Agua Salada (pictured) is not only one of the newest Tamarindo restaurants but also one of our new favorites! Try the ají ceviche!

Tamarindo is small but mighty: Measuring a little over a mile from north to south, this once-sleepy fishing town has bloomed into a mini-metropolis (in terms of amenities, if not size!) on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. And that means that a whole, wide world of Tamarindo restaurants, bars, and nightlife has emerged for our and your enjoyment.

But, here’s the truth: Tamarindo really does have it made, when it comes to restaurants and nightlife. You could visit a new place every night of your vacation and, even if you were here for a month, you wouldn’t be able to taste ‘em all. There are just that many good restaurants, bars, booths, and stands proffering everything from a humble-but-tasty sandwich to grand gourmet eats.

So, instead of limiting ourselves to just a handful of our favorites – and, truth be told, it would be very, very difficult to pick just a handful of favorites! – we’ve decided to break it down. Over the next few months, we’ll compile our lists of best-in-class Tamarindo restaurants: the best fine dining, the best oceanfront, the best pizza, and all the other restaurants you just have to try.

But today? Today, we’re starting with one of our favorite favorites: restaurants that combine great food with great nightlife. We’re talking about all those special places where you’d go for the food, anyway – but where you’ll want to stay long after you’re full, because there are creative cocktails, local microbrews, live music, excellent DJs, fire dancing, weekly parties and events, and so much more to enjoy.

Agua Salada

Phone: (+506) 8833-8000

When you can easily walk or taxi to nightlife, you can enjoy your vacation responsibly. Cheers!

When you’re looking for a place that takes you from apps to sunset to dinner to after-dinner drinks, one of the newer kids in town, Agua Salada, can be a perfect choice.

While some other Tamarindo restaurants have larger menus, Agua Salada’s limited selection is done just right: The food is tasty, the service is top-notch, and the overall experience will be one of your favorites. In part, because of the restaurant’s location: Located directly on the sand, Agua Salada provides a front-row seat to crashing waves and daily sunsets, paired with creative cocktails, ice-cold drafts, and other drinks to wet your whistle as you usher in the evening.

CATA Agave Bar

Phone: (+506) 8529-4250

Stop in at CATA to sip, taste, and “flight” your way to deeper knowledge of agave spirits

If your idea of nightlife swings more toward drinks than food, then you’re going to love CATA, Tamarindo’s only dedicated agave bar!

Thanks to founders Megs Miller & Liz Furlong, who had the arduous task of hunting down some of the world’s best tequila, mezcal, and agave spirits (it’s a tough job, but someone had to do it!), CATA is dedicated to sharing the agave love. Named for the Spanish word for “tasting,” CATA appropriately invites guests to sample a tasting flight or order by the shot, by the drink, or by the bottle. Bonus: They also have an ocean view!

Dragonfly Bar & Grill

Phone: (+506) 2653-1506

When you’re planning to dine and drink up – that is, upscale – Dragonfly Bar & Grill is just the ticket for a special meal, great drinks, and live music.

Tucked into what can only be described as a Secret Tropical Garden, this is one of our favorite Tamarindo restaurants for a dinner-to-lights out kind of evening. In addition to its romantic ambiance and creative dinner menu – think everything from tuna tartare, seafood linguine, and sesame-seared yellowfin to fiery Thai beef, fusion sushi, and filet mignon – Dragonfly sports a full drinks menu that includes wine, fresh cocktails, and a martini list so long, it has its own section.

Live music on Fridays and Saturdays!

El Be! Club

Phone: (+506) 8804-0042

Located at Tamarindo Beach Club, El Be! is located directly on the beach and in a perfect position for Tamarindo sunsets and after-dark diversions.

But let’s start with the food because this is, after all, a post on Tamarindo restaurants! While this is mostly a place for drinks and long nights by the Pacific, El Be! does beachside dining right with fresh seafood – pineapple-glazed mahi-mahi, anyone? – soups, and other locally inspired dishes. We won’t lie, though; the real draw at El Be! are the drinks and, even more, the entertainment: live music, nightly fire dancing, happy hour, and other events, including full moon parties.

El Vaquero Brewpub @ Witch’s Rock

Phone: (+506) 2653-1238

When you go somewhere that serves hard-working surfers and has the word “brewpub” in its name, you know it’s going to be good. And in the world of Tamarindo restaurants, El Vaquero Brewpub is good. Great, even!

One of Tamarindo’s favorite beach hangouts, El Vaquero sits onsite to the Volcano Brewing Company microbrewery; you can’t get any closer to the good stuff! They also offer live music on Saturdays and Sundays. What’s more, they’re one of the top kid-friendly spots in town, giving the younger set plenty of space to run and explore, while their parents enjoy a great brew. And, of course, they also offer a feast of a menu, rooted in classic BBQ, gourmet burgers, and American comfort foods with a twist.

Hot Tip: Stay in Downtown Tamarindo

If you love great dining and even better nightlife, there’s no better place to be than in downtown Tamarindo. Because, while other towns and destinations in the area have nightlife, only in Tamarindo can you walk (or taxi) to many of your favorite after-hours spots! Drink responsibly, friends.

If walking distance to nightlife, to the ocean, to the beach, to the surf, and to all the other reasons you’re here sounds like your kind of vacation, then we invite you to peruse our full inventory of Tamarindo vacation rentals.

Groot Tamarindo

Phone: (+506) 8624-6021

After a long day on the surf, on the trails, or just on the pool terrace, a hearty sandwich can really hit the spot!

If you’re looking for the newest spot in town, you’ll find it right here! We’re happy to share Groot with the world, as this is a strong recommendation in a town full of great Tamarindo restaurants, so many of which are worth a visit!

Located close to both downtown and the beach, Groot is the kind of place you go when you’ve grown up enough to enjoy the good things in life but are still young at heart and love to have fun. Welcome to the best of both worlds, where you can order up hearty sandwiches and crispy fries, then wash them down with fresh cocktails and brews on tap. In between sips, see if you still have what takes to win a beer pong or settle in for music and dancing in the backyard.

L’Estanco

Phone: (+506) 6021-4545

Known as the “hidden garden,” L’Estanco has an incredible vibe: low, warm night lighting, a thatched roof, and plenty of lush tropical plants immediately make you feel like this is exactly the place you want to be.

And it will be where you want to be, as soon as you tuck into their menu and evening offerings. L’Estanco offers a fantastic fusion of both Mediterranean and Peruvian cuisine, to create gastronomic alchemy that works perfectly. Pair that with the restaurant’s fantastic cocktails, many crafted from the freshest tropical fruits, and add on live music, and you have a recipe for an entire evening out on the town.

Pangas Beach Club

Phone: (+506) 2653-0024

A perennial favorite here in Costa Rica, Panga’s Beach Club enjoys one of the best locations in town: Located directly on the beach and cozied up to the river mouth that separates north Tamarindo from Playa Grande, here you can enjoy lapping waves, the occasional wildlife sighting, and truly spectacular sunsets.

Not one to rest on its laurels (although they sure are pretty laurels), Pangas does night dining right with string lights and tables in the sand. They also excel at showcasing creative cuisine – think everything from wahoo carpaccio and pineapple chili-glazed wings to prime beef on sizzling volcanic rocks and lobster grilled over an open fire – and have a superb wine and cocktail menu. Need another reason to go?

Pangas also hosts happy hour and special events (ex. Mother’s and Father’s Day).

Red Door

Phone: (+506) 8884-8998

One of our top recommendations in Tamarindo restaurants with a nightlife vibe, Red Door is home to incredible food, great service, and a beachy vibe you’ll immediately fall in love with.

This is the place to go when you’re after a low-key ambiance without entirely giving up on after-hours fun: Red Door feels a bit like a tropical garden, albeit one that serves excellent food, including fresh tacos, gourmet burgers, juicy steaks, and more.

The restaurant regularly runs drink specials with a twist – from Sangria Wednesdays to Bloody [Mary] Sundays – and serves up live music every-other night, plus sunset DJ sessions and Friday jazz nights.

Rumors

Phone: (+506) 2653-2641

When you’re looking for a place that really takes you from dinner to party, then Rumors is often where it’s at. The party, that is!

Fair warning: Rumors loves good food but this one’s really about the after-food fun. So, while you’ll start with their menu featuring fresh pokes and bowls, gourmet burgers, carpaccios, and quesadillas, you’ll inevitably transition to their drinks menu. Because Rumors does mixology right, with a full menu of everything from rum-infused fruit drinks to artisanal gin and tonics.

And, since we promise you a party, know that Rumors hosts fun every night with an extra emphasis on Saturdays, when they host live music and no cover. The dancing often pours out onto the sidewalk, so bring your comfy shoes!

The ROOF

Phone: (+506) 7240-6072

The ROOF, the ROOF, the ROOF is on fire! And by that, we mean the fire of fun, because The ROOF is a fantastic choice for good eats, great drinks, and one of the best sunset views in town.

Best known for its pizza – for many, some of the best pizza in town! – The ROOF massages the best dough and infuses the freshest ingredients into its superb, wood-fired pies. Want to get a little daring? Go for it! There are options for salmon pizza, tuna pizza, shrimp pizza, and even a Pura Vida pizza, to sample local flavors – all, available in thin-crust or Chicago-style. Tack on a few good drinks, stick around for the sunset, and you’ll have a recipe made in delicious heaven.

Of course, this post is about nightlife so you’ll be happy to know that The ROOF also hosts regular DJ nights, sports parties (think: the Super Bowl), and other fun, so check out their current schedule for upcoming events!

Need More Recommendations for Tamarindo Restaurants and Nightlife?

We’ll be happy to help! Here at Blue Zone Experience, we take our business very seriously: As the local experts, we’re practically required to sip, sample, taste, and dance our way through all the local restaurants, right? Hey, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!

So, if you’re looking for that just-right place to dig in your toes or dance the night away, whether you’re planning a romantic night out or a special occasion, we’re happy to point you in the direction of our favorite restaurants. Because that’s our vibe: helpful, available, and always on call.

At Blue Zone Experience, we’ve built our reputation on 5-star service, carefully curated beach experiences, and the region’s most culturally informed experts. The truth, though? Our true passion is you and your experience. Including your dining experience.

So, please, get in touch! We can’t wait to hear about your next Costa Rican and culinary adventure!