Will be there soon and looking for recommendations for restaurants and bars in the area. Also any ideas on hikes within a hour or so drive to see waterfalls, monkeys, sloths, etc would be appreciated. TIA.

We took a tour to La Sensoria that was amazing. It is in the middle of the rain forest with waterfalls and thermal pools. We saw monkeys, sloths and lots of beautiful birds and butterflies.
You can also do a cool ATV tour through through the rainforest that takes you up to a great zip line. Then you ride the ATV back on the beach.
You can also take a jet ski tour to an uninhabited island that is gorgeous. And you drive by some beautiful homes on the way there.
Surfing lessons at Kelly's are also super popular.
You'll see (and hear) howler monkeys pretty much anywhere you go.
We definitely are not foodies, so we enjoy the laid back restaurants on the beach that have seating in the sand.
We love Tamarindo. It is a super chill surf town with great people. You'll have a wonderful time!