Restaurants in San José
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La Esquina de Buenos Aires
Spanish-tile floors, bright white linens and the sound of old tangos evoke the atmospheric bistros of San Telmo – making this one of the top spots in the city for a steak and a glass of Malbec. Also tasty are the house-made empanadas (turnovers stuffed with meat or cheese) and the extensive selection of fresh pastas, including vegetarian options such as tender raviolis stuffed with mozzarella and fresh basil. There’s a good wine list (bottles from ₡4500), attentive service and flickering candlelight, making this an ideal place for a date.
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Bar Morazán
Walk through the dim, smoky lobby casino of the Hotel Costa Rica Morazán up to the 2nd floor and you will be rewarded with one of the cheapest, most filling almuerzos ejecutivos (set lunches) in San José. On weekdays, the bar serves a rotating daily special that pulls in local office workers for platters piled with items like fried fish with lentils, rice and green salad. The price includes juice and dessert. The best part: you get to enjoy your meal before a sublime wall-sized mural of dogs playing poker.
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Machu Picchu
This locally renowned Peruvian restaurant will do you right if you have a hankering for all things Andean. A popular spot for a leisurely Sunday lunch, it has an encyclopedic menu featuring tasty Peruvian classics such as pulpo al olivo (octopus in olive sauce), ají de gallina (a nutty chicken stew) and causa (chilled potato terrines stuffed with shrimp and avocado), among many other things. There is also a children’s menu.
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El Chicote
A pleasant family spot that draws carnivores for long Sunday lunches, El Chicote grills up beefy sirloins in the middle of the restaurant and then serves them with black beans, fried bananas and steamy baked potatoes. If you don’t do red meat, there are plenty of chicken and seafood options as well. There is also a six-page wine list, strong on Mediterranean and South American vintages (from ₡3100).
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Kalú Café & Food Shop
Sharing a sleek space with the Kiosco SJO design store, this style-conscious cafe is the new restaurant by noted chef Camille Ratton. The menu is a global fusion of salads, sandwiches (try the miniburgers) and pastas, such as homemade gnocchi cooked in Malbec with wild mushrooms (₡6750). Whatever you do, don’t miss dessert: their light and airy cheesecake (₡2500), served with stewed fresh strawberries in balsamic is mind-meltingly good.
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La Cocina de Leña
‘The Wood Stove’ is a charming spot with terra-cotta tiles, a wood-beam ceiling and the endearing tradition of printing its menu on brown paper bags. The fare is all Costa Rican country cooking, strong on dishes like tamales and olla de carne, a hearty meat-and-vegetable soup that warms the bones on chilly nights. There is live marimba music on some evenings.
reviewed
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Café Mundo
Location. Location. Location. This longtime Italian cafe and expat favorite has it. Set on a sprawling terrace in a vintage Barrio Otoya mansion, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and good (if not earth-shattering) pizzas and pastas within sight of a splashing outdoor fountain. The wine list is good and even includes a selection of bubbly Spanish cavas.
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Soda Tapia
An unpretentious ’50s-style diner, this place is perpetually filled with couples and families noshing on grilled sandwiches and generous casados. If you have the nerve, try the monstrous ‘El Gordo,’ a pile of steak, onions, gouda cheese, lettuce and tomato served on Spanish bread. But save room for dessert: Tapia specializes in sundaes.
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Don Wang
This hopping Cantonese eatery is an ideal place for dim sum (they serve it all day every day), as well as a long list of Chinese specialties, from stir-fried shrimp with cashews to mu shu vegetables (there are more than a dozen veggie dishes to choose from). Parents will love the children’s play area in the corner – ideal for restless toddlers.
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Soda Castro
It’s not in the best neighborhood, but this casual, six-decade-old Tico spot is a good place to feed the sweet tooth. You’ll find sundaes and banana splits, but it’s the house-made paletas (fresh fruit pops) that make this spot worth the walk. They come in a variety of seasonal flavors, including fantastically dreamy toasted coconut.
reviewed
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Nuestra Tierra
A taxidermied bull’s head greets you at this country restaurant, where the theme is Costa Rican spit and sawdust. Cheery waiters deliver wooden platters piled with heaping casados to hordes of hungry tourists and Tico families seated at rustic picnic-style tables. Portions are large, the food is good and the prices reasonable.
reviewed
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Huarache’s
This bustling Mexican restaurant on a nondescript block near Plaza Víquez (350m east of the Hospital de la Mujer) makes up for all the bland meals you’ve had in Costa Rica. Here you’ll find fresh honest-to-goodness tacos, quesadillas, guacamole, tortilla soup and hot sauces that’ll make you think you’ve died and gone to Mexico.
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Q Café
A sleek, monochromatic cafe with excellent views of the ornate Correo Central in the distance, this modern 2nd-story spot is perfect for coffee drinks (including delicious iced mocha) and pastries. There is also a full menu of savory snacks. Try the empanadas, which go well with the cafe’s homemade hot sauce.
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Las Mañanitas
You can get your Mexican fix at this charming garden restaurant that serves a variety of well-rendered specialties. It’s the tacos that are tops: corn tortillas stuffed full of chicken, steak, sea bass or carne al pastor (spiced pork) – best when accompanied by one of the restaurant’s refreshing margaritas.
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Chelle’s
This unpretentious spot serves basic sandwiches and casados – none of which are very exciting. Regardless, josefinos will tell you that you haven’t experienced San José until you’ve had a wee-hours breakfast here after a night of drinking – and there’s a bar in case you want to keep going.
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Mariscos Poseidon
This is a narrow, blue-and-yellow seafood joint run by the congenial Doris in the central market’s northern annex, just off Av 1. The ceviche mixto appetizer (fish, shrimp and octopus marinated in lime juice) is tasty and cheap, as are the generous portions of seafood-studded rice.
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La Piazzetta
This old-world Italian spot (expect waiters with bow ties) serves a lengthy list of traditional specialties: antipasto, creamy risottos, homemade pastas and tender veal. There is an extensive list of imported wines, and several luscious desserts – including a celebrated chocolate mousse.
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Vishnu
You’ll find a rainbow of fresh local produce, vegetable stews and well-rendered soy burgers at this informal chain of vegetarian cheapies. Most folks pile in for the inexpensive lunch specials, which generally include salad, fresh juice and dessert. There are vegan specialties as well. Another premises is located at cnr Av 4 & Calle 1.
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Restaurante La Criollita
A couple of doors down from El Torito is this homier local spot popular with office types, which dishes out a changing menu of simple Costa Rican specialties, such as stewed chicken or grilled fish. The setting is pleasant, the service efficient and you can accompany your meal with a glass of Chilean cabernet (₡1600).
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News Café
On the ground floor of Hotel Presidente is the most popular cafe in the city among gringo expats. The main draw is the daily selection of foreign newspapers and the free wi-fi, as well as a simple menu strong on American specialties such as sandwiches, salads and steaks.
reviewed
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Restaurante Shakti
This informal neighborhood health-food outpost has simple, organic-focused cooking as well as freshly baked goods. Favorites include veggie burgers, along with various fish dishes, but most people arrive for the casado of the day – which is always vegetarian.
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Helados de Sorbetera
Head to the main market for dessert at Helados de Sorbetera, a century-old local favorite that serves up cinnamon-laced frozen custard. Do as the locals do and order barquillos (cylindrical sugar cookies) to accompany your icy treat.
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Lukas
The Lukas has a good mid-priced selection of standard meat and seafood meals, as well as Italian dishes and sandwiches. It's locally recommended for good steaks and is a convenient location for carbo-loading before a night of drinking at the surrounding bars.
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Restaurante Tin-Jo
The interiors of this popular Asian standard-bearer are a riot of pan-Asian everything – just like the menu. Expect a wide range of fare from various regions – from kung pao shrimp to spicy tuna maki to pad thai – as well as an extensive vegetarian menu.
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El Torito
Within sight of the Museo de Jade, El Torito is an informal cafe-bakery stocked with sweet and savory turnovers and freshly baked breads. They also serve a short list of lunch specials (think roasted chicken with rice and beans) at comfortable prices.
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