Nita Coffee

Cafe & Coffee in Surfside, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Early coffee in the heart of Surfside

Nita Coffee opens at 6:30 a.m., when Playa Potrero is still cool enough for a beach walk and the main road through Surfside is only beginning to stir. The café occupies two levels at Potrero Medical Plaza on Ruta 911, roughly 300 meters south of Bahia del Sol. It is close enough to the beach for a morning stop, yet set back in a plaza with straightforward parking.

The space combines indoor tables, open-air seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and room to settle in. Some people arrive for coffee before a tour. Others stay for breakfast and answer messages before the day gets hot. Families can spread out, and people walking from nearby rentals can reach the café without turning breakfast into a drive across the peninsula.

What to eat with your coffee

The food moves from pastries and lighter bites to made-to-order sandwiches and a Costa Rican breakfast. Pinto Nita pairs rice and beans with eggs, fresh Turrialba cheese, tomato, sausage, tortilla, and plantain—a substantial start before a boat trip, beach morning, or longer drive. Sandwiches such as the Lapo, Billy, Jake, Max, Chelsea, and Tiger combine clearly listed fillings with a choice of breads on the wider menu.

Vegan and gluten-free choices are often available among the pastries and broader menu. The selection changes as the morning moves along, so early visitors usually see the fullest case. If a dietary need is strict, explain it at the counter and choose from what is available that day. Non-dairy milk, smoothies, salads, and lighter plates make it easier for a mixed group to order together.

Coffee, smoothies, and cold drinks

Coffee is the anchor, from espresso and Americano to cappuccino, latte, mocha, and iced versions that suit the Guanacaste heat. The five published smoothies are distinct: Taz combines banana, granola, almond butter, and milk; Raquel blends berries and banana; Sibu is built around watermelon and strawberry; Milo combines pineapple, celery, and cucumber; and Bourdain brings pineapple, banana, passion fruit, and basil together. During high season, cold-pressed juice may join the lineup.

Add what you want, choose a collection time, and send the request. Wait for Nita Coffee to accept it before paying. Once accepted, send the confirmed total to Nita's SINPE Móvil number with the order reference, then collect the order at the café. Payment goes directly to Nita rather than through PlayaPotrero.cr.

Choose the seat that fits the morning

The two-level layout gives Nita a different feel from a one-room coffee counter. Open-air tables work when the breeze is moving, while air-conditioned indoor seating offers relief later in the morning. Wi-Fi makes the café useful for a short work session, although it is still a daytime food business rather than an all-day coworking space. Service finishes at 2:00 p.m.

Parking is available at the plaza, and the café is pet friendly. The mix of seating also helps groups with different needs. If stairs are not comfortable, choose a ground-level table. If you are meeting someone, use Potrero Medical Plaza or Bahia del Sol as the landmark instead of a general Playa Potrero pin.

A natural first stop before the water

Surfside sits just inland from Potrero's long bay. From Nita Coffee, you can continue toward the beach, head north through town, or drive south toward Flamingo, Brasilito, and Conchal. An early breakfast fits before most day trips, while a late-morning sandwich works after a swim. The 2:00 p.m. close means this is not a fallback for the end of an afternoon tour.

For a low-effort morning, arrive near opening, order coffee and breakfast, then walk or drive to the water. If you are collecting a pickup order, the plaza makes the handoff simpler than a beachside stop. People heading to Liberia or inland Guanacaste can also eat here before leaving the coast, rather than relying on a roadside stop later.

Contact, pickup, and the practical details

Nita Coffee is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The telephone and WhatsApp number is +506 8792 5050, and email is available at nitacoffee@icloud.com. Those contacts are useful for a larger pickup request, a question about the current pastry case, or a dietary concern that affects the trip.

For navigation, follow Ruta 911 through Surfside and look for Potrero Medical Plaza around 300 meters south of Bahia del Sol. Bring a card or colones for the wider menu. Then keep the rest of the plan simple: coffee first, something good to eat, and Playa Potrero waiting a few minutes away.

Location

Phone: +506 8792 5050

Visit the official website