Restaurants and Nightlife in Samara

Be it typical Costa Rican, Italian, Spanish or Argentinean cuisine, there are some truly wonderful culinary treats in Playa Samara. Enticing smells wafting from local restaurants at supper time are enough to whet even the pickiest palate.

Ancla
Ancla serves the best Italian food outside of Italy. No exaggeration. Four-cheese gnocchi is their specialty, to be washed down with a glass of imported wine. They are open later than any other restaurant in town.

Lagarto
This restaurant has some of the best meat and seafood in the country, in a Costa Rican BBQ-style. Hungry customers can feast on bacon-wrapped steak cutlets with their toes buried deep in the sand.

Cafe Hola Bakery
This is the best breakfast place in town, serving truly wonderful coffee and bread. Don’t come here if short on time, as the service is on beach-time.

Coco’s Restaurant
Run by locals, this is the number one place to enjoy authentic Costa Rican food. Coco’s chicken and steak casados (typical plates of meat, salad, rice, beans, and fried plantains) are highly recommended.

Sherriff Rustic
Also locally owned, Sheriff Rustic is an incredible bargain for those on a budget. Simple but yummy food is served up fast and cheap. Here, a chicken burger with fries costs less than $3.

Nightlife:

Though small, the nightlife in Playa Samara is never dull. Bars and discos are always filled with fresh faces, eager to mingle and dance the night away.

Las Olas
Las Olas translates to “the waves,” which patrons can hear simply by stepping outside this ever-popular bar. With pool tables, foosball, beachside seating and great bartenders, this establishment fills up nearly every night of the week.

Shake Joes
Shake Joe’s is the best place to pre-game before a long night out at Las Olas. Large and comfortable beds situated right on the beach replace normal chairs, encouraging people to lie down, relax, and unwind. They open at 5:00 p.m. and close right before Las Olas gets busy, around 10:00 p.m.