Restaurants

Tamarindo has a glut of stylish and creative restaurants. Nogui's Café (tel. 2653-0029) is one of the more popular places in town -- and rightly so. This simple open-air cafe just off the beach on the small traffic circle serves hearty breakfasts and well-prepared salads, sandwiches, burgers, and casual meals. In the evenings -- actually, beginning a bit before sunset -- the second floor here becomes the Sunset Lounge, serving up a regularly changing menu of international tapas, small entrees, and sunset views. The Cala Moresco (tel. 2653-0214) restaurant, at the Hotel and Villas Cala Luna, is the place to go if you're looking for some good Italian and Mediterranean cuisine served up in an elegant open-air atmosphere. The folks at Cala Luna also have a sushi bar, La Caletta (tel. 2653-0214).

Finally, I haven't been able to sample it yet, but I'm hearing good things about the Pacific Rim fusion cuisine and general ambience and bar scene at the new Kahiki Restaurant & Bar (tel. 2653-3816), at the main Iguana Surf outlet on the road to Playa Langosta.

Meanwhile, over on Playa Grande, try Upstairs, the restaurant at the Ripjack Inn , or the Great Waltini's, at the Hotel Bula Bula. Both are excellent restaurants serving fresh seafood and prime meats, cooked with care and creativity.