As one of Costa Rica’s trendiest surf and wellness destinations, restaurants in Nosara perfectly reflect the region’s meteoric rise.
In recent years, gentrification has spawned a multitude of organic cafes and hip, boho-decorated eateries with Western prices to match. Meanwhile, you’ll still find the area’s original tourists (surfers) chowing down on hearty taco plates at a local brewery, next to a traditional soda serving regional cuisine.
Whatever your taste, there’s something for everyone – this guide explores the best restaurants in Nosara and environs, for every palate.
Jump to:
- Overview and Notes on Restaurants in Nosara
- Best Coffee Shop: Rolling Waves Coffee (North Guiones)
- Best Cafe and Bakery: Orgánico Cafe (Guiones)
- Best Casual Lunch: La Ventanita (Guiones)
- Best Tacos and Brews: Blue Zone Brewery (North Guiones)
- Best Beachfront Dining: La Luna (Playa Pelada)
- Best Costa Rican Cuisine: Rosi’s Soda (Playa Pelada and Guiones)
- Best Seafood Dinner: Pacifico Azul (North Guiones)
- Best Jungle Vibes: Al Chile (Guiones)
- Best Pizza: Posada Margherita (North Guiones)
- Best Beach Bar: Howler’s Beach Lounge (North Guiones)
- Best Food Hall: Gabi’s Place (North Guiones)
- Best Rooftop Happy Hour: Silvestre (North Guiones)
- Best Fine Dining: Coyol (outside Nosara)
- Best Fine Dining Near Town: Huacas (outside Guiones)
Overview and Notes on Restaurants in Nosara
Geography
While “Nosara” is frequently used as a sweeping term for the larger region, the namesake town itself sits inland from the coast and caters more to locals.
Most tourists stay in the nearby neighborhoods of Playa Pelada and, more popularly, Playa Guiones.
For that reason, our list of the best restaurants in Nosara more commonly includes hot spots in the tourist-centered neighborhoods.
Pricing
It’s worth noting: expect sticker shock at most restaurants in Nosara. The area has a large ex-pat population, and is also a top destination among the “disposable income” crowd.
These factors have made meal prices on par with anything you’d find in the U.S. It’s not more expensive than what you’d pay back home, but Costa Rica has a reputation of being a budget-friendly vacation. While that may still be the case in other parts of the country, don’t expect it in Nosara.
Keeping these notes in mind, rev up your appetite as we dive into the best restaurants in Nosara…
Best Coffee Shop: Rolling Waves Coffee (North Guiones)
There aren’t many true coffee shops (in the Western sense) in Nosara, but Rolling Waves makes up for it.
They serve up quality espresso, pour-over, cold brew, and even a few cocktails, as well as small bites to eat. You can also purchase coffee beans and the requisite merch.
Once you have your drink in hand, take it out to the shaded front patio to enjoy. Rolling Waves website.
Best Cafe: Orgánico Bakery (Guiones)
Orgánico Bakery could be a standalone symbol of the gringo gentrification that has happened in Nosara in recent years. It’s as trendy a cafe as any you’d find in L.A. or Miami, which understandably may turn some off.
However, it is arguably the best cafe in the area, with artisan breads and pastries baked from scratch each morning.
The cafe is open for both takeaway and sit-down options for breakfast and lunch, with a dreamy patio and pool area that invites you to linger awhile. They even have a cute boutique on-site, selling sustainable clothing, jewelry, wellness, and home goods.
While in Nosara, we love swinging by each morning for a fresh loaf of sourdough and perhaps a baked good – their banana bread and monkey bread are especially good! Orgánico Cafe website.
Best Casual Lunch: La Ventanita (Guiones)
This wholesome walk-up window (literally, “little window” in Spanish) serves healthy sandwiches, bowls, and more, with a focus on seasonal, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
Order at the window, then enjoy your meal on their comfortable, open-air patio. La Ventanita website.
Best Tacos and Brews: Blue Zone Brewery (Guiones)
There’s something for everyone at Blue Zone Brewery, which pours craft beers ranging from pale ale and lager to stronger IPAs. They also frequently host a rotating guest tap, along with margaritas and other cocktails.
It’s a fun, buzzy spot in the heart of Guiones.
Maybe surprisingly, their tacos were some of the best we’ve had in the area. Mix and match a taco plate, otherwise choose from a robust food menu of burritos, salads, quesadillas and more. Blue Zone Brewery website.
Best Beachfront Dining: La Luna (Playa Pelada)
La Luna is one of the most iconic restaurants in Nosara, framed by palms on a secluded slice of Playa Pelada. It’s a dreamy spot to watch the sun set, and most visitors don’t leave Nosara without enjoying a memorable dinner here.
The restaurant always books up, so we strongly recommend making a reservation in advance on the La Luna website. Aim to grab a table between 30-60 minutes before sunset.
Best Costa Rican Cuisine: Rosi’s Soda Tica (Playa Pelada and Guiones)
Locals have been heading to Rosi’s for decades, and it still remains one of the best restaurants in Nosara for authentic Costa Rican cuisine.
Today, there are two locations, in both Playa Pelada and Guiones. Each soda serves up satisfying, no-frills comfort food.
Rosi’s speciality is the traditional casado plate (the national dish of Costa Rica), a satisfyingly-hearty blend of rice, beans, salad, fried plantains, and flavorful protein.
If casado isn’t your thing, you can still choose from soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. Wash it all down with one of their tropical juices – the watermelon is heavenly on a hot day!
There’s no website, but you can find both the Playa Pelada and Guiones locations on Google Maps.
Best Seafood Dinner: Pacifico Azul (North Guiones)
Owned by the local Garza family, who have been fishing the region for four generations, fresh seafood is the heart and soul of Pacifico Azul. The menu features locally-caught fish, shrimp, lobster, and more (although it’s the ceviche that brought us back twice in one week).
The restaurant also serves traditional regional favorites like casado, along with burgers and pastas.
With a relaxed, open-air space (and the owner’s dog running freely throughout), it’s a comfortable sit-down meal at a reasonable price. Pacifico Azul website.
Best Jungle Vibes: Al Chile (Guiones)
We discovered Al Chile by accident, when searching for nearby dinner after sunset on Playa Guiones (the restaurant is just one block from the beach).
This open-air restaurant is enveloped in lush jungle foliage, which makes an exotic (and in the evening, as the lights come on, almost mystical) setting.
The menu is advertised as Mexican, but beyond their tacos (which are excellent) they also serve more traditional Costa Rican dishes. The casado was truly one of the better ones we’ve had in Nosara. Al Chile website.
Best Pizza: Posada Margherita (North Guiones)
We never expected to enjoy pizza in Costa Rica – the heat and the tropics always have us trending more towards ceviche and the like.
But the rustic, Italian-owned Posada Margherita was recommended to us by a local, and we’re humble enough to admit our opinion was entirely misguided.
The food is so authentic, you could almost be mistaken for thinking you had been transported to Italy. Along with homemade pastas and seafood dishes, their pizzas are done in the Neapolitan style – light, airy, and never too heavy for the tropical climate. After working up an appetite surfing all day, the Margherita pizza hits the spot perfectly.
No website, but you’ll find Posada Margherita on Google Maps.
Best Beach Bar: Howler’s Beach Lounge (North Guiones)
Sitting a short walk from Playa Guiones’ renowned break, Howler’s is the epitome of a beach bar. It’s a “no shirt, no shoes, no problem” kind of place, with plenty of beers on tap and tropical cocktails ready to serve.
The food menu isn’t extensive, but it’s satisfying: choose from chips and guac, carpaccio, tacos, or ceviche to refuel you post-surf.
There’s no website, but you can find Howler’s on Google Maps.
Best Food Hall: Gabi’s Place (North Guiones)
If your group wants a casual meal but can’t agree on what, head to Gabi’s in North Guiones.
The open-air food hall features everything from burgers and sushi, to Indian and a traditional Costa Rican soda. Everyone in the group can take away what they want, and meet at the communal dining tables in the center.
Our particular favorite inside Gabi’s is Burrito Amor, where the smoked pork and pineapple burrito is as delicious as it is unique.
There’s no website, but you can search for Gabi’s Place on Google Maps and pull up menus for each of the on-site restaurants.
Best Rooftop Happy Hour: Silvestre (North Guiones)
Local ex-pats tipped us off to the happy hour deal at Silvestre’s rooftop bar, where you can enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails poolside, under an (inevitably) cotton-candy-colored sunset.
The sleek, modern boho Silvestre is a Nosara newcomer, having just opened in February 2025. And while you can drop into their aptly-named Rooftop Terrace any time of day, the happy hour deal makes evening the best time to go.
The food menu also includes discounted plates of fresh ceviche and perfectly-crisped plantain chips and guacamole. Silvestre website.
Best Fine Dining: Coyol (outside Nosara)
You’ll frequently find Coyol name-dropped among the “who’s-who” of restaurants in Nosara. It sits amidst the jungles high above town, with sweeping panoramic views of the coastline far below.
It’s a truly one-of-a-kind setting, with first-rate cuisine to match. The menu features a unique blend of European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern flavors.
If you go, we strongly recommend booking a reservation in advance (ideally for 30-60 minutes before sunset) at the Coyol website.
Note: Coyol’s memorable experience derives from its remote location, which is not the easiest to get to. It’s a 20-minute drive outside of Nosara, up rugged roads that require a 4x4 vehicle. If you don’t have a car, you can either take a taxi or ask Coyol to send a shuttle, but each of these options run a (shocking) $180-ish roundtrip.
Best Fine Dining Near Town: Huacas (outside Guiones)
If you want a memorable, high-end dinner similar to Coyol but without the travel adventure, Huacas fits the bill perfectly.
Huacas is part of Tierra Magnifica, one of Nosara’s trendy boutique hotels. The restaurant still offers the lush jungle environs and panoramic views, but getting there is a (much easier) 10-15 minute drive along paved roads.
The menu explores elevated takes on traditional Costa Rican cuisine, melding tropical and Mesoamerican flavors into seafood, chicken, pasta, and more. Just note that guests must be15 years or older to dine here. Huacas website.
Have more time to explore the area? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Nosara, including waterfall hikes, local cooking classes, and more.