Central Valley Restaurants
Growing Escazú has become as metropolitan as San José and has the restaurant selection to prove it. Elsewhere, as befits this cradle of the country's tradition, typical Costa Rican cuisine still reigns.
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12 Recommendations
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1. Bar y Restaurante Coto
$$ | |A local institution since 1952, this large rancho restaurant and bar is famous for its huge meat platters—we're talking 1 to 1½ kilos (2¼ to 3½ pounds) of meat—with all the típico side dishes. Or you can dine more daintily on sautéed trout. The interior dining area is actually quite smart, with fresh white tablecloths overlaid with colorful cloths, and a view of the lovely Orosi church.
Orosi, Cartago, 30203, Costa Rica2533–3032Known For
- Enormous meat platters
- Good seafood dishes
- Pleasant view of Orosi church
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2. Bar y Restaurante El Mirador
$$ | |Perched on a ridge several miles north of town, El Mirador has a sweeping view of the Central Valley that is impressive by day but more beautiful at dusk and after dark. Get a window table in the dining room, or one on the adjacent porch if it isn't too cool. The menu, which includes lomito (tenderloin) and corvina (sea bass) served with various sauces, and several shrimp and chicken dishes, plays second fiddle to the view; you may want to stop in around sunset for drinks and appetizers instead of dinner. There are at least two other restaurants nearby with similar names and views—this is the one we recommend. It’s on the main road, close to the Buena Vista Hotel.
Road to Poás, Alajuela, Alajuela, 20103, Costa Rica2441–9347Known For
- Stunning views of Central Valley
- Lomito (tenderloin) in variety of sauces
- Friendly service
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3. Barbecue Los Anonos
$$ | |Costa Ricans flock here to enjoy Los Anonos’ family-friendly grill fest. Your best bet is the grilled meat, and there is plenty to choose from, including imported U.S. beef and less expensive Costa Rican cuts. Fresh fish, shrimp, and half a dozen salads round out the choices. The crowd tends toward families on weekend nights, whereas weekdays are busier during lunch, when business executives come for the midday specials. Choose between the original dining room, a rustic collection of deep booths with wooden benches, or a more elegant expanse decorated with historic photos.
400 meters (1,312 feet) west of Los Anonos Bridge, Escazú, San José, 10203, Costa Rica2228–0180Known For
- Hearty grilled steaks
- Family-friendly service
- Reasonably priced weekday lunch specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
4. Búlali
$$ | |The name means “honey” in Costa Rica’s indigenous Bribri language, and that—rather than refined sugar—provides the added sweetness to the baked goods here. Croissants, quinoa pancakes, and omelets make for filling breakfasts while light beef, chicken, and veggie fare with salads round out the lunch offerings. Accompany all with cold-pressed juices, smoothies, or teas for what might ail you.
Autopista Próspero Fernández, Escazú, San José, Costa Rica2519–9090Known For
- Plenty of gluten-free offerings, a rarity in Costa Rica
- Fruit and honey smoothies
- Mouthwatering baked goods
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5. Freddo Fresas
$$ | |Fresas means "strawberries," and they’re the star at this rustic wooden place on the way to the volcano. They end up on your corn pancakes, in juices, as desserts, or as sides to the variety of típico dishes here. Gallo pinto (rice and beans) is on the menu for breakfast, of course. Hearty olla de carne and sopa de pozol—meat and bean soups, respectively, make for filling lunches. A good, economical bet is the casado lunch special, a Costa Rican specialty of meat, rice, beans, and salad.
Poás Volcán National Park, Alajuela, Costa Rica2482–2800Known For
- Tortillas aliñadas (huge corn tortillas with cheese and cream)
- Piping hot coffee
- Strawberry everything
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Gallo Rojo
$$ | |An upscale tour of the street food of East and Southeast Asia focuses primarily on the owner’s mother’s native Taiwan, with flavors from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore mixed in for good measure. The wealth of riches includes gua bao (a Taiwanese steamed meat or chicken sandwich), gyoza (Japanese-style pork and ginger rolls), pad Thai, and Singapore noodles. The menu does vary slightly every few months just to shake things up a bit. If you come for dinner, make it an early one; the place closes at 7 pm.
Escazú, San José, Costa Rica2289–5254Known For
- Gastronomic tour of Asia
- Friendly staff
- Several gluten-free options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. -
7. Jalapeños Central
$$ | |Tasty, hearty, filling Tex-Mex food and a gregarious owner make this basic downtown joint a great place for lunch or dinner. Everybody seems to know everybody else here—this is a favorite hangout among the area’s expat community—and you’ll be welcome, too. Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, and tacos make up the fare, all spiced up or simmered down according to your wishes. The kitchen is always happy to prepare a vegetarian version of any dish, too.
Alajuela, Alajuela, 20101, Costa Rica2430–4027Known For
- Great fajitas
- Friendly service
- Fun dining atmosphere
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8. La Casona del Cafetal
$$ | |The valley's most scenic and famous lunch stop sits on a coffee plantation overlooking the Cachí Reservoir. It's firmly on the beaten path, which means frequent visits from tour groups. The spacious indoor dining area has a high barrel-tile roof, but the most sought-after tables are out on the tiled, lakeside portico, draped with flowering vines framing gorgeous lake views. The menu has both Costa Rican staples and sophisticated dishes such as corvina guarumos (bass stuffed with mushrooms). Expect a wait on weekends, when diners come from miles around for the gargantuan $25 lunch buffet that ends with delicious, coffee-flavored desserts and the Casona's own coffee, made cup by cup in the old-fashioned Costa Rican way. After lunch, take a stroll down the garden path to the lake or check out the souvenir stands in the parking lot.
Orosi, Cartago, 30204, Costa Rica2577–1414Known For
- Immensely popular weekend lunch buffet
- Yummy coffee desserts
- Solid menu of típico food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner -
9. La Puerta del Sol
$$ | |A cut above the usual soda, this large, long-established restaurant across from the basilica has been feeding pilgrims for seven decades. Along with hearty portions of seafood, grilled meats, and typical casados, the restaurant has a popular bar and terrace.
North side of basilica plaza, Cartago, Cartago, 30102, Costa Rica2551–0615Known For
- Ample servings
- Decent dining in a town that generally lacks it
- Good view of the basilica
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10. Restaurant 1910
$$ | |The menu here at this upscale countryside spot is predominantly Costa Rican, with such traditional specialties as trucha (trout) and rice with chicken, along with some more sophisticated dishes, like corvina (sea bass) fillet with a coconut-liqueur sauce. The Sunday típico buffet is a great introduction to Costa Rican cooking. Decorated with vintage photos of early-20th-century buildings and landscapes, this upscale restaurant teaches a history lesson of the region. The photos also document the disastrous 1910 earthquake that rocked this area and all but destroyed the colonial capital of Cartago.
Road to Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú, Irazú Volcano National Park, Cartago, 30101, Costa Rica2536–6063Known For
- Variety of trout dishes
- Pleasant rural setting
- Vintage photo exhibit
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. -
11. Restaurante Chubascos
$$ | |Dine amid tall pines and colorful flowers on the upper slopes of Poás Volcano. There’s a small menu of traditional Tico dishes that includes platters of gallos (homemade tortillas with meat, cheese, or potato filling) as well as delicious daily specials. The refrescos (fresh fruit drinks) are top-drawer, especially the ones made from locally grown fresas (strawberries) and moras (blackberries) blended with milk.
Poás Volcán National Park, Alajuela, 20801, Costa Rica2482–2280Known For
- Terrific Tico cooking
- Refreshing fruit drinks
- Pleasant countryside setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner -
12. Restaurante La Feria
$$ | |A permanent exhibition of local art and the expertise of the owner make this a worthwhile stop. This pleasant family-style restaurant has the usual midscale Costa Rican fare, ranging from fast food to filet mignon. The house specialty is beef tenderloin topped with a Spanish-inspired red-wine-and-mushroom sauce. Casados and gallo pinto compete with more-familiar chicken and seafood dishes. Even paella is on the menu (with three hours' notice), and there's homemade apple pie for dessert.
Turrialba, Cartago, 30501, Costa Rica2556–5550Known For
- Beef tenderloin in mushroom and wine sauce
- Good menu of Costa Rican favorites
- Reasonably priced lunch specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Tues.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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