| Downtown San Jose |
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The Green Pig (256-6367) serves up Southern style barbeque. It's
located on Av. 7-9, Ca. 1, and is closed on Mondays. |
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Manolo's (221-2041) is an atmospheric joint that serves up great
comida tipica. The downstairs menu is more reasonable than the upstairs
menu. Located on Av. Central, Ca. 2. |
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Antojitos has great Mexican food and 5 locations in San José. The
atmosphere is festive, the food good, and the prices reasonable. Ask your
hotel or cab driver for the location nearest you. |
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El Balcón de Europa (221-4841)on Av. Central and Ca. 9 is famous
for its delicious and reasonably priced Italian cuisine. |
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Spoon is a pastry shop chain that can be found all over Costa
Rica. It serves deserts that are out of this world, and also serves tasty
light lunches. |
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Café Ruiseñor inside the National Theater is one of the
prettiest places to dine in San José. They have light food and drinks. |
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Near Downtown |
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Café Mundo (222-6190) in Barrio Otoya has an international menu,
a great atmosphere in a historic house, and reasonable prices. It's
located on Av. 9 and Ca. 15. |
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Lukas (233-8145) is in Commercial Centro El Pueblo. It serves big
steaks, and is open 24 hours. It's a very popular place, and we recommend
making reservations ahead of time. There are many great restaurants and
shops to check out at El Pueblo. Take a cab, since there is not much
parking, and soak up the atmosphere. |
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Rias Bajas (233-3214) in El Pueblo serves a great seafood paella. |
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Aserrí |
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Ram Luna (230-3060) is muy romántico! It has an international
menu, and a breathtaking view of the ccentral valley. |
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La Tranca (230-3505) has delicious grilled meats and chicharrones.
It's a rustic place with great views. |
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West of Downtown |
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Machu Picchu (222-7384) serves Peruvian food. This is a place that
you must try, especially if you are a ceviche fan. It's 125 meters from
Kentucky Fried Chicken on Avenida Colón. |
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La Piazetta (222-7896) has scrumptious Italian dishes, but no
pizza! Their risotto with salmon and caviar is a treat! Also try the filet
mignon in white truffle sauce. |
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Marisqueria La Princesa Marina (232-0481) 150 meters South of
Canal 7 on Sabana Oeste has delicious seafood for those on a budget. |
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La Fuente de los Mariscos (231-0631) in Centro Comercial San José
is another great place for top quality seafood. |
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Marbella (228-0180) in San Pedro (Centro Comercial de la Calle
Real) specializes in Spanish cuisine. They have many seafood dishes, as
well as beef, chicken, rabbit and pork. |
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East of Downtown / San Pedro |
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Le Chandelier (225-3980) is located in an old restored
Mediterranean mansion, and is just behind the ICE building in San Pedro.
The menu is French, and the food is out of this world! The fare is
expensive, be forewarned. If you are a connoisseur of French food we
recommend splurging. |
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Pizzeria II Pomodoro (224-0966) in San Pedro has great pizza. |
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Escazu |
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La Cascada (228-0906) (across from Supermercado Sarettos) has good
steaks and better ceviche. |
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Los Anonos (289-8447), next to la Cascada, serves great surf and
turf. |
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Valle Azul in San Antonio de Escazu offers elegant fine dining,
and a spectacular view. |
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The Lone Star Grill (229-7597) in Coronado has true Texas
atmosphere. The air is colder in Coronado, and it's fun to sit around
their fireplace and sip cocktails. The food is a "Taste of
Texas." We recommend the Texas burger. |
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La Cuenca Steakhouse (292-2344) above Coronado in Patio de Agua
has great chicharrones and veal tacos. Open Wednesday thru Sunday. Karaoke
Friday and Saturday nights. |
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Cabernet (229-1113) is above Coronado in Rancho Redondo. This wine
bar and French restaurant is in a beautiful old mansion, and has one of
the prettiest views of the central valley. The service here is impeccable.
This place is expensive, but very romantic! |
El Milagro
Delicious
seafood and an interesting menu which includes items such as crepes
with ice cream, chicken cordon bleu, bananas flambe, etc. Beautiful
garden scenery with outdoor and indoor dining available. |
La Meridiana
This Italian
favorite is one of the pricier choices for dining in Tamarindo and
is an elegant experience in a friendly, casual environment. The menu
is mainly made up of seafood and pasta dishes. Take a left off the
main road and go about 100 yards to get there. |
Cantina Las Olas
This Mexican
food restaurant is on the left just before Iguana Surf. The fare is
inexpensive Tex-Mex and the atmosphere is surf. Loud music and surf
videos are common. Great fun. |
Fiesta Del Mar
Located right at
the end of the main road, the specialty is steak and seafood cooked
over a wood fire. Some nights feature live music. |
Coconut Cafe
On the left side
of the main road before you come into Tamarindo, you can expect a very
tropical atmosphere along with a creative menu. Be surprised. |
Cafe Milagro
These are two
neat little coffee shops in the area - one on the way to the beach
in Manuel Antonio across from the Mariposa Hotel and one in Quepos
as you enter town. They serve some of the best coffee available in
the country and have a fun atmosphere. They recently added a
sandwich menu and you can also shop for souvenirs. |
El Gran Escape
QueposThis is an American-owned restaurant in downtown Quepos and
is one of the first places you'll see as you enter town from the
north. The atmosphere is relaxing and the food is delicious. It's
definitely a tourist hangout and the menu and the prices reflect
it. Choose from all types of cuisine with seafood highest on the
list. The restaurant acts as the "center of sportfishing"
in Quepos and will cook your fresh catch. Service is excellent. |
Dos Locos
QueposA festive Mexican-style atmosphere often with live Latin
music and mariache bands blazing. For "Tex-Mex" lovers,
you should know that this is not the same. Dos Locos provides it's
own Mexican-style and while the menu looks the same, the flavor is
all it's own. Tasty, but we've been spoiled in Texas. Service is
"humdrum." |
Barba Roja
Manuel AntonioThe view here is fabulous and the food is excellent.
The menu is similar to that of El Gran Escape. There's a gallery
attached to the restaurant for perusing after your meal. Make sure
you go before sundown to enjoy the view. Service here has been
"gruff." |
La Cantina
Manuel AntonioLocated around an old train car across from and
owned by Costa Verde Hotel, this eatery has a regular live band
named the "Jungle Boys" that plays some pretty good
music from all over Central America. La Cantina has a huge
barbeque pit and serves up some terrific shish-K-bobs, among their
other delicious menu items. Service is acceptable. |
Mar y Sombra
This place is right on Playa Espadilla and has cement tables
in the sand. Have a plate of casado here. It's one of my
favorites. Plus, chances are a family of monkeys will mosey on by.
Service is very slow. |
| Hotel Plinio
Rest.German-owned, located only a mile or so up the road to the
beach from Quepos. I haven't been there, but I've heard some very
nice complements about the menu and the portions. Italian menu
with German and even Indionesian options. Service unknown. |
