TLDR: If you're going to Costa Rica, you should spend some time in Playa Samara eating all of the delicious food and enjoying getting to know this small town for all of it's little treasures.
Today is my last day of my two week remote working stint in Playa Samara, Costa Rica. I already know I will miss this place, not only because of the super chill no-rush vibes, being one of the only people walking around on the beach at night looking at the stars, or the fact that everything you want exists within 1 square mile of walking. It’s mostly because of the food.
If you don’t know this about me yet, you will by the end of this article. I eat my way through countries. My favorite part of traveling is trying new foods, especially whatever unique dishes a place is known for. My friends and I went to a new restaurant every day we were here (and a couple of places twice), for a total of 14 delicious experiences. I learned very quickly that me + Costa Rican food = 😍.
If you’re going to Costa Rica, I highly recommend you spend some time in Playa Samara. And if you do, here are the top 5 restaurants you can’t miss plus exactly what you should order at each of them.
#1 Mr. Pelicano
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Samara. We only ate at a couple of places twice and this was one of them. If you’re a seafood lover, this place is for you.
Vibe: Intimate, low key, beachy without being beach front
What to order: Get the seafood platter which comes with a whole lightly fried fish, a seafood ceviche, shrimp skewers, and a tuna steak (it’s made for 2 so either find someone to go with or just YOLO it and just take home the leftovers). I have to mention that my friend got the almond crusted mahi mahi which I stole a bite of and it was also bomb.
Where to find them: https://goo.gl/maps/d6LE5jpYjBYvC8bL8
#2 Cantina de Baco
Don’t dismiss them based on their menu design like we did at first (there’s a lot of marketing opportunities in Samara). Although it’s international tapas, they do a great job with all of them, not just the ones from Costa Rica.
Vibe: Slightly more upscale casual, fire shows and live music on random nights
What to order: The fish tacos were delicious and the presentation was great. They were wrapped in banana leaves hung up like laundry on a clothesline. I would also recommend the beer dip as an app, which isn’t really the cheesy heavy beer dip you’d imagine. It’s made from a local fruit in CR and has the consistency of hummus but with a unique flavor. Definitely worth trying & sharing with your table mates!
Where to find them: https://goo.gl/maps/Pve9WmRV4ZtgStVm6
#3 Samara Sushi
If you’re craving sushi, look no further. They have all of the speciality rolls plus poke bowls you could want. Plus, since it’s right on the water, you know the fish is super fresh.
Vibe: Low key hip, little fans in the windows to keep you cool, swing set benches at some of the tables
What to order: We tried some of the traditional rolls and speciality rolls, but my favorite by far was the Caribbean roll. It had a coconut curry sauce on top that was just YUM. I can’t even explain it. A lot of the rolls have a unique tropical twist on them, like adding mango or pineapple. Plus they give you these little crunchy strips with a salad on the side. No clue what the crunchies are but they are delicious. Also make sure to grab a local craft beer. My favorite was the Gose (because I love sour beers) but the Passionfruit Ale was also refreshing and not super fruity.
Where to find them: https://goo.gl/maps/DD4k3YeEDC2RB8Ru5
#4 Marisqueria Coloches
You can’t get enough seafood in Samara. This place is tucked off of the main streets but is worth wandering over to at some point because basically all they do is seafood. You can see the family cooking everything in the back and can taste the love in every dish.
Vibe: Like eating at your grandparents house, family style, all outdoor seating, very casual and intimate feeling since there are only about 7 tables
What to order: Start with a fish ceviche and a side order of patacones (smashed fried plantains). Patacones + ceviche are a match made in heaven. The ceviche was super fresh and delicious. For a main, get the octopus seafood platter. The octopus was cooked perfectly, not rubbery like you sometimes get. Plus you get some fresh veggies in your life along with a generous portion of rice. The only thing meh about this meal were the fries but you can pawn those off on someone else.
Where to find them: https://goo.gl/maps/YEQk1ZVmNbTN8TTq9
#5 El Colibri
Ok technically this one is near Playa Carrillo (the neighboring beach town) but it’s like a 7 minute drive so I’m keeping it on the list. If you are a looking for a nice dinner and love steak houses, this place is a must. Just call or message them ahead of time and make a reservation as they do fill up at dinnertime.
Vibe: Slightly more upscale (don’t wear your bathing suit here) but still has a family owned feel, think nice wine list and table cloths
What to order: STEAK. I mean, it is an Argentinian steakhouse, after all. I went straight for the Delmonico, medium rare. This might have been the best steak I’ve ever had in my life. It was perfectly cooked, juicy, not too fatty, and a very generous size (I had no idea what 300 grams looked like but it’s a 10 oz steak FYI). We paired it with a nice Malbec which just rounded out the meal. And don’t get me started on the price…this steak plus a side was less than $20!!
Where to find them: https://goo.gl/maps/m1TpR9yY84wXVbd99
I couldn’t finish this article without mentioning the amazing local organic food store that I am pretty sure I self funded throughout my two weeks in Samara. I know it’s not a restaurant so I’m adding it as my bonus recommendation of places to go that are still food related. If you’re a healthy food nerd like me, you must stop by the Samara Organics market. They have almond milk, avocado oil, local dark chocolate & coffee, vegan banana bread that is made to perfection, and most importantly, a HUGE selection of kombucha! Plus organic fruits and veggies every day.
That about wraps it up. As the great Julia Child said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” For all my fellow traveling foodies out there, I hope you make it to Samara at some point and when you do, you eat your hearts out. There’s no greater pleasure to travel in my book.
Salud!
Comentários