San José
Food scene
Saturday Market 5 mins walking from your airbnb. Good organic and transition produce. Not cheap but good quality. Fresh vegetables and fruits as well as cheeses, yoghurts, jams, granolas, cures meats, pickled veggies etc. Yummy breakfasts / brunch of all sorts from classic tico fare like gallopinto and picadillos to omelets, falafel sandwich, colombian arepas, fancy french toasts, coconut milkshakes etc. 7am-12noon every Saturday. Most veggies are gone by 9am. Just follow the train tracks to the left as you exit the road of the house. Walk 5 min and go down towards the plaza. Beware when you walk the tracks as trains use them!!
35 habitants recommandent
Green Fair Aranjuez
Calle 19Saturday Market 5 mins walking from your airbnb. Good organic and transition produce. Not cheap but good quality. Fresh vegetables and fruits as well as cheeses, yoghurts, jams, granolas, cures meats, pickled veggies etc. Yummy breakfasts / brunch of all sorts from classic tico fare like gallopinto and picadillos to omelets, falafel sandwich, colombian arepas, fancy french toasts, coconut milkshakes etc. 7am-12noon every Saturday. Most veggies are gone by 9am. Just follow the train tracks to the left as you exit the road of the house. Walk 5 min and go down towards the plaza. Beware when you walk the tracks as trains use them!!
Central Market in downtown San José. Nice place to walk around. Many food stalls with empanadas, enyucados and other fried marvels. Recomendarions are the traditional ice cream for Heladería Lolo Mora; the Talapinto from Soda Tala (gallo pinto and egg in a banana leaf, cheap and yummy) and the seafood soup in a small corner place in the west side of the mercado that is always full. No tables, just small chairs around the delicious smell of their casseroles. It also has crafts, veggies, fresh fish and meats.
65 habitants recommandent
San José Central Market
Avenida CentralCentral Market in downtown San José. Nice place to walk around. Many food stalls with empanadas, enyucados and other fried marvels. Recomendarions are the traditional ice cream for Heladería Lolo Mora; the Talapinto from Soda Tala (gallo pinto and egg in a banana leaf, cheap and yummy) and the seafood soup in a small corner place in the west side of the mercado that is always full. No tables, just small chairs around the delicious smell of their casseroles. It also has crafts, veggies, fresh fish and meats.
Nice cafe a few blocks away. Great for breakfast or lunch! Nice coffee. Luch menu with appetizer and entree.
10 habitants recommandent
Café Otoya
Nice cafe a few blocks away. Great for breakfast or lunch! Nice coffee. Luch menu with appetizer and entree.
Amazing ambience, nice Argentinian food and good wines. Nice size wine by the glass!!
57 habitants recommandent
La Esquina de Buenos Aires
Amazing ambience, nice Argentinian food and good wines. Nice size wine by the glass!!
Nice cafe and restaurant open for lunch in downtown San José. A small peaceful space if you are in the busy noisy center. Nice food like vietnamise sandwich.
11 habitants recommandent
Café Rojo
Avenida 7Nice cafe and restaurant open for lunch in downtown San José. A small peaceful space if you are in the busy noisy center. Nice food like vietnamise sandwich.
New name Cafeoteca! - Best coffee in town! Amazing restaurant for a nice treat for lunch, brunch or an afternoon coffee. Their burger is amazing, so are their deserts. Very fresh salads, with nice mix of ingredients. Chef cuisine. The place is located in a remodeled house from the 1950’s. Nice patio with plenty greens, small play for kids, terrace in the street as well. Their coffee shop has dedicated baristas and many brewing options for trying costarican beans roasted on site! Check their website for menu and hours.
24 habitants recommandent
Kalú
Calle 31New name Cafeoteca! - Best coffee in town! Amazing restaurant for a nice treat for lunch, brunch or an afternoon coffee. Their burger is amazing, so are their deserts. Very fresh salads, with nice mix of ingredients. Chef cuisine. The place is located in a remodeled house from the 1950’s. Nice patio with plenty greens, small play for kids, terrace in the street as well. Their coffee shop has dedicated baristas and many brewing options for trying costarican beans roasted on site! Check their website for menu and hours.
ART
Art spaces and museums
TEOR/éTica is a contemporary art space in downtown Barrio Amón. It s located in two facing houses from the 1940’s that are very well kept and have a lot of charm. It showcases mostly art from Central America and the Caribbean; as well as some international exhibitions. It has a good library open to the public (mostly contemporary art) as well as a nice patio where it s possible to work and hang out. www.teoretica.org for current exhibitions.
Lado V Teoretica
TEOR/éTica is a contemporary art space in downtown Barrio Amón. It s located in two facing houses from the 1940’s that are very well kept and have a lot of charm. It showcases mostly art from Central America and the Caribbean; as well as some international exhibitions. It has a good library open to the public (mostly contemporary art) as well as a nice patio where it s possible to work and hang out. www.teoretica.org for current exhibitions.
Gold Museum, Numismatic museum and art museum, all under the Plaza de la Cultura square in downtown San José. Interesting architecture, nice shop and truly amazing displays of golden artifacts from indigenoius cultures of Costa Rica.
133 habitants recommandent
Musée de l'Or précolombien
Avenida CentralGold Museum, Numismatic museum and art museum, all under the Plaza de la Cultura square in downtown San José. Interesting architecture, nice shop and truly amazing displays of golden artifacts from indigenoius cultures of Costa Rica.
Comporary Art & Design Museum a few block away, just in front of a beautiful park and the National Library. Might have some interesting temporary exhibitions.
52 habitants recommandent
MADC
Comporary Art & Design Museum a few block away, just in front of a beautiful park and the National Library. Might have some interesting temporary exhibitions.
Museum of indigenous art from Costa Rica, mostly Jade artifacts but also ceramics, stone and gold. Situated in a fairly new building with ample and modern exhibition spaces.
272 habitants recommandent
Musée du Jade
Avenida CentralMuseum of indigenous art from Costa Rica, mostly Jade artifacts but also ceramics, stone and gold. Situated in a fairly new building with ample and modern exhibition spaces.
CINE / MOVIES
Nice places to watch movies
Centro de Cine. National Cinema organization Beautiful building not far from your apartment. It has an event called Preámbulo which shows independent films in a small venue within their historic space. Not a movie theater. Simple chairs and student atmosphere. Check their website for updates on their showing times. Free.
Costa Rican Film Production Center
Centro de Cine. National Cinema organization Beautiful building not far from your apartment. It has an event called Preámbulo which shows independent films in a small venue within their historic space. Not a movie theater. Simple chairs and student atmosphere. Check their website for updates on their showing times. Free.
One of the two remaining cinemas in San Jose that are not in a Mall. Amazing building. Good movies. The main venue is really big and beautiful. They also opened a second sala which is quite small but nice comfy seats and sound. Walking distance. About 15-20 mins. Tickets and showing times: https://cinemagaly.com
48 habitants recommandent
Cine Magaly
Calle 23One of the two remaining cinemas in San Jose that are not in a Mall. Amazing building. Good movies. The main venue is really big and beautiful. They also opened a second sala which is quite small but nice comfy seats and sound. Walking distance. About 15-20 mins. Tickets and showing times: https://cinemagaly.com
Local Design & Art
Nice selection of Costa Rican design. Gifts, clothes, stationary, jewelry, shoes, ceramics etc. Close to the house, a nice walk.
9 habitants recommandent
Tienda Eñe
Calle 11ANice selection of Costa Rican design. Gifts, clothes, stationary, jewelry, shoes, ceramics etc. Close to the house, a nice walk.
Deaquí y Deallá
Costarican design for clothes, jewerly, handbags etc
Stationary and gifts by Costarican designer and illustrator Priscilla Aguirre
Holalola Travel gift shop
Stationary and gifts by Costarican designer and illustrator Priscilla Aguirre
BAR
Old bar with very cold beers and simple cheap 'bocas' (costarican tapas or small dishes).
El Acapulco
Old bar with very cold beers and simple cheap 'bocas' (costarican tapas or small dishes).
Restaurant and fancy bar with really nice cocktails. Food is amazing!
25 habitants recommandent
Apotecario
Restaurant and fancy bar with really nice cocktails. Food is amazing!
PARKS
Parque Espana
Avenida 5AAnother nice park nearby
Tiny park in Escalante that has become a hanging out and picnic area at nights or on weekends.
19 habitants recommandent
Parc France
Calle 29Tiny park in Escalante that has become a hanging out and picnic area at nights or on weekends.
A nice park close by with many big trees and tables for picnic. Recomended in the day time only.
40 habitants recommandent
Parque Nacional Park
Calle 19A nice park close by with many big trees and tables for picnic. Recomended in the day time only.
Nature
Amazing buttergly garden along the river in San Jose. You will never believe you are in the middle of the city! Has its own cafe. Nice walks.
10 habitants recommandent
Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
Amazing buttergly garden along the river in San Jose. You will never believe you are in the middle of the city! Has its own cafe. Nice walks.