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El Marquez

Santa Elena, Costa Rica
645-5918
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Ranked #11 of 22 restaurants in Santa Elena
Cuisines: Seafood
Good for: Groups, Local cuisine
Dining options: Reservations
Restaurant details
Good for: Groups, Local cuisine
Dining options: Reservations
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52 reviews from our community

80% Recommend
    28
    14
    6
    2
    2
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Brownsville, Oregon
Top Contributor
71 reviews 71 reviews
44 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 41 cities Reviews in 41 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 April 2013

We had high hopes for El Marquez after reading the reviews. Maybe it was just a bad night, but it was our worst meal while visiting Costa Rica. The restaurant is small and the decor is an uninspired nautical theme. There was only one server, although he did his best to keep the pace of service up. Unlike other local... More

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See 5 more reviews by TravelVet61 for Santa Elena
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 April 2013

Everywhere in Costa Rica, one can get fresh juices. Don't know why - the fruit, the ratio of fruit to ice, the amount of blending - the best we had were at the El Marquez. Maybe it was the portion, too! The food was very authentic and fresh, and the portions were huge, actually much larger than we really needed.... More

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Miami, Florida
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
15 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 April 2013

We liked this place so much that we returned on our second night and ordered almost the same food. The fish plates are very tasty. Everyone enjoyed each plate that was ordered. Their fresh fruit drinks (mora, lemonade, etc.) are huge and very tasty. We had some of the biggest and best mojitos ever! The only thing that can improve... More

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See 2 more reviews by acostajorge44 for Santa Elena
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 April 2013

I tried out El Marquez after meeting a woman at another restaurant and being told by her that El Marquez was one of the best places to eat in the Santa Elena/Monteverde area. This woman had been living in Monteverde for 4 months and hated it. Couldn't wait to leave. She had spent her time there visiting restaurants and hiking.... More

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Guatemala City, Guatemala
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
16 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 February 2013

This is a fab restaurant. Locally owned an operated. Great menu (something for everyone) including typical CR dishes or something a little more fancy! Where else can you get a casado CR style for $7? You can't. Service is excellent and super attentive and don't forget to try the lemonade with a dash of mint! Everytime I return to Monteverde,... More

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Toronto
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 February 2013

The food here was excellent, not inexpensive but delicious and well worth it. The owners & waiter were charming and very friendly. It has a very good ambiance but we wished there had been more customers for their sake. If you are in Santa Elena please try El Marquez.

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Toronto, Canada
Top Contributor
63 reviews 63 reviews
22 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 January 2013

There are tons of restaurants in Santa Elena and Monteverde, and a lot of them are very, very good. But El Marquez is where I had one of my best meals ever. The mixed seafood plate was perfect. I literally had to put down my fork between each bite to savour the flavour. The rice is also very well done.... More

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See 8 more reviews by JustinaL370 for Santa Elena
Winters, California
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
7 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 January 2013

Okay, maybe we weren't impressed because we'd spent a week eating fresh-caught tuna from the Pescaderia in Guiones, and because we live in California and eat fish regularly -- or maybe we ordered the wrong dish, but we weren't particularly impressed with the food here. Or the price. Nice enough place and if you haven't eaten much fish lately and... More

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See 3 more reviews by Jo C for Santa Elena
Indiana
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 January 2013

This is one of my favorite restaurants that I have ever been to on any trip! The waiter was very personable, great atmosphere and the seafood is really outstanding.

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Fort Wayne, Indiana
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 January 2013

This looks like one step above a typical Soda, but oh my the food was absolutely delicious! We got the mixed platter and the sea bass and kept making loud "oh my gosh this is wonderful!" noises through our meal. We would go back if we ever visit the area again!

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See 2 more reviews by Katie B for Santa Elena

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