The Emerald House

Had a nice dinner here. The staff was very friendly and well mannered. Service was great, we got a bottle of water and a little appetizer for free while we were waiting for our food to be prepared.

The food itself was also very good. Great portions and very handy that you can choose your self what you want as a side dish. The vegetables were very nicely cooked and had lots of flavour.

The crêpe with ice cream and banana was a very nice dessert, glad we took one to share because it was quite the portion!

We had a very nice dinner time here, definitely recommend!

A brilliant private hotel which was clean and welcoming. The staff are brilliant and make like they're glad to see you. Nothing like the big chains but an absolute favourite for us. Food is excellent as well as being reasonably priced. Breakfast pancakes are magic.

Highly recommended!!

My wife and I stayed three nights at The Emerald House and found it to be a very delightful hotel. The room was comfortable, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The AC worked well, and it came with hot water in the shower. The water pressure was a bit weak but adequate. The hotel is a little bit off the main street which made it less noisy yet convenient to the beach and downtown area. Parking is limited but once parked you can pretty much walk where you need to go. The restaurant served very good food and breakfast was included in the very reasonable room rate. I would highly recommend a stay here and definitely stop by for a great meal when in Samara.

Came here twice as Casa Esmeralda was recommended by Captain Frank Fines to prepare our fish. For dinner we asked for it grilled with their special house made avocado sauce, really enjoyed it, they know not to over cook.

Dinner was so good we came back for lunch the next day with more fish. This time it was fish fingers and fries, it may have actually been better than dinner.

Service here is super friendly and the owners son even hugged my wife when his father was taking him home. Prices are very reasonable for the area and quality of the food.

We had a dinner here and the food was amazing! Fresh fish (mahi-mahi) with delicious avocado saus and mixed seafood a la plancha. The best food we had so far in Costa Rica being here 2 weeks. Very nice service too!

Come thru! There is tremendous character to this lovely hotel. My family and I stayed over the New Year and I'll never forget it. The spot has a nice location, and a very comfortable Ambience. You will run into Ticos and Europeans and many other folks. Additionally, the staff is so kind and very social. They speak English quite well. And they serve a superb breakfast.

If you are going to Samara (the best), this place is a go to. Son los mejores.

We have been coming to Samara every winter for the last 10 years. Cassa Esmeralda has consistently been the best restaurant we have eaten in. We have tried them all, and many are very good, but Esmeralda is the best. First of all, they have the best margaritas. Believe me, I have tried them all over town and theirs are the most generous and tasty. No one in town prepares fish better than they do and their mahi-mahi with avocado sauce is definitely my favorite. I have also had great tuna steaks there and whole snapper. My wife loves their shrimp and pasta dishes. The portions that they serve are very generous, and their sides are terrific, especially their vegetable medley. We are going back tonight.

Tuna steak was delicious. The personal is very kind, who could also sing very well 😊 The location is very simple, but still cozy.
Thank you!

Can’t say enough great things about the restaurant. We did not stay in the hotel. The waiter and the food at this restaurant was completely top-notch. We were staying down the beach and a local recommended this spot to us as it’s one of the few truly locally owned restaurants in Sámara. Get the mahi with the avocado cream sauce, and you will be in heaven. I also got the arroz con pulpo and it also was exceptional.

The food (specially seafood) is just amazing, great service too. We will be back for sure.

We had lunch today, authentic sea food lunch, absolutely tasty.

I didn't stay here as a guest but the restaurant at Casa Esmeralda is excellent! I especially like the spicy octopus and mussels.

Came here for dinner. Inquired about the fish, grilled or fried. The waiter suggested grilled variety of the whole fish option. Killer suggestion. Salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Grilled vegetables and french fries for sides. Served fast, too. 10/10

I’m not big on leaving reviews but this place deserves it. So happy we chose this hotel for my first trip to Samara. Great room for a great price, and awesome breakfast included. I’ve honestly never had a better complimentary breakfast. Most the rooms are above the restaurant, which was also great. Fish and ceviche was amazing. The staff was great, friendly and kept our room tidy daily. We had issues without our air conditioning and a repairman was out immediately to fix it. We went one night with A/C so they brought a fan and it was fixed the next day. Things are pretty laid back in Costa Rica so we were pleasantly surprised with how quickly the staff took care of the issue. I wish I knew the woman’s name who ran the hotel because I would give a shout out. She was amazing, working the reception, the kitchen and everything in between. I can’t imagine how hard it is for her and the rest of the staff to try to communicate with and please patrons from all over the world but she was great. Thanks for a great experience!

Recommend the Arroz Dela Esmeralda! Lots of shrimp. Very tasty. Good service. Close to our hotel.

Best service we had during our 2 weeks trip. The manager was so kind and attentive. I had the tuna steak and the portion was huge. Everything was good.

Delicious meal and wonderful service. This place came highly recommended by our cab driver. He said he eats here at least once a week. Try a dish featuring their esmeralda sauce. It is fantastic!

Stayed here to eat lunch with friends. Good size servings, dishes with fresh fish and homes made recipes that were passed on down the family line. Reasonably priced.

I can’t speak to the hotel - we only ate at the restaurant, but this is our second time in three days. The food is excellent, and the Mussels in Spicy Sauce appetizer is phenomenal. I wish I had taken a photograph, but this phone only shoots at 240 fps and they don’t last that long!

Can only speak to the restaurant and wow! The best meal we had during our week in Samara. Was recommended by a local for authentic Costa Rica food and it did not disappoint. Seafood platter was to die for extremely well priced.