Árbol Restaurant Pool Terrace: Breakfast, Lunch and Happy Hour
Official secure booking on makanda.com
Breakfast on the Pool Terrace — 7:00 to 10:00
Breakfast at Árbol runs every day from 7am to 10am on the pool terrace. The setting is the defining feature: morning shade, Pacific views through the forest canopy, and the sounds of the rainforest before the day heats up. The menu covers fresh tropical fruit plates with whatever is in season, local Costa Rican eggs, house-baked bread, granola and yoghurt options, and freshly prepared Costa Rican coffee. Fresh juices and smoothies change based on seasonal fruit — ask the team what is particularly good that week. The floating breakfast in your private pool is available as an alternative — arrange with reception the evening before and it will be ready when you wake up.
Pool Terrace Lunch Menu — 11:00 to 18:00
The pool terrace lunch menu runs from 11am to 6pm every day and covers a full range of lighter dishes designed to be eaten at the pool or on the terrace without interrupting your afternoon. The menu includes appetizers and salads — the Makanda Craft Salad with avocado, mango, asparagus and truffle honey dressing ($22) is one of the most ordered items at lunch. Soups include Sweet Corn Cream with king prawns ($18) and the After Party Recovery Soup with beef, mushrooms and ginger ($18). Pasta options, fresh ceviche, burgers and a dedicated vegetarian selection are all available throughout lunch hours. The kitchen uses fresh local ingredients and the menu reflects what is available from Costa Rican producers that week.
Happy Hour — 16:00 to 18:00 Every Day
Happy Hour at Árbol runs every day from 4pm to 6pm — the two hours that overlap with the most atmospheric light on the Pacific. A selection of cocktails and drinks at reduced prices, alongside small sharing bites, makes this the most social moment of the Árbol day. The full signature cocktail menu is available throughout happy hour: Krisp Yuzu-Sake, The Rooster, Mojito with Coconut, Country Club and Pomegranate Old Fashion. Aperol Spritz and Pomegranate Spritz are popular at this hour. The pool bar and terrace tables fill quickly during high season — arrive slightly before 4pm to secure the best position. Happy hour transitions directly into dinner service, so the evening flows naturally from drinks on the terrace to a table for dinner.
Vegetarian Options at Árbol Pool Terrace
Árbol maintains a dedicated vegetarian selection available throughout pool terrace lunch hours (11am to 6pm). The menu is not an afterthought — vegetarian dishes at Árbol are built with the same attention to seasonal ingredients and flavour combinations as the rest of the menu. The Makanda Craft Salad with avocado, mango and truffle honey works as a full vegetarian lunch. The Artisanal Ravioli with ricotta, spinach and butter sauce ($24) is available from the main dinner menu but can be requested during lunch service. Fresh tropical fruit smoothies and the lemonade selection — ginger and thyme, watermelon and basil, kiwi and orange — are naturally vegetarian and available all day. Ask the team about current vegetarian specials which vary with seasonal availability.
What to Drink at the Pool Terrace
The pool bar at Árbol is open from breakfast through to the close of happy hour at 6pm, with the full cocktail and drinks menu available from 11am onward. Fresh smoothies include Toxin Flash, Date Nut and Amazing Mango at $18. Refreshing Costa Rican craft lemonades in 1.5-litre jars — ginger and thyme, watermelon and basil, or kiwi and orange — are ideal for long afternoons at $24. The signature cocktail selection, classic cocktails, Spritz and Martini range are all available throughout the afternoon. Wine by the glass covers white, rosé and red at $18 from a carefully selected list. Sangria by the litre — white or red, with Flor de Caña rum, triple sec and orange juice — is the most popular pool-side group option at $32.
The Pool Terrace Setting and Who It Is For
The Árbol pool terrace faces due west over the Pacific at Makanda by the Sea — every table looks toward the ocean through the Costa Rican forest canopy. The adults-only policy at Makanda means the terrace is consistently quiet, the pace is unhurried, and the atmosphere is oriented entirely toward couples and independent travellers who want to eat and drink well without noise or urgency. The pool is directly adjacent to the terrace, which means the boundary between swimming, eating and having a drink is completely fluid. Outside guests are welcome for pool terrace lunch and happy hour — a day pass to Makanda gives access to the adults-only pool, the terrace and the full Árbol daytime menu. Contact Makanda reception at reception@makanda.com to enquire about day pass availability.
Direct booking tips before you travel
If you like to plan with zero surprises, review our official Reservation Policy before arrival so you know exactly how deposits, payments, and cancellations work.
Useful links for planning your stay:
Ready to check dates and live availability?
Official secure booking on makanda.com
