TRAVEL & VEGAN FOOD GUIDE FOR NOSARA, COSTA RICA
The small town of Nosara has grown dear to my heart as all that I love(d) in Bali is kind of offered in one spot: natural beaches (the other day I saw so many dots in the water until I realized it was huge fish swimming next to me), beautiful yoga classes (it has been so nice to focus on my own practice again), a lovely community (after going on a boat cruise by Italians we were for example invited for pasta dinner afterwards!) and loads of vegan food hotspots (incl. me taking pictures and stepping up my restaurant/ food photography game). If you know wonder why not everybody is coming here instead of Bali, you need to keep in mind that Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries to travel to in Latin America as the costs of living are almost as high as in Europe.
Find out what to do in Nosara, where to find the best smoothie bowl, which spot is best for enjoying the sunset, which boat tour I particularly enjoyed, where to go for yoga classes, which fruits I tried for the first time and all of my personal tips and recommendation for this beautiful place in Costa Rica down below.
f you are interested in my tips, you can also check out my google maps list here where I saved all of my recommendations for you.
Lots of love,
Magda
where to go for (vegan) breakfast, brunch & coffee
Sendero
This newly opened hotel offers not only a cute little coffee shop but also daily yoga and Pilates classes as well as a beautiful art studio and restaurant. We came for both great coffee (with oat milk) in the morning and their delicious drinks - make sure to check out this wonderful spot!
Destiny Café
After our Saturday yoga ‘tradition’ at Bodhi Tree, we love to go for brunch at Destiny Café as their menu offers not only customized smoothie bowls, vegan dishes such as the tasty cale salad, but also the refreshing banana coffee - something new to me, but so delicious and really easy to also make yourself at home!
Sunrise Coffee
If you are an acai bowl, vegan matcha and speciality coffee lover like me, you need to check out Sunrise Coffee near playa pelada. The couple owning the place is super lovely (she is also called Magdalena!) and will make sure you’re going to have the best time in their cute café!
Go Juice
With two locations in Nosara you will for sure not miss this cute little shop! I tried the peanut butter acai smoothie bowl and their green juice and both was really tasty! They also sell their famous banana coffee which you should try for sure.
Rolling Waves Coffee & Cocktails
This is probably the ultimate spot for high quality speciality coffee in Nosara. The barista is super lovely, you can sit outside and in the evening you can also find delicious coffee cocktails.
Olo Alaia Cafe
I honestly didn’t expect much when we came here for a short coffee stop before checking out the market. But to be honest this was one of the best coffees I had in Nosara! The beans were really special and the foam (out of oat milk) super creamy and foamy!
Norte
If you look for a delicious acai smoothie bowl with loads of toppings while being surrounded by a calm area, Norte is your go to! The bowl was not the biggest but the toppings super diverse. You could also enjoy a yoga class before the breakfast, check out their schedule on their website!
where to go for (vegan) lunch, treats, sunset & dinner
Perozah
Near Nosara, in Garza baech, you can find the beautiful Perozah - a wonderful place inviting you to enjoy a relaxed day in their lovely beachclub until the sun sets and it transforms (on the weekend) to a party in the sand! Make sure to check out their Instagram page for their events.
Coyol
Wow what an amazing dinner experience! We enjoyed one of the last dinner’s in Nosara at this wonderful place and it was for sure a night to remember! You can enjoy their mediterranean inspired BBQ menu which includes vegan options as well. I really liked the smokey grilled eggplant with loads of tahini, the stuffed pumpkin with a super tasty flavourful rice & lentils as well as the cheesecake with loads of fresh berries. Make sure to reserve your table and come a bit earlier (arrive ideally around 5.30) to enjoy a beautiful sunset overlooking the coast.
Organico Cafe
Located in the heart of Nosara you can’t miss the organico supermarket and organico cafe (former cafe de Paris). You can enjoy either poke bowl from the single fins (inside organico supermarket) or order at the organico cafe. Also, if you consume sth. you can use their swimming pool! The cold pressed juices were in particular super tasty.
Luv Burger
The fully vegan spot is a plant-based food heaven come true! From their delicious smoothies (the green one was my favorite) over their big choice in plant-based burgers (with vegan bacon) and their super tasty vegan creamcheese cakes - make sure to check this spot out!
Huacas
If you’re looking for a rather special night out, take your car or get a taxi and drive up the hill to the huacas restaurant which is located in the tierra magnifica boutique hotel. Enjoy a breathtaking sunset view with special cocktails before treating yourself to their amazing food. They had a huge selection of vegan/ vegetarian choices and also would make any adjustements in the many if you wish so - a really special dinner experience!
ESH
Wondering where to get the best treats in Nosara? Then check out ESH, which offers a huge selection of super tasty cakes, baked goods such as babka or cinnamon rolls and fresh bread. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options and you can of course also take all of the cakes away (we brought them as a dessert for a dinner invitation). There is also a cute little sitting area and you can find the delicious hummus etc. from Coyol and La Luna as the restaurants belong together.
further tips for nosara (& around)
Bodhi Tree Yoga Retreat
The second I stepped up the stairs at bodhi tree and saw their Ganesha figure I felt like back in Bali! The yoga retreat offers a diverse schedule with classes ranging from classic vinyasa to ashtanga, sound healing, breathwork and special events. Marck’s classes are my absolute favorite (especially at the Oceana shala), his sequencing and teaching style is absolutely brilliant. There is also a cute little juice bar for you to relax after or before class.
Nalu Fitness Classes
If you’re looking for a spot to really get sweaty, Nalu is your place. I tried several classes there including boxing with Stephanie, the vinyasa class with Emily, the sweaty session with Rocio and the morning booty and full body workout with Kirstie - all of them were amazing and the studio has really high quality equipment!
Rainbow Organic Market
Mark your calendar as every Tuesday the heart of Nosara turns into an organic market leaving now wishes open for foodies like me. My favorite part is for sure the fresh vegetables and fruits - I tried passion fruit looking like a potato and sapote for the first time there, have you ever heard of these? We brought all of the fresh ingredients home and made a delicious beach picknick to enjoy for the sunset, a special night to remember (see more below)!
Picknick on the beach
After you’ve been to the Tuesday market you might understand why I really loved to prepare a delicious beach picknick with the fresh fruits and vegetables. I made a super delicious mango tomato salsa (will share a recipe for this simple dish, this recipe here is also perfect) with a homemade guacamole topped with some spices and nuts as well as a kale salad with sapote (will try to find this at home too). Like this you can watch the beautiful sunset while enjoying a delicious homemade meal on the beach - can it get any better?
Sky and Sand boat tour
One of my favorite days in Nosara was our boat trip with the lovely Italians, Pietro and Simone, and their beautiful catamaran. We swam in the crystal clear ocean, saw turtles and had amazing (vegan) food. My highlight was the trip to the pink island which you can only reach in low tide as the island is otherwise not accessible. Make sure to enjoy a beautiful afternoon until the sun sets with this amazing boat tour.
Shop at the local supermarket
The fruits and vegetables available in Costa Rica are simply amazing and I loved to shop at the local markets and find out more about their typical fruits and vegetables. If you’re interested in buying some fresh ingredients to cook at home, check out “Los Cartagos” where you can find all the local fruits and vegetables for a really reasonable price.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches
The beaches in and around Nosara are really beautiful and not crowded at all. You can find several beaches in the “center” of Nosara (playa pelada, guiones and further south garza beach). If you have a car I would really recommend to explore the beaches which are a bit further away too. In the south you can find Playa Barrigona with crystal clear water - one of my favorite beaches in Costa Rica! Another really beautiful unique beach is San Juanillo Beach as you can climb up the rocks, have a great view over the sea and swim in the super clean water.
Grab delish drinks for the sunset
I love that enjoying the sunset is one of the only “fixed appointments” you have while you’re in a beach town like Nosara. You can grab some fresh coconuts (pipa) from the supermarket and watch the sun setting slowly or if you’re up for a dink I would recommend getting delicious passion fruit margaritas at Howler's Beach Lounge which is located directly next to the beach.
