Downtown Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Downtown - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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7 Recommendations
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1. Tin Jo
$$$ | |The colorful dining rooms of this converted house evoke Japan, India, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. Start with a powerful Singapore sling (brandy and fruit juices) before trying such treats as Thai shrimp and pineapple curry in coconut milk, Chinese mu shu stir-fry with crepes, Indian samosas, and sushi rolls. The vegetarian menu is extensive. Tin Jo stands out with always-exceptional food, attention to detail, and attentive service that make it, hands down, the country's top Asian restaurant.
C. 11, Avdas. 6–8, San José, San José, 10104, Costa Rica2221–7605Known For
- One of Costa Rica's best restaurants
- Impeccable service
- Vegetarian options
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2. Alma de Café
$ | |Duck into the Teatro Nacional's sumptuous café, off the theater lobby, to sit at a marble table and sip a hazelnut mocha beneath frescoed ceilings. The frescoes are part of an allegory celebrating the 1897 opening of the theater. Coffee runs from $5 to $7, depending on how much alcohol or ice cream is added. Sandwiches and cakes are $6 to $9.
C.3, Avda. 2, San José, San José, 10101, Costa Rica2010–1110Known For
- Coffee (with option to add ice cream and alcohol)
- Cake and sandwiches
- Artistic surroundings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. May–Nov. -
3. Don Wang
$$ | |In a country where "Chinese cuisine" usually means simply white rice and vegetables, Don Wang's authenticity is a treat. Cantonese cuisine is the mainstay, and Don Wang is known for its immensely popular dim sum, called desayuno chino (literally "Chinese breakfast") here. You can order it all day—bearing in mind that this place doesn't open until 11 am.
C. 11, Avdas. 6–8, San José, San José, 10104, Costa Rica2223–5925Known For
- All-day dim sum
- Friendly service
- Authentic Cantonese and Szechuan flavors
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4. La Criollita
$ | |Kick off your day with a breakfast platter here: the americano (U.S.-style) or the tico (Costa Rican), with eggs, fried plantains, and natilla (sour cream). Snag one of the precious tables in the back garden, an unexpected refuge from noise and traffic, in the morning or late afternoon. The lunchtime decibel level increases markedly with government workers arriving from nearby office buildings (this is the one time of day we recommend avoiding the place.)
Avda. 7, Cs. 7–9, San José, San José, 10101, Costa Rica2256–6511Known For
- Crowded lunch spot
- Bargain prices
- Coffee and dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Sat. -
5. Nuestra Tierra
$ | |The generous homemade meals at this ranch-style restaurant are delicious, and the incredibly friendly waitstaff, who epitomize Costa Rican hospitality and dress in folkloric clothing, prepare your coffee filtered through the traditional cloth chorreador. The place keeps late hours, just in case those late-night gallo pinto (Costa Rican–style rice and beans) pangs hit. Some disparage the restaurant as "too touristy"; perhaps it is, but it's also fun. The place is relatively open and sits on a street with a lot of traffic, which is its one drawback.
Avdas. 2–4, C. 13, San José, San José, 10104, Costa Rica2258–6500Known For
- Típico setting
- Lots of tourists
- Generous portions
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Pops
$ | |To sample the crème de la crème of locally made ice cream, head to Pops. After a long walk on crowded sidewalks, it may be just what the doctor ordered. Mango is a favorite flavor. You'll find several outlets downtown, as well as around the metro area and the country. This longtime Costa Rican institution is now Colombian-owned.
C. 3, Avda. Ctl., San José, San José, 10101, Costa Rica2222–2336Known For
- Mango ice cream
- Good spot for a quick break
- A Costa Rica institution
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7. Shakti
$$ | |The baskets of fruit and vegetables at the entrance and the wall of herbal teas, health-food books, and fresh herbs for sale by the register signal that you're in a vegetarian-friendly joint. The bright and airy macrobiotic restaurant serves homemade bread, soy burgers, pita sandwiches (veggie or chicken), fruit shakes, and a hearty plato del día that comes with soup, green salad, and a beverage. The ensalada mixta is a meal in itself, packed with root vegetables native to Costa Rica. Shakti is an oasis in a mostly meat-loving country and is worth the detour a few blocks south of the standard tourist path.
Avda. 8, Cs. 11–13, San José, San José, 10103, Costa Rica2222–4475Known For
- Vegetarian oasis
- Local ingredients
- Monster salads
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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