Two Parrots Restaurant
Costa Rica
At a glance
Located in the tranquil area of Esterillos Centro, Puntarenas Province, Two Parrots Restaurant offers a distinctive Costa Rican-Italian fusion dining experience. This venue is part of the Marala Hotel and serves as an inviting spot for both hotel guests and visitors alike. The menu showcases a creative mix of traditional Costa Rican dishes and Italian specialties, crafted to suit a variety of palates. Guests can enjoy a range of meals throughout the day, from hearty breakfasts featuring Costa Rican classics and American-inspired plates to diverse options for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant boasts a selection of starters, including ceviche and tartare, that highlight the coastal ingredients particular to Costa Rica. For those preferring lighter fare, the salads offer a blend of local produce and international flavors. Both vegan and vegetarian dishes are available, ensuring that diners with specific dietary preferences have ample choices.
From the grill, customers can opt for a carefully prepared selection of steaks and ribs, accompanied by customizable sides. Pasta lovers will appreciate the diverse options, with dishes that allow for a choice of pasta types, underlining the restaurant's Italian influence.
Families traveling with children will find a dedicated kids menu, which simplifies dining for all ages. Dessert options round out meals with local twists on classic sweet treats. Whether it's a leisurely breakfast, a casual lunch, or an elegant dinner, Two Parrots Restaurant caters to various tastes and occasions. Tropical beverages and a full bar selection complement meals, completed with a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere that makes the dining experience memorable.
Reviews
This should not be a well-kept secret. This is the kind of exclusive dining experience you would expect without the snobbery or price. It's nestled on hill top with infinity pool over-looking the Pacific. Yes, I'm a writer, not a paid reviewer. However - I AM A STEAK SNOB. I've eaten Rib Eye's in the best US eateries at the most ungodly prices. As you can see in the photo, the Tomahawk at Two Parrots isn't skimpy. I split this with my partner. I suggest this unless you're playing the Super Bowl tomorrow. But here's the crazy part. It is simply one of the best versions of a steak I've had across the globe. The best? There are a few that equal it - but they all have a 'signature'. This steak has a flavor that the chef crafted that is almost seductive. And add in that Costa Rica has healthy food which is a treat in itself. Something else tickled my spidey-sense. I have been to Hotel Lia in Jaco and something was familiar. It turns out that there's a visionary shaping the direction of these two properties. I've had a chance to meet this kind, unpretentious man. That was a pleasure - but more, to get a sense of his work. If you want to enhance your Costa Rican experience - the vibe is here. If you want an intimate meal or family reunion - you just can't go wrong. Oh - the whole experience was cheaper than a high-end massage with one exception. Two Parrots offers a much better release.
UPDATE...Hello. My trip advisor review...(3/5/2026) This morning we enjoyed a nice breakfast and excellent service thanks to Kathleen. She was very attentive, friendly/personable, accurate and in control of her tables the areas around her (restaurant and bar). Five star service! (Think Ritz- Carlton or Four Seasons). I hope she is recognized by management for her excellent service. We've eaten at Two Parrots several times (5) during this stay, this week. Most experiences (food and service) were good except for one dining experience one evening, with a server that definitely missed the mark for us. We look forward to dining again when we return sometime in the future." XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX Last night (3/3/2026) we had dinner and this time disappointed. Mostly due to that lack of attentiveness of our server "Shalim". It took about 10 minutes for refill water, and that's after me waiting then walking to the rear of the bar myself and asking about the water, to be told by the other server "were busy". When asked the server to please bring another glass of ice and water, I'm not sure why he didn't just bring a glass of water the same time... He forgot that hot sauce and chimichiri sauseon the side, and I had to walk over to the open kitchen and ask the chefs in the kitchen for them. He was essentially not available the rest of our dinner. What's problematic too is at the time we were the ONLY table dinning. I could only imagine if they were more tables. I did see there were a few people at the bar which the other guy seemed to be handling. We ate dinner there on Saturday and had a great experience with two other servers. A guy with a light beard and a woman, tall w/a lip ring. There were both had friendly attitudes and more attentive. And even though the Tomahawk steak was originally undercooked to our specified preference, she was quick and friendly in correcting it. Earlier in the week, one night was very disappointing as we had been looking forward to having another nice dining experience, as we did on Saturday, but last night our server missed the mark, and after spending (COL)67,665.99/(USD)142.68. Maybe more training is in order, but also something I shouldn't be concerned about. Instead of coming in to dine and enjoy good food and good service/attitudes, we ordered food to go this night.
We had a mixed experience here. I’m a big fan of octopus, but it’s a tricky dish to prepare well. Unfortunately, in this case I wouldn’t recommend it—it came out squeaky and not very enjoyable. The vegetables were great thought. On the bright side, the Mahi Mahi was excellent: fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The meat we tried was also tender and delicious. For dessert, I treated myself since it was Christmas and ordered the pecan pie with ice cream. It was decent, not outstanding, but a nice way to end the meal.
Stopped by Two Parrots for a quick lunch in the rainy season. I was the only one in the restaurant and the waitstaff was quick and attentive. I ordered an iced tea, the carpaccio appetizer and the spaghetti carbonara. Everything was served quickly and was delicious. My table had a lovely view of the ocean and I was in and out in 40 minutes. Would absolutely eat here again.
