Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens

This hotel had a great location very near the main beach, and the entrance to Manuel Antonio Park. Very friendly staff, and a great pool area with covered pool beds. Our room was clean, spacious and it had a nice, outside sitting area outside the room, which we used a lot. The other sister property is across the street and it has the dining area for breakfast, a pool bar, and a beautiful hillside outdoor dining area for lunch and dinner. A great idea of the resort is to leave a coupon in each room that can be used for a bottle of wine at dinner, or desserts/appetizer. We decided to use it, and try the restaurant. It was wonderful. Great service, live music, and very tasty grilled, fresh fish. The wine was wonderful too - a Carmenere from Chile. We liked the restaurant so much we used it again for lunch the next day and had fish tacos and guacamole. Large portions and very tasty. Breakfast was a large buffet offering a selection of fresh fruits, cheese, pastries, yogurt, hot eggs, pancakes, coffee and teas all self-serve on the open air patio. Both properties have nice gardens, iguanas running around, and lots of birds. We enjoyed speaking with one of the family members of the owning family. He told us about the interesting history of the property, which had been in his family since his grandfather purchased it. These properties seemed extremely well run and managed. Clean and efficient.

An awesome experience, great location, and wonderful staff await you at this hotel/bar/restaurant facility. Owner/Managers Jorge and Milena have hired the most helpful, knowledgeable, engaging, and courteous staff to help them run this fun to stay at small hotel. The front counter, bar, and wait staff treat you like old and welcomed friends. The cleaning staff are friendly and efficient. The location is minutes from the National Park and equally as close to the public beach. You don't need a car - markets, shops, and other restaurants are near by if you were to somehow tire of the excellent food at the hotel (a breakfast is included and its a great buffet). The room is large with AC and ceiling fans. No closets, but shelves and some coat racks. However, you aren’t there to hang out in your room (it does have a tv) - go to the pool area or beach. You are provided towels to use and can replace them at the front desk as often as needed. When we come back to Costa Rica, the Hotel Playa Espadilla will be the place we will schedule our time to get into. Its a fun and active place just feet away from the crazy street heading into the National Park and a few minute walk to the 1.3 mile long beach. If you don't enjoy your stay, it is your own fault. Show up as a stranger and leave slightly sad, as your new friends have to stay behind.