The best restaurants in Manuel Antonio - A locals guide

Agua Azul

With a breathtaking iconic view of Manuel Antonio's pacific coast and incredible seafood, tapas, and cocktails, Agua Azul is easily one of the best and most consistent restaurants in Manuel Antonio. With an American fusion menu that features incredibly fresh tuna and calamari as well as one of the biggest hamburgers you may ever eat, Agua Azul is known for amazing food that is consistently delicious and served with great table service.

Writers Tips:

• Be prepared for a wait as they do not accept reservations and are almost always busy.
• Grab a beer from Jolly Rodger (across the street) while you wait.
• Try their tuna stake which they prepare in a number of different ways.
• Share a tuna tower or the sautéed calamari app. 
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Restaurant info:

• Location: 4.2 km from Quepos on Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road)
• Phone number: (506) 2777-5280
• Hours: Sunday-Tuesday 11am-9pm. Wednesday closed. Friday Saturday- 11am-9:30pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/aguaazulcafe

Luna Llena

Luna Llena is our favorite new café and boutique shop in Manuel Antonio. They have an simple yet incredible food menu designed by one of Manuel Antonio's best chefs. They serve delicious coffee and espresso and provide a cute and comfortable air conditioned space that has great wifi for working on the go. The boutique has a wide variety of accessories, jewelry, art, and clothing that includes hand woven and naturally died pieces and a swim ware line that is unique, natural, and extremely stylish. If your looking for coffee, clothing, or a bite, this should be your first stop.  They may close their kitchen in the very slow season Sep-Oct.

Restaurant info:

• Dine-in or delivery
• Location: Right on the main road to Manuel Antonio, next to Castillo de La Riviera
• Phone Number: (506) 8518-9610
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm
• Website: https://www.lunallenacollectiv.com/
  

Café Milagro

Serving incredible Latin American inspired cuisine in a colorful and peaceful environment, El Patio de Café Milagro is one of the areas tastiest treats. This lively restaurant delivers delicious coffee and mouth-watering breakfast in the morning and shifts to savory cocktails and scrumptious entrees in the the afternoon and evening. Café Milagro has been around a long time and has solidified a consistent food and service quality that coincides with their delicious house roasted coffees. Café Milagro can easily be considered one of the best restaurants in Manuel Antonio.



Writers Tips:

• Try their house roasted coffee beverages. They have some of Costa Rica's best coffee.
• Try one of their seafood dishes that comes with an incredible coconut rice.
• Try El Sapo Boracho cocktail for a taste of local treat only found in Costa Rica.
• Visit in the month of October when they feature a dinner special where all entrees are half off.
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Restaurant info:

• Location: 4 km from Quepos on Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road)
• Phone number: (506) 2777-2272
• Hours: 7am-10pm
• Website: https://elpatiodecafemilagro.com/

Falafel Bar

Centrally located in the heart of Manuel Antonio, visitors will discover an authentic Mediterranean cuisine like nothing else in our area.  The Falafel bar is a family owned and operated restaurant ran by a beautiful Israeli family who is very hands on with their business ensuring consistent quality, great customer service, and high quality food. Their menu features Mediterranean classics like shawarma, falafel, kabab, and schnitzel. Their outdoor patio is a nice and comfortable place to dine and hang out. The vibe is always chill and the food is always served for a fair price.



Writers Tips:

• Try their natural juice smoothies.
• Order some Hummus! It's quality with great flavor.
• Take the bus from Quepos or anywhere in Manuel Antonio to get here.
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Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) across from Casa Linda and Tulemar Resort
• Phone number: (506) 2777-4135
• Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-8pm Closed on Mondays
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/Falafel-Bar-Manuel-Antonio-610796545605084

La Lambretta Pizzeria

Hosting one of Manuel Antonio's premier coastal views and some of the best tasting Italian wood fire pizza, La Lambretta Pizzeria stands to be one of our favorite restaurants in Manuel Antonio. This quaint and colorful restaurant that sits at the edge of the jungle, elevated above the tree-line, specializes in delicious pizza, pasta, salads and desserts.

Writers Tips:

• Order the Mama Mia pizza that has prosciutto and arugula.
• Located right off the main Manuel Antonio road, you can take a bus from Quepos or anywhere in Manuel Antonio to get here.

Restaurant info:

• Location: Plaza Vista off Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road)
• Phone number: (506) 2777-9103
• Hours: 9am-5pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/pizzalambretta

Restaurante Marlin

With an unbeatable beachfront location and some of the freshest seafood you can get in the area, Restaurante Marlin is an great dining option that features a classic Costa Rican seafood menu. This seafood restaurant is only minutes from Manuel Antonio's National Park's entrance and gives you a true Costa Rican atmosphere that sometimes includes visits from monkeys and sloths. The seafood at Restaurtante Marlin is always delicious and a great representation of how Costa Ricans serve seafood with incredible fried, sautéed garlic, and grilled options.



Writers Tips:

• Try the Calamari appetizer.
• This is a great place to order a whole fried red snapper (a Costa Rican specialty)
• This is is also a great spot for drinks as it is in a busy area where lots of activity is always prevalent.

Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) at Calle Parque Nacional, right across the street from playa Espadilla.
• Phone number: (506) 2777-1134
• Hours: 11am-9pm 
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/RestauranteMarlinOficial/

Samui Thai

Hosting a beautiful outdoor jungle setting that gives you an authentic southeast asian vibe, Samui Thai is easily the best and most authentic upscale asian food restaurant in the area. Start with a craft cocktail made with authentic Thai chiles and try any of their signature Thai dishes that are a blessing in a country where good asian food is hard to find.



Writers tips:

•  If you're a big eater, make sure you order multiple dishes as serving sizes are moderate.
• Try their authentic pad Thai and their green papaya salad.
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Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) across from plaza vista
• Phone number: (506) 2101-7058
• Hours: 11:30am-9:30pm 
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/samuicr/

El Lagarto

If you're a red meat eater on the hunt for a good Steak in a country where good red meat is hard to find, look no further. With an incredible restaurant view and a huge grill, El Lagarto stands to be one of the best Steakhouses in our area and proves to have some really good meats, delicious fresh grilled seafood and grilled vegetables. El Lagarto has its own one-of-a-kind wood-burning grill and features high-quality meats from animals raised with specialized care in the foothills of Volcan Arénal. Their animals are raised naturally and are free of hormones, chemicals, and antibiotics.

Writers tips:

•  Try one of their sample plates that gives you a little taste of a variety of different meats.
• The quality of the meat in Costa Rica is different. Steaks tend to be smaller but you get a more natural product.



Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) next to Vista Serena Hostel
• Phone number: (506) 2777-6932
• Hours: 3pm-9pm
• Website: ellagartobbq.com
  

Emilios Cafe

Hosting a spectacular coastal view and a gorgeous open air dining area, Emilio's Cafe is easily one of the best Manuel Antonio restaurants. Delicious food, amazing coffee, breathtaking views, and great service all make Emilios a highly recommending dining option.

Writers tips:

• Call ahead to get a reservation and ask for a table that sits on the glass wall.
• Visit Emilios for Brunch. They have one of the best brunches in the area.
• Try the flourless espresso chocolate cake



Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) next to plaza vista
• Phone number: (506) 2777-6807
• Hours: 7am-9pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/emilioscafecostarica/

Ape Tapas Bar

Serving some of the best and well priced cocktails and tapas in Manuel Antonio, Ape Tapas Bar is the best spots for craft cocktails, dancing, and small bites. Their menu is simple and features delicious bites that are easy to share. They also have one of the coolest dance floors in the area and regularly host DJ dance partys. 

Writers tips:

• Try their egg white whiskey sour (best in town)
• Sit outside on their elevated patio and watch the town go by.



Restaurant info:

• Location: On Via 618 (Manuel Antonio's main road) above Super Pura Vida
• Phone number: (506) 2777-6807
• Hours: 7am-9pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/apetapasbar

Smash Shack

If you love a good hamburger and want it delivered directly to your home or hotel, look no further. Smash Shack offers delicious smash style hamburgers, fresh salads, and tasty seasoned fries. Hands down, one of the best burgers available in Manuel Antonio! Normal hours are limited right now, as it is a new food concept thats still taking root.

Writers Tips:

• Try their smashed chicken sandwich or their black bean veggie burger if you want something other than a burger.
• Order using their WhatsApp catalog. It's easy and fast.
• Order well in advance to get food delivered at the time you desire.
• Delivery charge is extra



Restaurant info:

• Location: Delivery only
• Whats App: (506) 6450-1841
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 12pm-5pm (text to see if they are serving later hours)(they are sometimes open in the evenings)

Moropho Beach Bar

Hosting one of the best outdoor dining areas lit with incredible lighting and elegant tables and chairs,  Moropho Beach bar is one of the best restaurants near Manuel Antonio National Park.  This outdoor dining option provides guests with great service, delicious food, and an outstanding atmosphere.

Writers tips:

• Try their bar menu's fish tacos that are incredibly well priced, delicious, and filling.
• This is a great place for clams in white wine sauce
• Call ahead to see if they have live music

Restaurant info:

• Location: Manuel Antonio,Parque Nacional, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, 60601
• Phone number: (506) 2100-6621
• Hours: 11am-10pm
• Website: https://www.espadilla.com/

Koky's BBQ

Just 25 minutes driving from Manuel Antonio, adventure deep into the Costa Rican jungle for one of the most authentic meals you will be able to find in Costa Rica. Koky's is a small, family owned, BBQ joint hidden in the jungle of Naranjito. This incredible family ran restaurant was started by Koky, an old Costa Rican farmer who started the business with nothing but a hot grill and mouth watering pork.  This authentic barbecue pork sold by the kilo started in Koky's back yard and eventually turned into the restaurant it is today because the bbq pork is truly incredible. 

Writers tips:

• Call ahead a let them know that you're coming. Giving them notice allows them to have meat ready when you arrive. 
• Be prepared for pork ribs, yucca, and fried plantains as this is the only food they serve.

Restaurant info:

• Location: 150 metros antes del cruce de Villa Nueva y Londres, hacia la izquierda. 60603 Naranjito, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
• Phone number: (506) 6179 4530
• Hours: Wednesday-Monday 12pm-9pm Closed Tuesdays
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/kokyschicharronera/