Top things to do

On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura resides the Teatro Nacional, San José’s most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned neoclassical facade that is flanked by statues of Beethoven …

At this felicitous fusion of antique shop and French restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Richard Neat offers an exquisite menu of smaller sampling plates (Spanish tapas–style), normal-sized entrees, and a thoughtful w…

For a foodie-friendly cultural experience, don't miss this fabulous Saturday farmers market, a weekly meeting place for San José's artists and organic growers since 2010. You'll find organic coffee, artisanal chocol…

White linens and the sound of old tango evoke the atmospheric bistros of San Telmo, as does the menu, featuring grilled Argentine cuts of steak, house-made empanadas and an extensive selection of fresh pastas in exq…

Costa Rica’s most important theater stages plays, dance, opera, classical concerts, Latin American music and other major events. The main season runs from March to November, but there are performances throughout the…

The Escazú residence of Joanna Stein, identifiable only by a small 'J' on the door, might not seem like a restaurant. In fact it's much more. All day long, dressed in an apron and inked with dozens of tattoos, the s…

This museum houses the world’s largest collection of American jade (pronounced ‘ha-day’ in Spanish), with an ample exhibition space of five floors offering seven exhibits. There are nearly 7000 finely crafted, well-…

There are life-sized plastic zebras in the dining room at this snazzy open-air restaurant that appeared (and became a sensation) in 2015. An extension of Saúl Mendez, the Guatemala-based empire of men's fashion, the…

If you can't get to the Caribbean Coast, this restaurant is a good substitute. Manzanillo native Ricky transported his lip-smacking restaurant to the Central Valley in 2014 and everybody started showing up to feast …

This cool corner pub in Barrio Escalante is awash in bright murals, with seating in cushy blue booths, intimate back rooms or on the convivial bar stools up front. A menu of bocas, sandwiches, pizzas and more is ser…