Top Restaurants in Mal Pais
Top Things to do in Mal Pais
Top 10 Seafood food in Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Best Seafood restaurants nearby. Discover the best Seafood food in Mal Pais. View Menus, Photos and Reviews for Seafood restaurants near you.. Near the southernmost tip of Peninsula de Nicoya, Mal Pais offers rocky coves, white sand beaches, waterfalls, rainforests, surfing, and relaxation near a remote fishing village and Cabo Blanco National Park. The prime attraction is surfing at beaches like Playa Mar Azul, Playa Santa Teresa, Playa Manzanillo, and Playa Carmen. Plus there is fishing, boating, snorkeling, diving, hiking, horseback riding, biking, and 4-wheel drive touring. A 4-wheel drive vehicle comes in handy for navigating unpaved roads in this still mostly wild area, particularly during the rainy season. Though locals zip around on quad bikes and motorcycles transporting their surfboards. Allow the better part of a day driving from San Jose Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Mal Pais. Budget extra time to board the car ferry from Puntarenas across the Golfo de Nicoya to Paquera on the Peninsula de Nicoya. Or take the short flight from San Jose to Tambor Airport (TMU), and be within an hour of Mal Pais. Some Mal Pais beaches have little sand, and judging point break direction and swell size requires surfing acumen. A Mal Pais surf camp may be perfect for family members wanting to learn to read the surf better. Santa Teresa’s beaches have more white sand, and point breaks like Suck Rock are almost legendary among surfers flocking here when the seas around Playa Carmen get too rough. Playa Carmen has enough variety to accommodate all levels of surfers, but the swells can get too rough and too frequent to get out during the rainy season. A bit to the north, with waters calmed by a rock jetty, Playa Manzanillo is known for its annual sand castle competition.
Things to do in Mal Pais
10. El Shrimp Shack
Overall Ratings
4 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By Elena A
The place is the most elegant you can find in Puntarenas. Air conditioned, comfortable, clean bathrooms.The food is decent, nice portions, good flavor.Beer is ice cold, b-e-autiufl! Service has a lot to improve. The waiters were distracted, had to ask them for napkins and water after they brought the beverages. They forgot to bring my ceviche appetizer. They were talking loudly about leaving early and completely immerse playing really loud video games (Free Fire, it was so loud we could tell for sure) on their phones while we were trying to call their attention to get a second round of beers.Someone should tell management to give the waiting staff a bit of traiginig on customerâs service. It was Sunday, January 13 around 2:00 p.m. when we had this experience. Thanks!
9. Restaurante Arrecifes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By HikerBob66
We were in Monteverde without a car, so we taxied to Arrecifes, taking our host's recommendation. It's out of the town center on a very un-glamorous road so our view was of trucks and motorcycles as darkness fell. Although it was open from noon, our 5:30 arrival was obviously too early and service was slow for us, the only diners in the restaurant. At 6 a waiter showed up and then another couple. The food was satisfying although not cheap.
8. The Papaya Lounge Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 131 reviews
Reviewed By sarahYjan
We stayed at moana lodge for 3 nights, papaya lounge is the hotel restaurant. The first night we had dinner at the restaurant, the ocean views are amazing (high climb to the restaurant but 100% worth it!). The frensh bartender makes delicious cocktails and does a great job! Happy hour is from 4 till 6 perfect for watching the sunset! The food is oké, but little pricy, its a tapas concept so you can taste a lot of everything. Some or better then others, we loved the fresh calamari with home made sauce. The food itself was overall too salty. I self use a lot of salt while cooking at home, but the food in papaya lounge was really toooo much salted. Otherwise the dishes were perfect! The 2nd and 3th night of our stay the restaurant was closed, which was not so pleasant while we had no transportation. I couldn't understand because breakfast was served in the morning! it couldn't be that hard to make something for a few couples, if you can bake eggs in the morning you can improvise a little menu too! We enjoyed the food in town more, and for the same money you get better food! For cocktails tough its 100% recommended !
7. Restaurant Liz Seafood MACHO
Overall Ratings
4 based on 91 reviews
Family owned and operated, Macho offers only the freshest locally caught seafood, prepared to perfection. We blend our own fruit juices when you order them, to give you the freshest taste of Costa Rica!
Reviewed By Tracy V
What a pleasant surprise this little restaurant was. The food is fantastically prepared, and presented with a gourmet touch. Everything is fresh, delicious, and plentiful. The prices are reasonable, the ambiance open air nautical, and the service kind and prompt. This is a typical Costa Rican small Mom & Pop place with a flare for upscale eats. We went there twice in one week. Go! You will be glad you did.
6. Restaurante Mar & Tierra
Overall Ratings
4 based on 272 reviews
Reviewed By RHtravels
Our tour group brought us here for lunch and we pre-ordered our meals while on the bus. Several people left the restaurant when the fajitas were served with moldy tortillas. I had ordered a beef dish with an Argentinian seasoning that was just ok- actually was not very flavorful. My husband had a chicken dish that was just OK, not sure what it was. My kids ordered fajitas and they left with the other people to get pizza down the street. I'm wishing we ate at the rotisserie chicken place that was across the street since that smelled amazing. The owners were apologetic and offered everyone a free drink, but better care needs to be taken when prepping the plates since it was not hard to miss the bright blue-green mold all over the tortillas so I think we were all praying no other food was spoiled that we ate.
5. Amphitheater Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 348 reviews
This amazing Greek amphitheater offers sunset views on the Pacific Ocean and the Rain Forest. It is a local favorite known for service, consistency and quality. Outdoor dining is available at Anfiteatro Restaurant for those looking for succulent specialti
Reviewed By ballerinaonthego
This restaurant offers a truly breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and the ocean. We stayed at Villa Caletas for a long weekend and enjoyed all of our meals here. The food was excellent, but what really sets this restaurant apart is the incredible service. Reiner Aronedas and his staff go out of their way to ensure that guests have a great experience. As an example, we were running late to catch a tour bus and didn't have time for a full breakfast, and Reiner was kind enough to pack us some muffins and coffees to go! Definitely five stars!
4. Restaurante Thomas & Thiago
Overall Ratings
4 based on 380 reviews
Best food in Town Excellent prices Great service Parking area All our prices include Taxes
Reviewed By AlexF0289
Are here 1 night on a visit to monteverde and we were very impressed. Had the shrimp pasta and tuna steak with vegetables which were both amazing. Shared the tres leches cake to finish. An excellent meal and the staff were very friendly. Best food on our trip.
3. Las Caracolas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 385 reviews
Reviewed By TheAndrewNatt
What a brilliant place! Not only was the food excellent, but the sunset was fantastic! A real local gem, with Antonio (the owner?) giving me a basic Spanish lesson into the price!Go at 1730 and sit right at the front near the sea, eat seafood, drink wine, watch the sunset and be happy.
2. Restaurante Los Toneles
Overall Ratings
4 based on 154 reviews
This is the Costa Del Sol Hotel Restaurant, we serve all kind of international food, including Costa Rican and Cuban dishes, as well as Bar and Grill.
Reviewed By 954oles
My wife and i were traveling to JRO, for our flight back to Denmark. We stoped for lunch, and were overwheled at the delicious food served in no time, and the enthusiasm of Elmez, Our host and his team. Deffenitely worth a stop. Highly recomend able. Hola! Gracias por visitar nuestro restaurante. Nos agrada mucho saber que les gustó la comida, nuestra consigna ha sido siempre trabajar con eficiencia y eficacia al servicio de nuestros clientes. Nuestra misión es cautivar con la buena comida el gusto de cada comensal y ustedes no fueron la excepción. Gracias por su comentario!
1. Product C
Overall Ratings
5 based on 185 reviews
We are a small family-run restaurant that serves up daily, locally caught, fresh fish, lovingly cooked in a friendly ambience near the beautiful beaches of Mal Pais, Costa Rica. We have outdoor shaded patio seating and are open Monday to Friday from 11am
Reviewed By ramonm273
The price is NOT high at all! I mean, the place looks fancy and clean so we almost didnât sit down because we thought the serving was gonna be small... wrong!! The servings are big, the service was really casual and cool, yet attentive. But the flavor: 10/10. My gosh the Sailor Bowl - creamy, toasty, nutty, fishy, just perfectly salty and kinda guilt-free cuz the rice was whole grain...If you are nearby, donât think twice before dropping by and having at least 79 Sailor Bowls on my behalf. And the fish pâte, I give you my word youâre gonna like it.So happy you enjoyed our little restaurant and took the time to wtite those enthousiastic comments!
