Papaya Restaurant — Restaurant in Cabo Velas

Starying at an air BNB close by. Drop by as we heared the music. When we came in greeted by server who inform they are closing. Inform just want a drink. Allowed in. Asked for menu not given, instead verbally told special. Ordered drink special and mojito. Performers ended singing at 830 pm. I watched as our drinks were waiting in the bar for 15 minutes. As server served other patrons. Eventually drink brought to us just before I was going to just walk. Mojito is average at best. Ask for bill. Iam accustomed to high taxes and service fees within Costa Rica. When I got my bill. This is the break down. 2 cocktail special 6,099 colones Taxes 1,585.74 Service 1,219.80 Total 15,003.54 In Canadian that is $50 My issue is that I was not aware a drink is 6,000 colones vs on their menu 4,500. I would have rather bought a drink at a supermarket or drank at the shogun down the street. I found that the amount I paid did not justify the service and quality. Go somewhere else. Go to the bar by the beach at least you...

This is truly a diamond in the rough. In a beautiful backwater province with a low population density and a small amount of restaurants, Papaya Restaurant really stands out for its professionalism and quality. It is staffed with professional chefs who cook every type of meat just right. For tourists who don't mind western prices for that special quality that is unfortunately missing in a lot of Costa Rican restaurants, Papaya is the place for you. I ate here almost the entire 4 days that I was in the region. The only downside is that they are understaffed so the bartender does double duties and service could be slow (which I have come to find out is the sign of the times in the post-Covid world, and yes even in Costa Rica). But it is worth the wait and if you are operating on island time and not in a rush, this place is the place for you for all 3 courses of the day. This restaurant will be one of the things that I will miss most when I...

While the restaurant was promising, having dinner there turned out to be a major disappointment. The food was well presented but really not that great. My partner and I had the mahi-mahi special entree which was very dry and tasted like it was frozen fish and/or way overcooked which is a pity since we're by the ocean. And last but not least, it was a truly terrible value. It ended up costing almost $50 per person for an appetizer, an entree and a fruit smoothie (no alcohol). I paid more for the bad dinner than the room for the night with breakfast included (which were both fine)!! For that price I can get an excellent 3 course meal + wine in Paris. And within Costa Rica, we enjoyed some much better food at some of the country's remote luxury resorts at a lower price. Beware of menu prices that don't include taxes&service. Most places do but this...