutinizing daily tuna and mahi-mahi catches, and will only buy the freshest of fish. The result: some of the best sushi we've ever eaten. Her woks and Vietnamese spring rolls are also popular.
reviewed
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Nibbana
One of the nicest beachfront dining areas in town, Nibbana has tables scattered underneath the palms. It serves great pizza at lunch, and Tico-flavored continental cuisine, such as shrimp, lemon and basil risotto, or grilled tuna with a fresh mint-and-tomato compote. It also has free wi-fi access.
reviewed
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H
Grinds/Kahiki
In the mornings, you can get breakfast grinds like giant pancakes and bottomless cups of coffee. Dinner is another story, with good Hawaiian-influenced fusion dishes emphasizing the local catch. The bar is a cool place to hang if you don't feel like eating, with a long and intriguing cocktail menu.
reviewed
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Bar Nogui
This beachside restaurant offers upscale casados (set meals) with grilled fish, mixed meats and unbelievable shrimp and lobster. It’s consistently popular with locals and tourists alike, so come early for dinner or be prepared to wait at the bar for a couple of Imperiales with the rowdy regulars.
reviewed
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J
Olga's Coffee Shop
In a new corner location with floor-to-ceiling windows, this sleek Russian-owned café serves up organic Costa Rican coffee and homemade pastries - the outside terrace is the perfect place to hang in the morning as you let the caffeine do its thing.
reviewed
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K
El Coconut
Another recommended choice for seafood and pasta dishes. You can get a special dinner at this Norwegian-owned restaurant without having to get formal about it. The ambience is laid-back but elegant, with a tropical flair and a dessert menu that begs you to save room.
reviewed
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Sushi Playa
With cool breezes coming off the ocean and the low light of its open-air terrace, the sushi bar at Cafe de Playa has a low-key ambience conducive to properly appreciating the nuances of the maguro (tuna) melting on your tongue.
reviewed
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Jardín Tropical
Also on the soccer field, this well-established, neat and efficient soda has a wide selection of menu items, including filling pizzas and freshly caught fish. It’s also a great place for a big breakfast by the beach.
reviewed
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Tequila Bar & Grill
This popular nightspot has traditional (though pricey) Mexican favorites, including burritos, tacos and fajitas, though most people here prefer the margarita liquid dinner, of which there are over 20 varieties.
reviewed
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O
Papagayo Seafood
Seafood is the name of the game here, clearly, and you can find the day's catch either blackened, pan-fried or a la veracruzana (in a tomato, onion and olive sauce) - whichever way, you can't go wrong.
reviewed
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Sol y Luna Restaurant & Bar
Dine on authentic Italian pasta while soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere at this restaurant at Hotel La Puerta del Sol. But make sure you save room for a slice of the heavenly homemade tiramisu.
reviewed
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Q
Eat@Joe's
The best snack in town is at this US-run surf camp, where you can order the famous ‘nachos as big as your ass’ (or sushi rolls) while sucking down cold ones on the outdoor deck until 2am.
reviewed
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R
Coco Coffee Company
Next door to Papagayo Seafood, this coffee joint draws the gringos with its siren call of bagels with cream cheese, fresh sandwiches, espresso drinks and tasty homemade pastries.
reviewed
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Smilin' Dog Taco Stop
Those hankering for Mexican grub will appreciate the quality of offerings at this popular eatery, while shoestringers will revel in the generous portions and low prices.
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Soda Teresita
On the west end of the soccer field, this popular pink soda is your best bet for a torta (sandwich) and some chitchat with the locals.
reviewed
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Café Café
About 3km outside of town, this super-friendly café is a great place to pick up an espresso, smoothie or panini on your way into or out of town.
reviewed
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Frutas Tropicales
One of the few places you can get a good, inexpensive casado, this friendly spot serves up tasty local food…at a local pace.
reviewed
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Restaurante La Vita Bella & Bruno’s Pizzeria
The amazing sunset ocean views from the 4th-floor location are surpassed only by the delicious Spanish, Italian, Lebanese and Jamaican cuisine. Somehow it works, because owner Tony Ziade is Lebanese-Spanish and raised in Jamaica. The eclectic menu includes sea bass with chimichurri sauce, chicken kebabs, steak, paellas and authentic pizzas.
reviewed
