Finding Friendly Food

We’re down to just a few weeks left on our 9-week adventure. We’re sad to leave the cool mountains around Lake Arenal, but looking forward to what’s ahead. We’ve booked ourselves into what will be the most luxurious accommodations of our trip. Nammbu in Playa Carrillo. We originally choose Playa Carrillo and this type of hotel because we are looking for a big change from the housing we started our trip in and we are going to be ready for some pampering. We’re also on the lookout for a beach with such gentle surf that we can float in it without fear of waves. 

Playa Carrillo is like the sleepy sister to the touristy Samara Beach. If you’ve read some of my other posts, you’ll know that I like to steer away from the more touristy areas. I’m not a huge fan of crowds and I want to find places that are authentic, yet cater to some of my western needs. 

We come here for R&R so no big adventures. The food at the hotel is pricey and there isn’t a lot on the menu that sounds good to me and fits in with my dietary restrictions. The happy hour drinks are fun though. Every evening 2-for-1 drinks at the pool. The pool is perfect and has a great view of the ocean. Perfect for sunset viewing. 

We do venture into Samara twice. Our first visit is to the Farmers Market on Saturdays. Wow! I know it’s meant for tourists, but it feels really personal and quaint. We have amazing coffee from a woman owned company called Cafe Iona, and we also find multiple stands selling gluten-free and dairy-free baked goods, including brownies and empanadas. Yum. 

Upon leaving the market, we’re in the mood for a smoothie so we pop into Bohemia Café which has yummy dairy-free smoothies and gluten-free/dairy-free breads for sandwiches. 

Later that night we walk out of the grounds of the hotel into Carrillo and find a couple sodas and restaurants. We choose a typical restaurant called Los Delfines and it is delicious. I have fish and my boyfriend has a vegetarian casado. 

The next morning, our last in town, we once again go to Samara in search of food and breakfast. We’ve read good things about a little off the beaten path place (and literally on a dirt road) called Big Sol Cafe. This tiny little cafe has one guy behind the counter painstakingly making each coffee (some of the best we had in the whole country) and assembling the meals. We try the gluten-free/dairy-free banana bread (so moist and delicious that we bought a second piece to take home for later) and a build your own gluten-free/dairy-free crepe. We highly recommend this place, but be sure you’re not in a hurry. And they only take colones. 

After a relaxing weekend in this lovely area, we’re headed back up north, up the coast to Surfside Potrero.