Fine dining, beach bars, local sodas, and cafes worth your time. Every listing checked against live sources.
Samara's 10 verified restaurants are led by 6 general restaurants including El Colibri Hotel & Steak House and Gusto Beach Club, plus 2 cafes, a straightforward beach-town lineup spread across Samara and Playa Carrillo.
Samara
Bar Arriba is an open-air bar in central Samara known for late-night DJs, live music and a tapas-style food menu alongside cold drinks. It draws a younger, party-oriented crowd on weekend nights. The bar is a fixture of Samara's nightlife scene along with a handful of other bars clustered in the town center.
Samara
A casual cafe a two-minute walk from Samara Beach on a beach-access road, serving sustainably sourced Costa Rican coffee. The menu is entirely gluten free. It is recommended locally for breakfast and a relaxed atmosphere.
Samara
BM Burger is a casual burger counter in Samara serving fresh-cooked burgers, wraps, stuffed jalapenos and loaded fries for dine-in or takeout. The menu also includes a children's menu and combo boxes. It is open daily and offers express delivery around town.
Samara
Bohemia Cafe is a brightly painted breakfast and coffee spot on Center Street behind Casa del Mar in Samara, serving espresso drinks, crepes, paninis and salads with vegetarian and gluten-free options. The cafe has a tropical, art-filled interior designed for lingering over a book or a laptop. It opens early for breakfast and stays open through the lunch hour.
Samara
Boulangerie is a French bakery in Samara's Cangrejal neighborhood, making baguettes and pastries in the classic French style. It keeps limited morning hours from Tuesday through Saturday. The bakery has become a regular breakfast stop for the town's French and European expat community.
Samara
Casa Maxou is a small gelato and crepe cafe in Samara's Natural Center, making homemade gelato in house for more than 15 years alongside crepes and omelets. It is one of the longest-running dessert spots in town. The shop is open most days of the week from late morning into the evening.
Playa Carrillo
A French-leaning restaurant set in the garden of La Tropicale Beach Lodge in Playa Carrillo. It is known for generous portions and reasonable prices, with dishes such as seafood pasta, lobster, and gambas. The garden setting and friendly service are frequently praised by visitors.
Samara
El Ancla Beach Bar & Restaurant is a family-run, beachfront restaurant in Samara serving ceviche, patacones, chifrijo and whole grilled fish with views of Isla Chora. It has a full bar and beach loungers, with live music some evenings. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Playa Carrillo
Hillside steak house above Playa Carrillo specializing in Argentine-style grilled meats, open for dinner with seasonal lunch service. The property is also a small hotel with cabinas, two pools, and a jacuzzi. Catering and event menus are available.
Samara
Beachfront wood-fired grill on Playa Samara that started as a beach bar in 1996 and now serves steaks, fish, seafood, vegetarian plates, and wood-fired pizza. Beef comes from cattle raised in the Arenal foothills. The restaurant takes reservations daily from 3pm to 9pm.
Samara
Counter-service Middle Eastern cafe in central Playa Samara specializing in homemade falafel, pita wraps, and hummus with a Costa Rican twist, made with locally sourced ingredients. Open Monday through Saturday noon to 4pm and Sunday noon to 3pm. Cash only, in colones or dollars.
Samara
Feria Samara Market is a weekly farmers market held every Saturday morning in Samara's municipal park, about 150 meters east of the police station. Vendors sell organic produce, fresh juices, baked goods and handcrafted items. It is the town's main gathering point for locally grown food and small-batch products.
Samara
Beachfront Italian restaurant and beach club on Playa Samara, open from breakfast through dinner with a menu by Chef Stefano Montalti built around Italian recipes, local fish, and produce. The property includes sun loungers, a bar, a kids' area, and a beachwear shop, and hosts live music. It opened in 2010.
Playa Carrillo
Hula Jungla is a bar and restaurant on top of the hill at the south end of Playa Carrillo, serving pizza, international fusion plates and drinks with a rock and roll soundtrack. It is cash only and has free off-street parking. The bar has a following among the Samara and Carrillo surf community for its live music nights.
Samara
La Dolce Vita is a beachfront Italian restaurant in Samara, part of a small bed and breakfast of the same name, serving pasta, seafood and wood-fired dishes for sunset dinners on the sand. It is positioned as a higher-end dining option compared to the town's casual beach bars. The restaurant sits about 100 meters west of the rural police post, facing the beach.
Playa Carrillo
Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and bar in a wooden building near the last bridge into Playa Carrillo, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The bar opens at 2pm and dinner service runs from 5pm to 10pm. Known for sunset views from its elevated dining area.
Samara
A specialty coffee shop in the heart of Samara that roasts its own beans and keeps a pastry chef on staff for fresh baked goods, brunch, and sandwiches. The cuisine leans French and bakery-focused, with espresso drinks and house-roasted coffee. It operates two locations in town and is open daily from 7am to 4:30pm.
Samara
Pizzeria and restaurant in Playa Samara specializing in wood-fired pizzas with 48-hour fermented sourdough, fresh Pacific seafood ceviches and grilled octopus, and homemade Italian pastas. Open Tuesday and Wednesday 4pm to 9:30pm, Thursday through Sunday noon to 9:30pm, closed Mondays.
Samara
Microbar Samara is a craft beer gastropub with more than 20 taps of Costa Rican and international beers, plus signature cocktails and tapas-style food. It bills itself as one of the smallest bars in the country by footprint, tucked into central Samara. It is open Monday through Saturday into the early morning hours.
Samara
Beachfront bar and restaurant on Playa Samara serving breakfast, a main menu of traditional dishes, a sushi bar, and a BBQ grill menu. The same property rents bungalows, cabins, and an apartment, and helps guests arrange surf, yoga, massage, and tours.
Samara
Restaurante Casa Esmeralda is a family-run hotel restaurant in the heart of Samara serving fresh seafood ceviche, whole fried fish and traditional Costa Rican casados. It operates alongside a small hotel of the same name a short walk from the beach. The restaurant has served the local community for several years under the same family ownership.
Samara
Bakery and cafe in the center of Playa Samara serving coffee, fresh-baked breads and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch. It operates seasonally with daytime hours, generally 7am to 6pm Monday through Saturday.
Samara
Rosa is a restaurant, lounge and bar in central Samara serving fresh seafood, grilled meats, salads and burgers, located across from the Catholic church next to the Pali supermarket. It offers indoor air-conditioned dining as well as outdoor seating. The restaurant is known locally for its cocktail menu alongside its dinner plates.
Samara
Samara Sushi serves sushi rolls, sashimi and Asian-fusion plates from a location on the Samara Beach Road, with vegan and vegetarian options including a crispy tofu teriyaki bowl. The restaurant offers delivery around Playa Samara and is open daily for lunch and dinner. It has built a following among both visitors and the town's vegetarian and vegan community.
Samara
Soda La Perla serves classic Costa Rican dishes such as casado, arroz con pollo and gallo pinto in the Cangrejal area a few blocks back from Samara's beach. The kitchen is family run and prices stay lower than most of the town's tourist-facing restaurants. It is closed on Mondays.
Samara
Family-run Costa Rican soda a few meters north of Hotel Pequeno Geco Verde in Playa Samara, offering casados, ceviche mixto, and arroz con pollo at local prices. Offers free delivery within greater Samara. A straightforward, affordable option for families and couples.
Samara
TIKA Frutika is a juice and smoothie bowl kiosk next to Hostel Mariposas on Calle Intercultura in Samara, run by a local entrepreneur. The menu covers fresh fruit bowls, protein shakes, salads and cold-pressed juices. It is a popular breakfast stop for surfers and beachgoers looking for a lighter alternative to a full breakfast.
Playa Carrillo
Villa Bosque Restaurant & Bar is a family-owned restaurant just outside Carrillo serving a chef-driven menu of grilled meats and seafood. It is open daily and widely cited by visitors as among the top dining options in the Samara and Carrillo area. The restaurant offers a full bar alongside its dinner menu.
Gusto Beach Club is a verified restaurant option right on the sand in Samara.
Yes, El Colibri Hotel & Steak House in Playa Carrillo is a verified option.
Falafel Cafe is a verified option in town.
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