3 Best Restaurants in Tamarindo, Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

You can’t get any closer to the water than at this outdoor beach garden, where rustic tables are shaded by enormous ficus trees draped with wicker lamps. Classic French cuisine with Costa Rican flavors include dishes like fresh seafood with fruit reductions and organic meats seared on hot lava stones. It's one of the few places in Tamarindo serving lamb, and 100% of the ingredients are local. For something light, try the tropical goat cheese salad with mango chutney or the yellowfin tuna tower topped with mango and avocado.

Cool off inside or relax outside on the deck at this little gem on the beach, the perfect spot to replenish the reserves with some healthy food or a good cup of coffee while you watch surfers ride the waves. Pico has the best Wi-Fi in town, so if you must look at your computer on your vacation, do it from here.

From breakfast to happy hour this beachfront bistro serves stunning plates with even better views of the ocean. Bagels and eggs are on the menu in the morning, and for dinner we recommend getting a selection of tapas under the twinkling lights and sharing so you can try a lot—the mushroom risotto is perfection and the mussels and mahimahi are magnificent. It's also a great place for cocktails.