Top Restaurants in Mal Pais
Top Things to do in Mal Pais
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Where to eat Pizza food in Mal Pais: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Find out what Pizza restaurants to try in Mal Pais. 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. Restaurante Nuestra Tradicion
Overall Ratings
4 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By BenCologne
After some months of traveling in Central America and a lot of rice/beans we wanted a pizza really badly. We found this place by chance. We ordered two medium pizza and they were delicious. We ordered two medium ones we couldn't finish and took almost half of it home. Our waiter was super nice and offered us two choose two different toppings for each pizza since they are quite big. The price were reasonable. We paid about 20 USD for two big pizzas and drinks.
9. Mar y Sol
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
An affordable restaurant that uses locally sourced ingredients to create amazing food! The restaurant is managed by staff who speak English, German, Spanish and Italian. Handmade tables and chairs, relaxing music and hip lighting. Our chef Maurizio is fro
Reviewed By BorkdlynNYC
So, do you like Pizza? Heh, well, I came here thinking it was a seafood place, since it is a short walk from the beach, and I guess the word "Mar" in the name made me think seafood. Its pretty much all Pizza - though they have an impressive clay oven and make the pizzas right in front of you. The couple running the place are warm and welcoming, and burned insence for me to keep the bugs away (like most things in Tambor, its in a wide open area without much around it but raw nature). Howler monkies sang to me while I ate. I diddnt get pizza, but got one of their daily specials instead, and it was incredible. I saw other people eating pizza and it looked amazing (though being a New Yorker, I dont see a need to eat pizza when I travel to foreign countries). But yeah, no seafood ;-), so dont assume "Mar" means seafood like I did!
8. Ritmo Tropical Restaurant Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By billmccarthy2017
Went here on the recommendation of the cab driver who brought us in from Tambor. Was very disappointed with the service and quality of the food. In fact this was probably our worst meal out in the area. There were other customers there so t he place did have some following. We didn't go back though.
Best Costa Rican food near Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
7. Mary's Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By pureechef
During our stay in Santa Teresa we dined at Maryâs twice. It seems to be in the middle of nowhere, but step inside and you are greeted warmly by everyone including during our first visit a troop of Howler Monkeys. First of all try a pizza to split as an app. We had the kale, roasted garlic & goat cheese pizza both times. Thin crispy crust, lots of cheese and the charred kale really impressed us. The blackboard menu has 5 or 6 entrees on the left and 5 or 6 veggie dishes on the right all grown there or bought from the fishermen down the street. Highlights were Coconut Fish stew, a huge bowl of fish, octopus, calamari, & shrimp in a light flavorful broth also Fresh Dorado, Slow Cooked Ribs, Smoked Pork Tostadas, Lamb & Goat Cheese Burger and you wonât regret any of the veggies, all prepared in a unique way. Dessert was homemade Double Chocolate Brownie and Coconut Ice Cream both nights. The service was friendly, very helpful and we loved that both servers seemed to love practicing their English with us. Wow, Maryâs is a special place. Thank you and we loved the cats also. PS they take credit cards which is rare and welcome in this part of Costa Rica.
Where to eat Central American food in Mal Pais: The Best Restaurants and Bars
6. Matobes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By SaltWalker74
Possibly the best Pizza Iâve had in Costa Rica and Iâve had a lot. Good wine and good service. I didnât have to wait too long for it either and thatâs a common problem with pizza joints in CR. My only complaint is they didnât have Wi-Fi but absolutely worth it for that Pizza. I will be a regular while my boat is in the haulout at Sammi Manley.
Top 10 Seafood food in Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
5. Cafe Escondido
Overall Ratings
5 based on 49 reviews
Fresh Local Food ... Typical Costa Rican Dishes... International Family Favourites... Healthy Options... Wood Fired Brick Pizza Oven...cafe Vibe By Day - Atmospheric By Night ... Spectacular Views All Day Every Day.
Reviewed By mattg201797
Weâre staying at the Monteverde Inn, which is the same property as Cafe Escondido. The food here is so good!... weâve ate in town, and itâs totally not up to scratch compared to Cafe Escondido. Traditional pizza oven , fantastic views, great service and cooking from Gustavo and Helen .. I had steak tonight , and wifey had chicken fajitas. Kids loved it too. Romantic, with family or with pals for a few beers , itâs great!... thanks guys..
4. Monteverde Fussion
Overall Ratings
4 based on 63 reviews
A restaurant with a very warm and cozy atmosphere, with a variety of foods and drinks, with organic and fresh ingredients. With an exclusive menu that has a variety of ingredients for different palates, we have dishes for vegans, children's menu, pizzas,
Reviewed By hyg123
We went for an early dinner to fussion. The waiter was very helpful and friendly and gave us 2 drinks on the house. My husband had the golden craft ale and I had imperial beer , the 2 kids had colas. Husband said the craft ale was nice. We had 2 corn soups ,tomato soup and sea bass starters - all delicious. 2 kids had vegetarian pizza , husband had shrimp pizza and I had the chicken and rice which came with salad and fried yucca- Iâd not had yucca before , tasted like potato but with a lighter fluffier texture- would order again. We didnât really need starters as the main meals were enormous - the pizzas were â mediumâ but were massive so we took doggy bags .Lovely restaurant,lots of choice especially for vegan and vegetarians P
Best Fast Food food near Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
3. Bistro Bon Appetit
Overall Ratings
4 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By MauiPigFarmer
We stopped here on our way back down the mountain after zip lining and hiking hanging bridges. No research, no review, we were just absolutely starving. We had a tenderloin in red wine sauce, salmon with jalapeño sauce and salmon Alfredo. We also had traditional focaccio for a starter. We added one mixed drink, 2 glasses of wine and finished it off with grappa. What a perfect meal, with absolutely wonderful service. Itâs a hidden gem, thatâs for sure.
Best Healthy food near Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
2. Tramonti
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1111 reviews
Reviewed By F826ELmichelleb
Great environment, great service, and good food.(Actually, I thought the food was great until I ate Don Luis Pizza)
Most Popular Italian food in Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
1. Restaurante Don Luis
Overall Ratings
4 based on 573 reviews
Fusión y sabor contemporaneo!
Reviewed By MaozD
It doesnât happen too often to be surprised by food dishes in a restaurant. In Don Luis it happened twice and I wish weâd have a chance to for the 3rd time. Donât miss the Avocado salad, mango soup (amazing), Salmon with mango chimichurri , Hamburger with blue cheese, egg and avocado.
Top 9 Fusion food in Mal Pais, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
