Kimberly Pham
Google
We usually hike from Mamabo Beach to Jan Thiel Beach, and our go-to chill spots have always been KoKo or Zanzibar. However, last Sunday, we decided to try Papagayo Beach Club. The pros are clear: plenty of comfortable lounge chairs, a beautiful infinity pool with an ocean view, and a crowd that brings a mellow, pleasant vibe.
But the cons are significant. The food and drinks didn’t impress. I had a piña colada, which was far too sweet, and the whiskey sour had a smoky aroma that made it taste nothing like a proper whiskey sour. As for the food, while the presentation was nice, the taste was bland.
The worst part, though, was the poor management. After an 8 km hike, I was hungry and ordered a fish dish. When it arrived, I didn’t notice that it was actually chicken, I was so hungry that I didn’t realize the mistake. Halfway through, the waitress came back and told us there had been a mix-up and that I’d received chicken instead of fish. She asked if I still wanted the fish, and of course, I said yes. She took the half-eaten chicken dish back and brought out the fish about 10 minutes later. Then, a guy came out with my original chicken plate and asked if we wanted it. Not wanting it to go to waste, we said yes. But then they told us we’d have to pay for the chicken since we’d already eaten half of it. I didn’t want to make a scene over a $24 meal, but honestly, the whole situation was mishandled poorly.
That experience really soured our time there, and honestly, we may not return. The lounge area is nice, but if you’re eating here, pay close attention to your order. If something’s wrong, don’t touch it, return it immediately to avoid being charged for something you didn’t order.
