Santas iguanas — Restaurant in Nayarit

A Magical Evening at Santa Iguanas – 5 Stars!**

There are some nights that simply transcend time, where every detail—the setting, the company, the energy—aligns perfectly to create something unforgettable. Our evening at Santa Iguanas in Sayulita was one of those nights, and at the heart of it all was Sara, the most talented and charismatic waitress we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

We arrived just as the sky turned into a watercolor painting, soft strokes of pink and tangerine melting into the ocean beyond. Santa Iguanas, tucked away in a corner of this vibrant coastal town, felt like a secret waiting to be discovered. The glow of string lights danced above us, casting a golden hue over rustic wooden tables, as the sounds of laughter, music, and crashing waves intertwined in the air. From the moment we stepped in, Sara made us feel as though we were old friends returning to a favorite place, even though it was our first visit.

She approached our table with a radiant warmth, her energy effortlessly contagious. With an intuitive grace, she seemed to read our moods before we even spoke, offering cocktail suggestions that went far beyond the standard menu. “Do you trust me?” she asked with a playful glint in her eye. And from that moment, we knew we were in for something special.

Sara didn't just serve drinks; she curated an experience. She spoke of flavors like an artist choosing colors for a masterpiece. A smoky mezcal margarita kissed with hibiscus, capturing the essence of a Sayulita sunset. A coconut-infused tequila creation that felt like an ocean breeze wrapped in a glass. A spiced passionfruit mojito that brought just the right amount of heat, much like the energy of the lively town around us. Each sip was a revelation, each cocktail telling a different story—one of local ingredients, of bold flavors, of tradition infused with modern creativity.

But it wasn’t just the drinks. It was Sara herself who made the night extraordinary. She wove stories between courses, sharing tidbits of Sayulita’s history, the secrets of Santa Iguanas, and even a few of her own adventures. She moved effortlessly through the crowd, ensuring every guest felt not just welcomed, but truly seen. It was the kind of service that elevates a place from great to unforgettable.

As the night deepened and the candles on our table flickered against the tropical air, we found ourselves lingering, reluctant to let the spell break. The music, the laughter, the energy—it all blended into something surreal, something rare. When Sara returned with one final cocktail, a lavender-infused mezcal delight, she simply smiled and said, “This one’s just because I think you’ll love it.” And we did.

By the time we left, we knew that we hadn’t just found a place to drink. We had found an experience, a moment in time that we would carry with us forever.

If you ever find yourself in Sayulita, make your way to Santa Iguanas. Ask for Sara. Let her craft a night you’ll never forget. Because what she offers is more than just cocktails—it’s...

The food is mediocre. Not good, not bad—just whatever. But on our last night, when we were hoping to have a nice dinner, it just kind of ruined the night.

We waited for an hour thinking that maybe there was a mistake in the kitchen and that they were fixing our dinner but nope. They just forgot about our order. In that whole time, no one came to our table to check-in on us. We tried getting their attention but no one would turn to acknowledge us. Would be a little more understandable if they were incredibly busy but they weren’t.

A couple of the us have worked at restaurants before and we tend to be pretty understanding but really, the service just sucked.

Once we made them aware of their mistake, there was no apology nor intention to make it up to us. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if they would have just said sorry but they never did. The service actually somehow became colder, if that’s even possible.

Side note: I have allergies and ordered a salad only to find that it had a dairy based sauce when the ingredients didn’t say so. I had told the waiter that I wanted the cheese on the side because I have a dairy allergy when ordering as well, so I’m surprised he never brought this up to me. At that point, I didn’t want to create more problems and just had my boyfriend eat it but if you have any food sensitivities/allergies this may not be the best spot as well.

There’s a place around the corner that’s pizza and pasta as well. Wait is longer but definitely worth it over this. Worst case scenario you get it to-go and even with that, the service will still be...

No. Just no. 5 star reviews (all at the same time suspiciously looking back) tempted us in, but the best part of dinner was the tacos we got on the way home. First our server didn’t know which of the salads were vegan or not, didn’t offer to check, just awkwardly stood there. Not a great sign for a restaurant specifically advertising vegan/vegetarian pastas. Salad had no dressing other than simple olive oil, assuming that’s their vegan option? Didn’t know as the server didn’t quality check or clarify. We were moved inside next to a what I have to assume is a direct feed to the toilet drain, based on the smell, when the 8pm COVID curfew hit. Pastas came out next in good time, and to be fair it was only the second worst pasta I’ve had in my life. Menu didn’t specify what kind of pastas, just said pasta for everything. Linguini, penne, who knows. Server gave my girlfriend the meat pasta and me the vegan pasta, thankfully she didn’t try it until we clarified and the servers had to take them away, double check between themselves and switch it. Cherry on top was the bills math being off and trying to charge us $100 pesos extra. Overall - bad food, inattentive service,...