Some of life’s greatest pleasures involve a great view, a spectacular meal, and a favorite drink in your hand. And one of vacation’s greatest pleasures incorporates all three: delicious food, paired with your choice of a cold libation and beachy panoramas at some of the best Playa Flamingo restaurants.  

Trust us – your biggest challenge will be narrowing down the list of must-taste, must-try, must-order meals and dishes, courtesy of Playa Flamingo’s best restaurants. And there are a lot of them! So, we thought we’d start with a few of our favorites – with 10 of them, in fact, each chosen for their ambiance or their specialty or their… well, you’ll see.

In no particular order: 

For Ocean-View Elegance: Gracia at Mar Vista

Phone: (+506) 6110-1687 

Located within the oceanview community of Mar Vista, Gracia is one of our favorites for its ultra-fresh ingredients, sourced from local farmers and the restaurant’s own hydroponic farm (for herbs and greens). 

They pull together all this fresh-from-the-earth inspiration in three daily menus, each rooted in globally inspired cuisine, elegant preparations, and cocktails handcrafted to impress. Pair it with the restaurant’s stunning location – perched high on a hill, overlooking Pacific Ocean views and Mar Vista’s gorgeous swimming pool and children’s playground – and you have a recipe for not only a great meal, but a memorable day at Playa Flamingo.  

For Tropical Brunch: Surf Box

Phone: (+506) 8349-9773 

Among Playa Flamingo restaurants, this is a definite go-to breakfast spot and we can’t help but suggest that you go all-in and order a full-on brunch at Surf Box. Because, while you could order their gorgeous açai bowl or a hearty breakfast bagel, we wouldn’t want you to miss their breakfast burrito bowls, ricotta pancakes, tropical tacos, and other rich, brunch-style goodies. 

Here’s the only compromise we could come up with: Go twice! Once for breakfast, and then once for brunch. Or many times, for both. You know, whatever suits your style. Because the food here is delicious, the ambiance is just right, and have we mentioned the fresh fruit smoothies? They’re some of the most satisfying on the Guanacaste coast!

For the Healthiest Indulgences: Cafeteria Costa Rica

Phone: (+506) 8624-9982

Though technically located in Playa Conchal, this one’s close enough to Flamingo that you’ll want to stop in for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Because the ingredients are all top-shelf at Cafeteria Costa Rica – and the preparations are absolutely spectacular! 

From avocado toast topped with perfectly poached eggs and a carrot cake smoothie bowl to Habibi vegan falafel and the most gorgeous salads your Instagram-loving heart has ever laid eyes on, this cafeteria packs major flavor, plenty of fresh fruits and veg, and a lot of love into their incredible menus. 

For Beachfront Dining: Coco Loco

Phone: (+506) 4700-3939

Rooted in French culinary tradition and the freshest Costa Rican ingredients, Coco Loco’s excellent food and wonderful service make it an easy addition to any foodie’s list of Playa Flamingo restaurants. And yet, they’re not happy to stop there: Coco Loco insists on upping the ante by offering that wonderful service and excellent food while you sit beachfront on Playa Flamingo, your toes buried in the sand. 

You can’t go wrong here: Whatever looks great to you will taste great, too. But we do have one piece of advice: Arrive in time to grab a table before the sunset! As this is the only oceanfront restaurant at Flamingo Beach, it’s also the most popular spot for a sunset libation. And oh, is it worth it. 

For French-Costa Rican Fusion: a’lo Nico

Phone: (+506) 2654-4008

A wonderful fusion of Costa Rican and French food and culture, a’lo Nico is the food baby (like a brain child, only in restaurant form!) of Nico, a French chef, and his Costa Rican wife, Andrea, who specialize in homemade, healthy preparations (including fantastic fruit drinks) centered on fresh ingredients, a warm ambiance, and friendly service. 

A’lo Nico is well known in Playa Flamingo for their fantastic breakfasts but, if you want to know a secret, we’re also really into their lunches! Simple wraps, sandwiches, and hamburgers, including vegetarian and vegan options, are expertly prepared with juuuust the right touch, and their papas bravas – potato and sweet potato fries, served with chipotle & white sauce – can make your eyes roll back in your head.

For Tropical Tacos: Amigos Tacos y Beer

Phone: (+506) 8869-3999 

Taco aficionados of the world, unite! Home to arguably Flamingo’s best tacos – and nachos and burritos and burrito bowls and homemade tortilla chips and… well, you get the picture! – Amigos Tacos y Beer serves up some of the country’s best and most authentic Tex Mex with sides of spice and sass.

We’ll let you know, right off the bat: Amigos is known for their BAM. That’s a “big ass margarita” and they don’t mind saying it. (Parents, heads up!) Other than that, Amigos is as friendly as they come ­– and a great value, too! In addition to 1/2 price BAMs on Wednesdays, you can stuff yourself on $2 crunchies for Taco Tuesday and well-priced everything else, any other day of the week. 

For Fine Dining: Ander’s Restaurant

Phone: (+506) 2654-6034

Without pomp or circumstance, Ander’s Restaurant welcomes diners to one of our favorite Playa Flamingo restaurants and some of the most incredible food on the coast. Though low-key and unassuming, this beloved restaurant serves spectacular seafood and promises gorgeous plating, paired with truly friendly service, often from Ander himself. 

This is the kind of place that signals you’re in the know because, from the outside, you really would never know! But once you’re inside, do yourself a favor and order whatever suits your fancy. It’s all cooked to perfection!

For a Romantic Meal: Angelina’s Restaurant & Bar

Phone: (+506) 2654-4839

Named for Executive Chef Joseph Mucaria’s beloved grandmother, Angelina’s Restaurant and Bar is a culinary ode to our entwined loves of family and fine dining. Truly, this is a place born of love and care and appreciation of simple ingredients, crafted to create an open-air restaurant in downtown Playa Flamingo. 

The globally inspired menu is rooted in the trifecta of aged beef, artisan pizza, and sustainable seafood – and you can’t go wrong with any of the above! Angelina’s sources its produce from Costa Rican soils, its seafood from the next-door Pacific, and its artisan meats and cheeses from nearby farms. It’s global, yet thoroughly Tico, and we hope you’ll love it!

For Gourmet Pizza & Wine: Gracia La Vid

Phone: (+506) 7054-3498 

You got us: We love Gracia! And Gracia La Vid owns a special place in our cheese-loving foodie hearts: Elegant yet unpretentious, La Vid somehow manages to exude a laid-back beach vibe, while simultaneously being a community go-to for a glass of good wine and a long night of lingering over great food and conversation.  

It doesn’t hurt that The Wine Room lives onsite at La Vid, offering a wide selection of whites, reds, and rosés. And it definitely helps that we can pair our favorites with the restaurant’s gourmet, wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas and cheese plates, plus seats by the firepit and surrounded by string lighting. This, right – it’s definitely our vibe. We bet it’ll be yours, too!

For Authentic Argentinean: Patagonia del Mar

Phone: (+506) 8800-0005

Sit down to a meal by the poolside at Patagonia del Mar, a wonderfully eclectic, breakfast-through-after-dinner-drinks restaurant that has an appetizer, a dish, and a drink for almost every diner. 

While we love everything that comes out of their kitchen – and we’re talking serious variety, from veggie tempura and huevos rancheros to spiced edamame and tuna tartar – we can’t help but recommend their specialty: authentic Argentinean cuisine, including crispy empanadas, schnitzel, and so much more. 

Need More Recommendations for Playa Flamingo Restaurants?

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, and taste our way through all the local restaurants, right? Hey, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!

Because 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!