San José

Dominique
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Green Fair Aranjuez
Calle 19
35 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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!!
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
San José Central Market
Avenida Central
65 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.
Nice cafe a few blocks away. Great for breakfast or lunch! Nice coffee. Luch menu with appetizer and entree.
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Café Otoya
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
La Esquina de Buenos Aires
57 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Café Rojo
Avenida 7
11 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Kalú
Calle 31
24 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.

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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Музей золота доколумбовой эпохи
Avenida Central
133 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
MADC
52 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Музей нефрита
Avenida Central
272 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.

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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cine Magaly
Calle 23
48 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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

Local Design & Art

Nice selection of Costa Rican design. Gifts, clothes, stationary, jewelry, shoes, ceramics etc. Close to the house, a nice walk.
9 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Tienda Eñe
Calle 11A
9 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Nice selection of Costa Rican design. Gifts, clothes, stationary, jewelry, shoes, ceramics etc. Close to the house, a nice walk.
Costarican design for clothes, jewerly, handbags etc
12 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Deaquí y Deallá
12 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Apotecario
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Restaurant and fancy bar with really nice cocktails. Food is amazing!

PARKS

Another nice park nearby
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Парк Эспанья
Avenida 5A
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Another nice park nearby
Tiny park in Escalante that has become a hanging out and picnic area at nights or on weekends.
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Парк Франции
Calle 29
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Tiny 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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Национальный парк
Calle 19
40 (рекомендации местных жителей)
A 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 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
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.