Where to eat in Nosara: a short local guide

For a small town, Nosara eats remarkably well. Years of international residents and wellness travellers have left it with a food scene that punches far above its size, from roadside sodas to sunset dining. Here is a short, honest guide to where to eat.

For real Costa Rican food

Start at a soda, the local family-run diner. Rosi’s is the one everyone names — genuine tico plates (casados, gallo pinto, fresh fish) at fair prices, now with a few locations around Guiones and Pelada. Rancho Tico in town is another dependable spot for the same honest, home-style cooking.

For pizza and Italian

Nosara has a soft spot for good pizza. Posada Margherita is the rustic, Italian-owned favourite, wood-fired and authentic. Il Peperoni is the go-to for a thin, crispy crust and a loaded pie. And if you would rather stay in, the estate has its own wood-fired oven in the garden.

Around Playa Guiones

Close to the beach, Destiny is the brunch institution, with a big menu that handles vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free without fuss. Howler’s Beach Lounge does cocktails and excellent fish — the tuna carpaccio has a following. El Manglar, tucked inside the Olas Verdes hotel, is the quiet, pretty choice for a beachside dinner. Gabi’s, an open-air food hall in North Guiones, lets a group graze from burgers to sushi under one roof.

For a sunset

La Luna, above Playa Pelada, is the postcard: a table by the water as the sun goes down. Book ahead, and go for the view as much as the plate.

A short list

• Tico food: Rosi’s, Rancho Tico
• Pizza: Posada Margherita, Il Peperoni
• Guiones: Destiny (brunch), Howler’s, El Manglar, Gabi’s
• Sunset: La Luna

The short version: Nosara’s food runs from Rosi’s tico plates and wood-fired pizza to beachside dinners and sunset tables at La Luna — a lot of good eating for a small town. To visit the estate, get in touch.

Restaurants change; check current hours and locations before you go.