What are the best restaurants in the Arenal and Manuel Antonio area? We're a couple so we're looking for intimate restaurants w/ great food, atmosphere, and service. Thanks!

Jennie, a spot we really enjoyed is Ronny's Mi Lugar. Its open-air with a magnificient view of the Pacific. Food is good and reasonably priced, and Ronny and his staff will make you feel like family. We celebrated our anniversary there and kept finding reasons to stop by for a drink or a snack. Its perhaps a third of a mile past El Mono Azul on the way from Quepos to MA. Make a right onto a rough road and follow it for another third of a mile and you're there.

Alternatively, ask your taxi driver to take you!

-Jeff

In MA Karolas had great seafood. It was an outside patio intimate and good service. It is just before the MA Beach Rd turn off.

Karolas is awesome , go down the steep little driveway opposite Cafe Milagro , the road next to it is the road to Makanda , Parador , Mango Moon etc. Also u can get to the far end of Espadilla Beach if u take a left at the fork in this little road , and u come out on the beach by Natures Beachfront Hotel . ( a right at the fork takes u to Parador , Beisanz etc. ) GOOD eats at Karolas ! Vela Bar is good , Plinios .....

I would read Fodor's Rants & Raves on Karolas. There have been several mixed or poor reviews recently.

I assume you mean the Arenal Volcano area. If that is the case I would suggest that the restaurant at the Arenal Volcano Lodge is what you are looking for.