Though the Nosara area is blessed with dozens of restaurants and contains a veritable bounty of culinary choices, many of the dining establishments cater more to Western tastes. Guiones in particular has a wealth of eateries that offer everything from organic juice concoctions to fresh-baked quiche.
The menu may say that the place is named "II Basilico Restaurante Italiano," but everyone here calls it Chandy's. Everyone here in Nosara also calls it THE place to get any Italian food that you may be craving – especially the pizza. There are a bunch of pizza shops in the Nosara area, but Chandy’s is the stop all visitors have to make at least once for a delicious fresh-baked pie.
Even though everybody knows this area as "Nosara," on a map it is actually a few communities scattered along the Pacific coast under one broad name – Nosara, Costa Rica. Most of the time, people come to Nosara but actually stay and play in Guiones or Pelada.
Robin's Café is one of the closest restaurants to our office here at Surfing Nosara, and it is always humming with activity. Most days Robin is there to greet you with a smile and a conversation, and her café is one of the places everybody who comes to the Nosara area visits at least once.
When you think of the word "Zen," most likely what comes to your mind is relaxation. Finding your own path and embracing the Zen of Costa Rica is what many people come to Nosara to seek and find, but no matter where you are on your spiritual journey you need to find yourself in Zen Café at least a few times while in Guiones.
One of the first cafés in the Nosara area, Café du Paris, is still the go-to spot for fresh-baked breads that would make any Parisian flush with envy. Located in the Café du Paris resort complex at the top of the main road running through Guiones, the Café du Paris restaurant is a poolside oasis great for a relaxing breakfast or lunch retreat.
Marlin Bill's Restaurant is right along the main road in downtown Guiones, but it feels like it could be in Clearwater or along the California coast. Of course, this is not an insult – Marlin Bill's brings a familiar American vibe to the Nosara area, and it is a very popular spot in town.
Everything seems to change so fast in our sped-up societies that we have a hard time remembering what it felt like to live just a little bit slower. Even in tropical Nosara, deep in the Pacific jungles of Costa Rica, the days pile up and make the hours fall faster down a steeper hill built on business and big plans.