48 businesses in Tamarindo
Tamarindo's restaurant scene is genuinely impressive — with 48 listings, this is a town that takes food seriously. The culinary landscape reflects its international demographic: you'll find excellent Mexican tacos alongside quality sushi, fresh Costa Rican casados, Mediterranean-influenced seafood, and sophisticated contemporary cuisine. El Mercadito de Tamarindo brings an open-air market-style energy with multiple food vendors in a social setting ideal for groups with different preferences. Dragonfly Bar & Grill is a long-standing institution beloved for its farm-to-table philosophy and creative menu that changes with seasons and availability. Nari has earned attention for its contemporary presentation of Pacific Rim-influenced flavors in a sophisticated setting. Fresh seafood is the constant thread — Guanacaste's Pacific coast delivers mahi-mahi, tuna, snapper, and shrimp of exceptional quality, and the best restaurants here take full advantage. Prices span the full range: a casado at a local soda runs $5–8 USD, while a dinner with wine at Dragonfly or Nari runs $40–65 USD per person. Most of the best restaurants are within walking distance of the main strip, making a dinner-to-drinks evening flow naturally.
Showing 1-25 of 48 businesses
ExpatsList curates restaurants in Tamarindo rated by the expat community. Filter by cuisine, dietary options, or price range, and look for listings with Google reviews and verified badges to find the most trusted spots.
Restaurant prices in Tamarindo vary widely—from budget street-food spots to upscale international dining. Browse individual restaurants listings for price range indicators, and check our Cost of Living tool for average meal costs.
Many restaurants in Tamarindo catering to expats offer vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-aware menus. Check listing descriptions for dietary tags, and don't hesitate to contact restaurants directly via the details on ExpatsList.
The most culturally authentic and best-value meal in Costa Rica is the casado — rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a protein — served at the small family-run sodas that operate alongside the tourist-facing restaurants. These meals cost $5–8 USD and give you a genuine taste of everyday Tico cooking that you simply won't get at a restaurant catering primarily to the expat and tourist market.
Dragonfly Bar & Grill has been a Tamarindo dining institution for over a decade, known for its outdoor setting, farm-sourced ingredients, and a menu that genuinely changes based on what's available locally. It books up quickly for weekend dinners in high season, and arriving without a reservation often means a long wait. Call or WhatsApp ahead for weekends and any holiday period.
El Mercadito de Tamarindo's multi-vendor format solves the perennial group-dinner problem of everyone wanting something different. The open-air social setting creates a festival atmosphere that works especially well for larger gatherings of mixed nationalities and dietary preferences. It's also an excellent venue for meeting other expats, as the communal tables encourage conversation between groups.
