Fine dining, beach bars, local sodas, and cafes worth your time. Every listing checked against live sources.
Manuel Antonio
Casual open-air restaurant under a corrugated zinc roof, sitting high above the rainforest with a clear view down to the Pacific. The tuna margarita (seared tuna over wonton chips) is the signature order, alongside burgers, burritos, whole snapper in tamarind sauce, and a nightly pasta special. Open daily except Wednesdays, roughly 11 am to 9 pm.
Quepos
A Latin American bar and restaurant at Marina Pez Vela open Monday through Saturday 11 am to 10 pm. The menu runs rum cocktails, tropical drinks, and Caribbean-inflected dishes in a casual open-air setting with views over the marina and the Pacific sunset. Rum-based drinks are the focal point of the bar program.
Manuel Antonio
Restaurant and bar built around a 1954 Fairchild C-123 cargo plane tied to the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, parked on the hillside along the main Manuel Antonio road. The plane's fuselage houses the bar and the open-air terraces face the Pacific for sunset. Menu staples include coconut shrimp, seafood curry, yellowfin tuna steaks, and fried calamari.
Manuel Antonio
Garden patio cafe, bar, and restaurant run by Café Milagro, a roaster that has been producing Costa Rican coffee for around 30 years. Breakfast brings omelets and banana pancakes, while dinner leans into creative Costa Rican cooking with meat and fish plates, local craft beer, and live music in the evenings. Open daily 6:30 am to 9:30 pm, with vegetarian and gluten free options.
Manuel Antonio
Rustic wood-fired pizzeria on the main road heading down toward the beach, just past El Avión. Artisan pizzas like the Caprichosa (prosciutto, salami, artichokes, mushrooms) share the menu with burgers, hot dogs, wraps, pasta, and nachos. Open daily noon to 10 pm.
Manuel Antonio
Eclectic cafe and bakery with ocean and jungle views, open for breakfast through dinner. Eggs Benedict, brioche French toast, sandwiches, Mediterranean ceviche, homemade desserts, and strong coffee anchor the menu, and there is often live jazz or Latin music. Locals tend to recommend it for breakfast or lunch when the view is at its best.
Manuel Antonio
Japanese sushi restaurant on the main road at km 4 in Manuel Antonio, across from Cafe Milagro. Chef Daniel Isea produces creative rolls alongside traditional Japanese dishes, with local craft beer and wines on the list. The outdoor patio faces the jungle and is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Manuel Antonio
Small Middle Eastern spot at the top of the hill across from Tulemar, serving crispy falafel sandwiches, shawarma, and kabobs with a self-serve salad bar of pickled vegetables. Falafel sandwiches run about 6 dollars, which makes it one of the cheapest sit-down meals in Manuel Antonio. Open daily except Tuesdays, roughly 11 am to 9 pm.
Quepos
The official farmers market held next to the Malecon waterfront in downtown Quepos, running Fridays from noon to 8:30 pm and Saturdays from 6 am to noon. Local growers bring tropical fruits, vegetables, fresh coconut water, eggs, honey, and homemade tortillas. Entrance is free.
Quepos
White tablecloth steak and seafood house overlooking the boat slips at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. The menu centers on Angus and Wagyu steaks, market fresh seafood, sizzling jumbo sea scallops, and a passion fruit seafood ceviche. Service is formal by local standards and the marina sunset is part of the draw.
Quepos
An Italian-style gelato shop at Marina Pez Vela serving around 24 rotating flavors made in-house, alongside crepes, Illy espresso drinks, and pastries. Open daily with extended hours, it catches the marina sunset crowd; outdoor seating overlooks the docked yachts.
Manuel Antonio
Open-air fine dining restaurant at the top of the adults-only Gaia Hotel and Reserve, reached by a staff-driven golf cart up the hill. The menu runs to gourmet plates built on fresh local ingredients, with a newer sushi menu, and the lounge serves happy hour cocktails and tapas from 5 to 7 pm. The restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and children are welcome even though the hotel itself is 13 and up.
Quepos
Bakery and cafeteria in downtown Quepos known for fresh cakes, pastries, bread, and inexpensive breakfasts. Locals order custom cakes here (they will write on them and can print images with advance notice), and area residents rate it among the best professional bakeries on this stretch of coast. It also runs delivery within Quepos.
Manuel Antonio
Open-air restaurant at Hotel La Mariposa, set about 1,000 feet above the Pacific with a wide view over the bay and Manuel Antonio National Park. The kitchen does fresh Costa Rican seafood, international and traditional tico dishes, fresh pastas, and vegetarian options, backed by an international wine and champagne list. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
Manuel Antonio
Long-running open-air restaurant directly across from Playa Espadilla, the main beach, a short walk from the national park entrance. The menu mixes Costa Rican classics like casados and whole fried snapper with fish tacos, burritos, and sandwiches. It fills up during the day with beachgoers cooling off with a drink after the park.
Manuel Antonio
A cafe and light-lunch spot set inside the butterfly garden at Sukia Nature Park, accessible through the park grounds behind the zip line facility. The menu covers gallo pinto plates, huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, a Monarca toast, pancakes, quinoa bowls, and iced coffee drinks. Open Tuesday through Saturday 8 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday until 2 pm, closed Mondays.
Manuel Antonio
Rooftop sushi bar on the sixth floor of Hotel San Bada, just steps from the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. The open-air setting delivers ocean and forest views while you work through fresh handcrafted rolls, sashimi, and signature house combinations. Sake and tropical cocktails are poured alongside the food.
Manuel Antonio
Beachfront restaurant and bar at the five star Arenas del Mar resort, set on secluded Playitas beach with indoor tables, outdoor seating, and food and drink service brought to your lounge chair on the sand. The kitchen runs themed nights like beach BBQ and Costa Rican street food. Monkeys passing through the trees during lunch are a regular occurrence.
Manuel Antonio
Canopied poolside restaurant at the Sí Como No Resort and Wildlife Refuge, serving Costa Rican cooking with ocean views toward the sunset. The tableside banana flambé fire show is the house tradition, and the location ranks near the top of TripAdvisor for Manuel Antonio with a 4.8 rating. Open to non-guests, with poolside service for those staying at the resort.
Manuel Antonio
Open-air restaurant on a 90 acre farm at the end of a dirt road off the main Manuel Antonio strip, operating since 2003. Tables look straight out over the ocean from a peninsula, and the kitchen serves Costa Rican standards and seafood made with local ingredients. Open daily 11:15 am to 9:30 pm, and reservations are smart if you want a sunset table.
Quepos
A waterfront restaurant and bar at Marina Pez Vela, open daily 7 am to 10 pm with a menu spanning fresh seafood, Central American plates, burgers, and Mexican dishes. The kitchen will cook your own catch brought in from a charter. Happy hour in the bar runs 5 to 7 pm daily.
Manuel Antonio
The main restaurant at Shana by the Beach hotel, open daily 6 am to 10 pm for breakfast through dinner. The kitchen sources roughly 80 percent of ingredients locally and rotates Italian, Costa Rican, and Mediterranean dishes alongside sushi. The oceanfront terrace hosts live music on Sunday evenings.
Quepos
Classic Costa Rican soda in downtown Quepos serving casados, gallo pinto breakfasts, and other typical plates at local prices. It is the soda most often recommended to visitors looking for an inexpensive, authentic meal near Manuel Antonio, with over 600 TripAdvisor reviews. No frills, fast service, and big portions.
Manuel Antonio
A small shop directly in front of Hotel Los Altos on the main road, serving soft-serve frozen yogurt, gelato in rotating flavors, and over 40 specialty frozen drinks and frozen coffees. A second, smaller location operates near the national park entrance. Toppings lean on fresh local fruit.
Quepos
Texas-style barbecue at Marina Pez Vela featuring premium USDA-imported cuts, slow-smoked meats, and a full bar with handcrafted cocktails and whiskey selections. The air-conditioned dining room seats 71 and includes a lounge bar area; outdoor marina-view seating is also available. Open daily 11 am to 10 pm.
Manuel Antonio
A fully vegan juice and smoothie bar on the main road in Manuel Antonio, inside Alma Vida Hotel across from El Avion. The menu centers on smoothie bowls, fresh juices, and creative savory plant-based dishes built with locally sourced tropical ingredients. Open Tuesday through Sunday; closed Wednesdays.
Manuel Antonio
An open-air sports and social bar at the entrance to Ecotica Resort on the main road to Manuel Antonio. Multiple large TVs cover NFL, NBA, soccer and MMA; the menu runs burgers, tacos, nachos, and American-style plates. Live music on weekends, pool tables, giant Jenga, and Connect 4 round out the lineup.
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