The 27 best spots for crepes in San Jose

I’ve been to this café several times for both breakfast and lunch, and I 100% recommend their breakfasts—they are absolutely delicious! If you’re in San José, this is hands down the best spot to try pancakes, French toast, and especially their star dish in my opinion: the çılbır eggs. The place is cozy, and they always offer great customer service. Highly recommended!

The best meat balls I have ever eaten and the mash potatoes were just out of the world !! Loved the coffee and naturally taking some home ! Great time with a pal and the servers were so helpful they even clicked a pic for us ❤️

soooo good. cinnamon roll was huge and so yummy but super sweet i would recommend pairing with plain coffee. excellent french toast with chocolate chips, came with syrup and fruit jam

Incredible! Probably our favorite cafe in the world. 10/10 stars. Go here! Everything here from roasted coffees, to pastries and entrees is perfection. We tasted 6 coffees, 4 pastries and 4 meals and every single thing was amazing. We always come here on our visits even if it's out of our way.

This place takes their coffee seriously. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you won’t be disappointed. They have a whole menu with their coffee options, the farms they are from, their notes, their recommended brewing process, etc. Get the vandola process (the blue ceramic pot in my photo) because it’s unique to Costa Rica!

Legendary coffee shop, best shop I’ve been to. 10000% recommend. The geisha is incredible and the food is to die for. Best experience at a shop I’ve ever had.

Wow! Wow! Wow! If you you are looking to try coffee from all over around Costa Rica: this is your place, they have more thank 20 coffee bean types to brew in many different methods, they really know about coffee! I have to say that I am very demanding when we talk about coffee and this place go above my expectations. I couldn't be more happy of have found this place in San Jose.

Great coffee place! Delicious specialties, nice neighborhood, great service! Highly recommend.

This lovely little spot has ahhhmazing coffee & oat/almond milk options for those who can't/don't do dairy.

Lovely and cozy place, located in barrio otoya they open at 1:30pm, great attention from the staff, as a café they do not serve big meals, mostly pastries and a wide selection of coffee, and other cold beverages, parking is on the street, they take basically all credit cards, if you are round I highly recommended

Friendly helpful staff, patient with me as a foreigner. The food and drinks are amazing! We will be coming back next time in San Jose 🎉

My review is only based on their black espresso. Although they use fresh beans, grind them, tamp and make the coffee, the coffee was full of crema but it didn't taste good at all. Sour and bad tasting. The cashier was very nice and offered me a free mask as i want carrying one but i have no clue why the coffee tasted like that. I just threw it away. They do have baked goodies that i might try later on. But as for my espresso experience. It's a one star. The rest i dunno, so that is why it's 3 and not 1 star.

Honestly as a French person the coffee is amazing, and the spearmint limonade is so damn good ! Did not regret coming there !

Not many vegetarian food options, but we had a very refreshing smoothie and lemonade! Great location and unique atmosphere.

Invited to a group luncheon here. The decor and ambiance were very nice, the food was good, and the service excellent. The saying, “you get what you pay for,” rings true I guess, but I am not in the income bracket to pay $40 for lunch. I had no choice this time to be part of the group, but I won't be back because of prices. But for those of you who can afford high-end dining, this is a nice place.

Tin Jo has a nice atmosphere. The decor and ambiance is very appealing. And the staff was also really nice and accommodating. The wait time for the food was a bit long but it was a Sunday afternoon and they were full to capacity. When the food arrived, everything looked delicious. But the flavor overall was a little subpar for me. The portions are decent but I just didn't think it was worth the price. However, I would definitely go back to try out the other menu options they offer.

It is a good spot for a date :) Great experience, loved the country-theme dining areas, food was delicious, drink as well, service was very polite. Will definitely come back once we have a chance.

Great restaurant in the heart of San Jose. We went there to celebrate my sister's birthday and wow, I was amazed by this place. You can order based on the Asian country and everything we had was delicious. The staff was super friendly and we felt welcomed and heard during our meal here. Take into consideration this place doesn't have parking but you can park near by and there's even some parkings that will give you a discount for eating here. I will definitely come back and if you like Asian food, this is a place I would recommend to visit. It might be on the expensive side but it's worth it

Great place! Loved the decoration, and how the menu and the place is divided to represent different cultures! The staff was awesome, really helpful and nice. The menu has a lot of options, several of which are vegetarian, including main dishes and appetizers. The food was great, and the prices are affordable. We tried some wine and margaritas and they were pretty good ( they gave us the wine as a courtesy because of the dishes we ordered). There is no parking space directly in front of the place, but there is a cheap public parking a couple buildings away. Overall had a great experience, loved the place and would absolutely recommend it!

The restaurant is nicely decorated with cultural themes of different countries from Asia. The menu has lot of options ranging from Japanese to Indian traditional meals. The food was cooked well. I ordered the veggie fried rice. The food wasn’t that flavorful initially, but after adding salt & soy sauce the food was very delicious. There’s lots vegetarian options that can be made vegan upon request.

This place is a must if you love pan Asian food and your gluten free !! A kid in a sweet shop with your own gluten free extensive menu. Mouthwatering food and romantic ambiance . Our waiter was called Alex . He spoke fantastic English and helped us with food choices . Wine parring is on the menu as suggestion and the ice cream taster was a wonderful palate cleanser to end with . I will return to Costa Rica and on my way home I will definitely come back to this diamond . 52 years in the making ! The setting is beautiful and the meal will be a memory I will cherish. Thankyou

We went out for dinner with three of our kids at this charming restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy with old high ceilings and colorful, artistic rustic decor. The space includes multiple dining rooms, a front veranda for outdoor seating (though it only accommodates 2-3 people), and two benches in a small yard that would normally be a lovely spot to dine. Unfortunately, it had just rained, so the wooden benches were too wet for us to use. We ended up sitting in one of the larger indoor rooms. Our host was amazing and spoke both Spanish and English fluently. This is one of the few places I've eaten in this city that serves dishes with plenty of greens - both the kids and adults absolutely loved the food, and the portions were just right. The restaurant has such a perfect, easy-going vibe with friendly service and delicious food. If I were local, I could easily see myself eating here regularly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Cafe Rojo handled our group of 15 people nicely. Unlike most restaurants in Costa Rica who bring out the food piecemeal, we were all served at the same time, which was fantastic. The food was excellent, everyone had only praise. Prices are good, but the crowning achievement was the service! Excellent! If you have opportunity, ask for Mario (pictured).

The best meal I have had so far in San Jose! The smoked trout Vietnamese bowl was absolutely incredible, everything was fresh and prices were very reasonable. A peppermint tea and slice of banana bread was the perfect way finish off the meal. The service was outstanding as well. I highly recommend visiting Cafe Rojo!

The food was great. It wasn't cheap, but the quality was great, and the portions were generous. ALSO we speak almost no Spanish and they were super accommodating, even if my 10 year old who is a picky eater. ALSO the artwork was super cool.

I don’t want to put 4 stars but… everything was hood and tasty. For my taste the chicken was over sweet but this is about personal taste. I removed one star from service just because the guy who brought us the food kept his fingers inside the dishes. For me it is unhealthy. I didn’t tell anything and putting now 5 stars for the restaurant but you have to take care about this.

I love the food & staff here! The food is absolutely delicious & even when you get it to take away it is as good as when you eat in the restaurant. The people working here are super kind & helpful. 10/10 would (and already have) recommend Café Rojo!

Really great art/restaurant concept in a comfortable house with lots of different seating options. Vegan options are clearly labeled, staff is friendly and helpful, and food is 🔥! The waiter came out and explained all the different sauce flavors and left a whole basket of the vegan sauces for me. I had the Casado with eggplant, which I recommend because the eggplant was cooked perfectly. I’ll be back!

We had heard really great things about this restaurant, so we had to try it. We made a reservation for a Saturday night and when we got there, there were only 2 other tables with customers. I had a ceviche as the entrée and the portion was really big. If I had known, I wouldn't have ordered a main (salmon cakes). I wasn't even able to eat had of my main course. The ceviche was really good, and the salmon cakes were tasty. However, the service was disappointing. They seemed confused, barely spoke to us and were slow. Even though the food was good, I didn't feel like coming back here because of this.

We are here twice in one week. I fell in love with the leche de tigre. The salmon with golden berry sauce was unique and delicious. We had two different cerviche dishes that were great but I forgot to take photos that evening. The passion fruit dessert was a hit. Again, if you want your bill from the server you need to ask, they will let you sit there for a long, long time when you are finished eating and never offer the check. I think most customers also have drinks while they are there, but we were there for dental work so we were drinking only water. Overall good service other than waiting for the final bill for a long time until we realized we needed to ask specifically for it. I believe it is just a cultural difference. Fourth visit - lunch menu with amazing appetizer of ceviche with leche de tigra (I should just order large version of this every time!) for my main entree I tried the 4 hour stewed beef which was very tender and tomato sauce with rice. I wish there always a bit more flavor and more sauce in the meat. My friend has the seafood entree with fish and clams in tomato sauce. Traditional creme carmel type of dessert was good.

Had a great time. La Divina Comida has amazing food, and the waiter was very kind. Would definitely come back once again.

The food is outstanding and fresh. Delightful wait staff and super friendly towards this gringo! What an amazing Lunch!!!

Hands down the best food I’ve had in Costa Rica . The octopus is absolutely amazing. Greta is a fantastic server , very professional . I would eat here every day.

The food and service were good overall. However, it took nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes for our meal to arrive, even though there were only three of us in my table and the restaurant was less than 30% full. Because of the long wait, I couldn’t fully enjoy the food as much as I would have liked.

We chose this restaurant walking around and it was a pleasant surprise!! The service was Costa Rica slow ;)) but the food and priced were exceptional! LOVED the zucchini appetizer. We shared the entrees and they were delicious also. The rolls were fresh and the sauce was different lol. I will definitely return to try other selections. Oh and the house wines were perfect!

Gorgeous café situated within the National Theatre. You can visit the café without visiting the theatre, which is just to the left as you walk inside the building. The café has an olde worlde charm, it’s elegant without being pretentious. The food and drinks we ordered were excellent: I had the Spinach Quiche and Fiesta Latte, which were delicious. Service was very good too.

Great experience! Very good coffee. You get to choose what type of coffee and how you want it to be prepared. The environment is really nice, inside one of the most decorated buildings from Costa Rica. A very nice place for having a good time with friends or just reading a book with very good coffee. The pastry we tried was very tasty, they have many options. The staff was very helpful and kind. It's a little pricey, but it is a worthy experience.

When we went to the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica concert, we had a light meal in the coffee shop. It is located inside the theater lobby and it is reminiscent of some of the lovely cafes in Paris or Rome. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a meal there, there's no real kitchen, but it's the perfect spot for a coffee and a pastry, especially their famous carrot cake. Life is good in Costa Rica. Pura vida

The atmosphere here in this cafe is awesome. It is on the left side of the main entrance to the national theatre. The food is not spectacular, but having it in this setting really makes a difference. Don't miss it after the tour.

Beautiful cafe in the National Theatre. Even if you don't go for a show, you can enjoy the artistic cafe with a classy vibe. The iced latte came in a blended form like frappucino. It is delicious particularly in a tropical weather. The waiter recommended the carrot cake for me and I am not disappointed. This carrot cake delivers dense and rich content of carrot, raisins and such. The amount of cream cheese is also just right. Highly recommended! Note though that there is no restroom unless you take a tour for the theatre. You can use the restroom in front of the pre-Columbian Gold museum though.

One of the best cafes in the world... could be in Paris or Buenos Aires... delish. Lasagna always great.

Some of best food in I've had in CR so far! And the atmosphere was amazing, the national theater is incredible. The mocha amaretto was absolutely delicious and the coconut/pineapple smoothie was super tasty. Highly recommend the peppermint lemonade as well. The pour over coffee is just okay but still tasty. The food was also amazing. The salad dressing was a delicious avocado or cilantro ranch that I want a bottle of. Chicken salad was fresh and full of vegetable for a tasty gluten free lunch. My son gobbled up the beef lasagna and daughter enjoyed the veggie sandwich. With a coffee menu that was 4 pages long I can't wait to go back and try other drinks both hot and cold. Alcoholic coffee drinks as well as Wine and beer also available. Savory crepes, salads, sandwiches, quiche, soup, and baker items like banana bread and cheesecake available. Everything looks so tasty we will definitely be going back for more.

I had a cappuccino and the “lemon pie” crepe. Both were neatly balanced, the coffee was just bitter enough and the crepe (even with ice cream) wasn’t excessively sweet. I hung out for several hours, worked on my computer, did a conference call on Zoom. I had the prettiest background of anyone on the call. Nice location in safe, walkable Barrio Escalante, although I should warn people that not only is there substantial construction going on now (Oct 2024) in front of it, even when I sat as far back as I could, the construction noise from the opposite direction was still quite loud. Such a shame that this quiet charming area is getting big eyesore high rise apartments. At least in a few months there should be less noise?

Super cute cafe with good food ! Doesn’t look like much on the outside but don’t let that fool you walk to the back garden area. Would def recommend and will be back

Lovely café! The garden patio is lovely & very charming. My friend & I each had iced lattes & shared the apple caramel crepe, delicious!

This place is cute. Open air concept cafe. The bread bowls were delicious. We tried both the tomato basil soup and the mushroom and spinach. We also tried the ceaser salad, the dressing was delicious. I would definitely come back and try their other lunch options that looked delicious. Other people's food smelled so good.

Very good service and stellar ambience! The back area is probably the most popular but even the interior is decorated very nicely. They make some of the best and most creative waffles you’ll ever try! I didn’t care for the red velvet but the Oreo was amazing! It even had Oreos in the batter. The coffee is very excellent as well. I’m always sure to take friends here for a nice treat after dinner

Ordered some mini empanadas, and my gosh they were REALLY mini. Could almost end 3 empanadas in 3 bites, but the flavor was actually good. The Entre-Nous shake was delicious. Menu is kind of redundant. Not many ingredients to choose.

Nice trendy place across the street from BO.

Cute find, good for breakfast or a coffee with a snack. I found this after a king walk. Full of locals, hipster crowd. I ordered a cappuccino (looked fantastic) and a grilled cheese sandwich with fries. Sandwich was perfect but the real star of the show were the crispy fries with it. Gotta order those. I’d come again. Only thing: it’s bigger than it seems and there was a long queue to pay at the counter in the end.

Delicious hearty food at Barrio Escalante. The atmosphere was lovely, a mix of locals and tourists. We had a couple salad bowls and they were so good! The fries were hand made and delicious too!

The cappuccino was one of the best I’ve had. The food (French toast) was both beautiful and tasty. Sadly the garden is closed for restoration but inside the cafe has a lovely ambiance nonetheless

Today we visited at the coffee shop, was not to crowded and the customers service was simple some of the staff was kind but other that we asked for sugar for the coffee and didn’t bring it. Since the cup of coffee wasn’t with the plate under it, the waitress slipped out the coffee on my leg, I asked for Canadian toast. The flavor of the toast didn’t taste like a French toast as in the menu said, it was a cold loaf of bread, bacon was hard and no crunchy, the eggs tasted like sour and everything was cold. My boyfriend asked for a pinto bowl it was the portion for a baby, it was ridiculous for almost $18 each plate. The taste was not good for eggs, he and I got stomachache. I remember it was a good place the take brunch and coffee but it don’t know what happened.

Very cute spot!!! Servers were very friendly and accommodating. Got a cappuccino and hot chocolate which were amazing. Didn’t get any food although it looked really good at other tables. Definitely recommend

Delicious! Great vibes. Kind servers. Hipster stylish clientele. Was pretty expensive but not more than other hipster cafes around the world.

We came to Franco three times during our 3 week trip all over the country. The best place for a fresh and comforting meal. The coffee is amazing and so are the smoothies and pastries 🥐

Definitively one of my favorite places in San Jose!

This place was so aesthetically pleasing! The patio is so nicely kept up, such a beautiful place to go have breakfast/brunch. The food and coffee were extremely good as well. Missed out on the pastries but they looked really good as well! Definitely recommend!

Haven't been to a decent cafe for a while feeling content and satisfied! We passed by one weekend seeing this place packed with people indoor and outdoor and thought to come by one day. The breads, coffee, homemade soda, the sauce everything blends well and tasted super fresh! The breads were baked right with the perfect texture of crunchiness and softness. Sauce had a nice chili punch in it. The salad leafs are fresh. The only thing that we didn't quite liked was the pork from Superman burger was very dry. Maybe it's designed that way, but a little too try for our pallet. The other part is this place offers a really friendly price given it's quality and quantity. Haven't found anywhere else that beats this setup. Can't wait to try their other dishes and sweets!

The best place in Costa Rica! Delicious food, lattes are well done, service is great and the employees seem to have fun time together (which is always a good sign), great for creative work or just coffee with a friend. Love this place and use it on a weekly basis!

Love the vibe here and normally I am not a bread person but the bread and moist level was just right, not a typical local bread which is hard and dry The coffee and drinks are above average and meal portion is good and tasty It gets really crowded during lunch hour so come early to get the seats Love the experience

Lovely place, hidden away from the street. Lattes were delicious ! The pesto sandwich, soup & quinoa salad were perfection. Loved the carrot cake as well. A must try, i found it was very well priced !

As busy as Lindora is on the main strip, PicNic cafe is an absolutely oasis! I have been here twice in 2 days, having filling bowls for lunch one day. Today the French toast for breakfast. Accompanied by great coffee and refreshing lemonades, I highly recommend to anyone who finds themselves in this area. Even worth the trip the next day, only for the meal!

Nice outdoor place to brunch. The menu is creative and the ingredients are fresh and tasty. You should order first in the store and the kind waiters will take it to your table outdoors. Great for summer days. The place is warm so going on sunny days is awesome, it has nice shaded tables and some other in the sun so there are options for all tastes.

If you are close by, go for it. The space is nice. The barrister are knowledgable. This place is trying to establish themselves thus worth stepping by. You can see that they offer all type of Infusion methods: The V60 was well done, the Espresso was not ideal and would need more work. The cappuccino was good but they only have milk (no alternatives). They have different types of single origin beans to test out but only for the drip methods not for the espresso since they don't have a single dosing setup. In the future they want to offer beans from all different regions in Costa Rica so that you can taste the difference. I will come back for that :)

It is “specialty coffee shop”. My daughter explained me that you have to be really good to take this name. It is like Michelin for the coffee shops. I took affogato. But my daughter took something that they have only in this shop. It was tea from coffee shelf. They served it with lemon and sugar. And it is really very delicious. On my last photo I am showing how it looks. Also they have very beautiful historical building made in 1907.

Little lovely hidden Cafe House. Typical local coffee. Unwashed and medium hot roasted. Hence intense “flowery” aroma and high acid. Quick and friendly service. Our waiter had a deep knowledge about coffee regions in CR, roasting process etc. I liked it very much.

If you're into specialty coffee, Café La Mancha is a fantastic choice. I had the pleasure of trying their affogato yesterday, paired with an extra shot of espresso — and wow, the flavor explosion was surreal! The bitterness of the coffee combined with the ice cream created a perfect balance that was simply delightful. The café’s location adds even more charm to the experience. It's nestled inside the historic Steinvorth building, right in the heart of San José — a place full of character and history. To top it all off, the customer service was outstanding. The barista took the time to explain the different types of coffee they offer and the various brewing methods they use. You could really feel the passion behind every cup. In short, visiting Café La Mancha is a must for any true coffee lover. Don’t miss it!

Beautiful historic building. The owner was super friendly and personally helped with the revival of the area and bringing local businesses to the building while preserving the historic beauty. Food is fantastic as is the afogado and beverages.

Excellent drinks, fabulous fresh food & reasonable. Staff is friendly and extremely helpful. It's worth it just for the beautiful atrium ❤️ If you're not local try the Henry Blend. It's delicious!

Our first time walking around the Central Market in San Jose and we found this little coffee shop. It is in the historic Steinvorth building. The atmosphere is really great and staff at La Mancha was super friendly and informative. We were told the history of the building and our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the flight of coffees we ordered. It didn’t hurt that there was also a coaca chocolate shop nearby

Great option for a Sunday brunch. We had the French Toast, the Orange/Condensed Milk cake and the Argentine empanadas. Friendly service and a relaxing environment in a vintage house. We really enjoyed it!

The food was really good, the crepe with mushroom was tasty and the salad that came with it was delicious. The sandwich was also good but small. They use 100% biodegradable straws which is great. The only downside was the slow service.

Best Café in San José, I keep trying to go to other places and always end up in here, the people, the atmosphere and the FOOD!!! Everything is definitely amazing! Deeply in love with Dulce Junio 💕

Great coffees and different sorts of lunch items. Service was quick and friendly. Amazing drinks!

Their Mushroom and Spinach crepe was out of this world! Dulce Junio Café has a beautiful atmosphere with a charming garden toward the back. The music was chill and uplifting and the staff was very welcoming.

Nice postrys. Inner courtyard is a a quite space to enjoy a coffee and brief rest while out walking around the city neighborhoods

delicious crepe; cozy vibe (like in a little garden)

Highly recommend! A gourmet brunch complete with a visit from the Chef and fantastic service in a light, neat, and inviting space. Pictured first is Eggs Benedict with a bit of beetroot purée mixed into the hollandaise sauce, next is a huevos empanados rancheros, and the final pic is the frozen macha tea and an iced latte. While they gladly seated us for Sunday brunch without a reservation, it may be a good idea to make one if you know you’re coming in advance.

Breakfast was delicious! The staff was really kind and the pastry was amazing! They have homemade chocolates, 100% from Costa Rica, very recommended. It is a nice brunch place!

Cozy place. Is like a little historical experience. The service was great. I har a beef carpaccio with additional arugula and it was so fresh and tasty. The pumpkin ravioli was ok, the pasta was very think and less cooked than “al dente”, the pumpkin stuffing was too sweet in my opinion. They sprinkle rose pepper in both dishes so if you are not a big fun of it this is your call :) Bon appetite!

This might be the best food I have eaten in my entire life.

Mamma mia what a reataurant! This boutique restaurant in this neighbourhood is a gem, excelllent service, and the food amazing! Today the home-made Italian Porchetta (Italian pork roast stuffef with savoury herbs) with sweet potato purè and vegetables took me back to Tuscany: straordinary! A must in town 👌🏼

Wonderful restaurant! We had the brunch theme Concorde. Honestly I loved the thought, effort, and planning that went into the experience, really creative, fun, and well done! The food is fantastic as well. Really looking forward to visiting again

Decided to come try on my birthday, something simple, afternoon coffee. We were mesmerized by the food and above all the service of Don Carlos. Very attentive, high attention to details that you normally only see in fine dining restaurants. Towards the end Chef Ricardo came out and talked with us for some time about his history, food and vision. Sometimes the ordinary turns into the extraordinary. This was my experience. We definitely will return. Grazie Mille!

Location wrong or does not exist anymore.

(Translated by Google) Served by the chef. Delicious!!! The pizza is very crispy and excellent flavor. A very particular Italian touch. I recommend it (Original) Atendido por el chef. Delicioso!!! La pizza muy crocante y excelente sabor. Un toque italiano muy particular. La recomiendo

(Translated by Google) Incredible hot dogs at a good price. (Original) Hot dogs Increíbles a buen precio.

(Translated by Google) Excellent food and service👌 (Original) Excelente la comida y el trato👌

(Translated by Google) Excellent service (Original) Exelente servicio

GOOD: variety of finds like clothing, bags, masks, art, cups/glasses, wood and leather gifts/souvenirs, etc. Grocery stalls and sodas with a variety of food options and local flavor. BAD: pushy shop owners, stalls that start looking the same and higher prices than in other areas. The smell of fish in some areas was strong, as was the smell of urine, especially off-putting while trying to eat.

This is the perfect place to come to, if you're looking for artisans, handmade goods and souvenirs to take home. They have everything. The prices were reasonable. Many of the handmade goods, they will personalize them for you. There's many places to eat. We at there. The food was very good. The portion was good for the price. We both shared one plate, cuz the portion was enough for two. The people were very kind and very helpful. This place has been in business since the late 1800's. Unfortunately I did not take many pictures here

Nice souvenirs and handcrafted things from the central market. It’s a historical landmark here in San Jose with many shops and places for good eats too!

If you want to soak into the authentic Costa Rican vibe, this is the place to be. You get literally everything you need in this market from apparel to electronics. Branded to generic.

This indoor market was a fantastic place to visit because the best thing i ate on my trip to CR is a carne n cheese tortilla from one of several eateries located here. I will dream about this tortilla forever. The beef in CR has so much flavor. This market has meat, seafood, vegetable, fruit, n souviner vendors.

Fascinating maze of souvenir vendors, houseware and clothing vendors, plus food stalls and little cafes. Colorful. Interesting. Lively!

San José Central Market (Mercado Central) is the vibrant heart of Costa Rica’s capital city and a must-visit destination for anyone eager to experience the local culture, flavors, and everyday life. Located in downtown San José, this bustling market dates back to 1880 and stretches across several blocks filled with stalls offering an incredible variety of goods. Inside, visitors will find fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices alongside stalls selling traditional Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto, tamales, and fresh seafood. The aromas and lively chatter create an immersive sensory experience, ideal for food lovers and curious travelers alike. Beyond food, the market also offers handmade crafts, souvenirs, medicinal herbs, and household items, making it a fantastic spot to pick up authentic gifts or explore local traditions. Vendors are generally friendly and welcoming, happy to share insights about their products and Costa Rican culture. While the market can get crowded, especially during weekends, it’s well worth navigating the lively aisles for the unique blend of sights, sounds, and tastes. A visit here provides a genuine snapshot of San José’s vibrant daily rhythm — colorful, chaotic, and full of life. For anyone looking to dive deep into Costa Rican culture beyond the typical tourist routes, San José Central Market is a lively, authentic, and unforgettable stop.

This place has been renowned as one of the best places to dine in Costa Rica. If you are looking for exquisite French cuisine, look no further! The service was phenomenal with great presentation and customer service. Highly recommended 10/10!

Perfect place for a fancy dinner. Had a dishes selection that was about right for any taste preference. Please order the onion soup, it is just wonderful. The desserts are also top notch. The place is beautiful, the cocktails are highly recommended too. Service was impecable, the staff was friendly, attentive and helpful, found a nice table for me and my fiancee and her recommendations were all on point.

We enjoyed our lunch. I had the cauliflower steak whose toppings of jus, roasted nuts, and squash puree were superb. I enjoyed the lemon tart for dessert, with its fine merengue topping. My sisters enjoyed their seafood soup and duck salad, which looked divine. We loved the wines, and topped it off with cappuccino. Service was attentive but not interrupting. Good food, great service. We look forward to returning for our monthly lunch.

Good restaurant but need to put the extra effort. Need to improve service and experience, some of the dishes that we order wasn’t the traditional French version of them. Cocktails are pretty good and recommended.

The food was rich and delicious. The best escargot I’ve ever had. The cocktails were show-stoppers and the desserts were spectacular. The waitstaff treat you like an old friend. I’ll be dining here every time I come to San José.

The worst restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. The food made two of my coworkers and me sick. It was a business dinner, and we paid the highest price of any place we visited that week—only to receive one of the worst meals I’ve ever had. If you go at night, bring your own lighting because the place is so dim you can’t even see the person in front of you. That’s not ambiance, it’s just poor planning. Also, there’s no air conditioning despite what they claim at the entrance. Save your money and choose somewhere else.

I went back in January and I cannot tell you how good this place was. The sea bass was the best I've ever had, hands down, no questions asked. I will be coming back in april to costa rica and this is at the top of my list to go back to!

I liked the decoration and atmosphere. The staff was friendly and helpful. The smoothie I ordered was tasty and so was the bowl I ordered. In retrospect it was a very positive dining experience.

Terrible experience here! They are definitely understaffed and under poor manangement. We arrived on a Sunday in the mid morning. The place was busy but there were many tables available. Waiters passed us by many times before we were even acknowledged and then finally seated. For some reason we were refused an amaretto/cafe type cocktail, yet mimosas were allowed - nothing legal here just off control issues. We ordered the croc monsier and specialty toasts, both which promised crunchy toasted bread and both plates came with our bread not toasted. The croc monsier was soggy and disgusting. When we complained to management he told us our bread was toasted, which it obviously was not. Terrible food and terrible experience overall. Stay away!

Great decor and dining environment but the food wasn’t very good. It was very bland and not as tasty. Expected much more. They do have a house white wine for a very affordable price (about $16) — probably the only thing we enjoyed. Picture is of the entrance to the indoor sitting area.

This place blew me away with the quality of their dishes. Every bite was packed full of flavor. I would definitely come back here if I'm in town.

The environment is awesome, food is good, prices are high but the place and experience are great!! i would recommend it for afternoon experience!!

My favorite restaurant in San Jose so far. The waiter Javier is really fun.

It’s a beautiful restaurant....flowers hanging from the ceiling and cool art inside. The area is much more calm than the rest of the city. I ordered the pasta al pomodoro and it was ok. The spaghetti was a little undercooked for my taste. The prices weren’t too bad, around 6000-1300 colones for most meals.

The restaurant is very nice and the food is what you can expect from Denny's. The server was ok but took a little too long to bring the food and didn't get the refills as requested. Other than that it was ok.

Love Denny’s, and happy to seen one here in Costa Rica. Service was very friendly and correct. Food was good !

It was a good experience and the food was good. I just can't believe that a dinner at Denny's, with coffee for my friend and coca cola for me (no alcohol), and no appetizers (only the two main dishes) cost more than $60. The staff was very attentive without being obtrusive

Our breakfast for two was a feast of the week, haha! The portions are gigantic, and the coffee and Coca-Cola come with endless refills. My Eggs Benedict were cooked to perfection, and the pancakes were so fluffy - plus, I could use as much maple syrup as I wanted. Honestly, we couldn’t finish it all. One little piece of pancake stayed behind at Denny’s as we left

We ate at Denny’s San José, which is conveniently attached to the Holiday Inn, after our flight was canceled and we received airline vouchers. Probably the best hotel restaurant we’ve eaten at! We ordered the Slam Pancake Breakfast and the Slam Waffle — both were delicious with huge portions that definitely filled us up. We also tried the Brisket Skillet. It was heavy on the cheese, very light on the brisket, and definitely not heavy on the mac as expected. It also didn’t look much like the picture on the menu, but it still tasted decent. Be prepared — prices here are very expensive compared to typical Costa Rican meals. In fact, this was the most expensive meal we had during our entire week in Costa Rica, but the airline vouchers helped cover some of the cost. Service was very slow, so allow some extra time, but if you’re staying at the Holiday Inn or stuck near the airport, Denny’s is a convenient, satisfying option with classic American comfort food.

Manuel did an amazing job with making sure we were comfortable and explaining the surroundings areas to visit. We came back and had Karina and she was very helpful as well

The photos on their menus are so misleading. Because they do not represent the food and the portions that come out!! First time was disappointed on food/service. Was willing to give them a second chance, but that was a big mistake because I was even more disappointed than the first time. Not worth the money. Will spend my money else where.

They espresso seriously improved since they made an alliance with brisas del zurqui. The food and pastry it's just legendary. Hasn't changed a bit in the last 40 years, tastes like a party at grandma's house.

A while ago I bought an almond cake last minute for a birthday celebration and it was a total dissapointment. Cakes sold in supermarkets for a fraction of the cost are way superior. I strongly suggest have a taste/slice before buying the whole thing!

Very traditional chocolate and pastry shop. Nice, cozy place for a meal or a relaxed coffee. The WiFi is reliable, and there is often someone working cozily in the upstairs space. It also has wonderful gelatto.

High end pastry and cake shop. Tasty and luxurious, relatively expensive. They have cakes available for you to grab and go if you forget a birthday party or are in a hurry.

Nothing great, pastry stale, ice cream gummy , i've been going there for years used to be pretty good . now they have food , lunch, all of which is terrible. One day they had a young man taking a survey, about 20 pages, seriously , I cooperated he was mad when is was critical. Haha welcome to Costa Rica. Don't like spoon any better. Azafran is not great but far better so I go there now.

Awesome chocolates and delicatessen for a sweet or salty tooth. The cinnamon cookies are my favorites.

Noted staff did not wash hands after washroom, incorrect sandwich orders. Staff demanded payment when food was returned.

Nice store, drinks good as expected but wow, worst food I’ve had at a Starbucks. The overpriced omelette tasted hard and chewy like it was 3 days old and reheated. Just do drinks!

Great service and attention. The only thing is that they charge extra for half & half (crema de leche) strange but they do. It’s a good location to get some coffee after a walk around La Sabana Park

Never disappoints! This branch is located next to Canal 7 (a TV channel) and across the street from the soccer stadium. I think this branch has the friendliest staff I have ever interacted with. They really seem to be enjoying their job and that is always something that makes me go back to this branch whenever I am around. Keep up the good work!

This is my breakfast place. You know it serves coffee but is more than that, is an oasis away from transit. Environment is awesome.

Ok if you are hard up for Starbucks and you need a little shot of American then absolutely by all means come here. The people were awesome, super nice and of course Costa Rican but holy heavens $40 USD for 3 breakfast sandwiches and 3 coffees. There are So many Soda’s around that have amazing food and coffee that I highly recommend looking around.

Smaller Starbucks shop of any you had probably known so it gets crowdy and loud. Still ok to hang out and talk with friends. As usual, the service is great!

Super friendly staff. Jenny who took our order was happy and offered us a great variety of Costa Rican coffee. Love this location

It was a pleasant atmosphere to sit at for an afternoon coffee. Very good desserts! Lots to choose from. The staff was very friendly. Located with other shops around with plenty of parking.

It's expensive but the flavours are worth it. Staff was friendly and the place was empty so it was really nice. Perfect for a quick pricey coffee stop

The place has really really good croissant sandwich! The cakes look really delicious, but are a bit too sweet for me! The servers are always super duper friendly and very attentive! Great place to stop by for coffee and croissant sandwich!

Cakes at 📍 @cremecaramel_cr Rating: 🤩🤩 Must visit if your in the area Thoughts 💭 We love this pasteleria the cakes are fantastic! The red velvet was out of this world - my favourite one I have tried there so far. The lemon meringue and ferrero bar are a close second. We did try the orange chocolate mousse and didn’t think the flavour was strong enough so would avoid these in the future. But 3/4 success rate is pretty damn good 😍 Reviews by @thefoodiestraveldiary

A great place to eat Instagram worthy but most importantly they have an amazing brunch and desserts. this place is definitely a 5 star experience with amazing staff. The eggs and bagel waffles and cream Brule chocolate and the pistachio desserts where all so yummy I'll definitely recommend you visit this place.

A lovely place with delicious desserts, good coffee, friendly staff, who speak English btw, and big garden. It's quiet in the morning,so it's also a good spot to work.

Ok. I love this place. I came in to see if incould use my Google pay and between my Spanish and their English, and just trying it... I figured out I could! The staff is wonderful. I had a vanilla decaf latte and it was yummy. And a croissant sandwhich. And a cookie. If I'm ever back here, I will definitely try it again.

Very cozy place with lot details that makes you feel at home. Chef Patricia and her husband offers an personalized experience. The food taste is good and top class presentation, great sensations placed into the food from Chefs creativity. Onion Soup and Salmon are just great. Breads needs a bit of refinement in my opinion as well on working just a little on become the best French restaurant in Costa Rica.

What a great experience! once you step inside the building you think you are in france. the food presentation and the service were excellent. the chef offers a cookbook for purchase that shares the passion.

Amazing experience! You cannot ask for better in Costa Rica. Consider it a quick trip to France. A place that will bring all of your senses together. And the owners are amazing!

Hands down the best restaurant in Costa Rica. The food is amazing the place is cosy and the atmosphere is great. Patricia is an incredible chef and Gerard is a great host. If you like great food this place is not to be missed.

Best meal I had in a looong time. Every bite is worth it. The chef works with Michelin star chefs and her hasbund, who serves the table, is a charismatic fellow that will cheer you meal. Highly recommended

Probably the best french restaurant in Costa Rica, price is high, but worth every penny. For best experience avoid going on weekends. Remember confirm the reservation and cash only.

Small Restorant, only 6 tables for couples. Rich interior and friendly host. Amazing french cuisine. Recomeded to make reservations, we used WhatsApp. The lamb was amazing so was the beef.

Dolce Gelato, San José – Top-Tier Gelato with a Cool Vibe Dolce Gelato in San José, Costa Rica, completely blew me away during my recent visit. This artisanal gelato spot serves up some of the freshest and most delicious gelato I’ve had – each flavor bursting with rich, natural taste. The atmosphere is equally impressive, with a cool, youthful vibe that makes enjoying your treat even better. Below, I break down what makes Dolce Gelato a must-visit when you’re in San José. Fresh and Delicious Gelato Flavors A cup of Dolce Gelato’s caramel pecan gelato – incredibly creamy and loaded with natural flavor. The gelato here is incredibly fresh and flavorful, and you can truly taste the rich, natural ingredients in every bite. They offer a range of creative flavors, and my personal favorite was the caramel pecan. It was wonderfully creamy, perfectly balanced, and had just the right amount of sweetness. Every spoonful felt indulgent and yet totally worth it – a testament to the quality and craftsmanship behind their gelato. Almond Croissant with a Raspberry Twist Dolce Gelato also offers pastries like this almond croissant, warmed up with a hint of raspberry inside. In addition to gelato, Dolce Gelato has some pastry treats. I tried their almond croissant, which the staff kindly heated up for me. The croissant was warm and flaky, with a subtle raspberry infusion that added a unique, extra-special touch to the flavor. The mix of the toasty almond pastry and that hint of raspberry sweetness was delightful. This croissant is definitely a must-try item alongside your gelato! Cool, Youthful Ambiance The sunny indoor-outdoor seating at El Jardín de Lolita gives Dolce Gelato a fun, youthful “mercado” vibe. The vibe at Dolce Gelato is cool and youthful, enhanced by its sunny indoor-outdoor setting. The shop is located in El Jardín de Lolita, a vibrant food hall that feels like a small mercado with various food stalls and plenty of open-air seating . It’s a fun place where you can grab your gelato and explore other nearby food spots in the shared space. Despite offering what many might call indulgent treats, all the options here feel surprisingly clean and high-quality – you can indulge without any guilt. Plus, the location right by the train tracks adds a quirky charm; every now and then a train passes by, giving the place an extra bit of local character. Friendly Service and Extra Treats The service at Dolce Gelato is excellent. The lady who helped me was super patient and friendly while I took my time deciding on flavors (everything looked amazing, so it was hard to choose!). The staff are attentive and happy to accommodate special requests. Pro Tips: • If you order a pastry (like the almond croissant), ask them to warm it up for you – it’s even more delicious that way. • Get a couple of the crispy waffle cones on the side of your gelato. These cones are light, perfectly crispy, and absolutely delicious, making a great little side snack. In short, if you’re in San José and looking for top-tier gelato with a great atmosphere, make sure to visit Dolce Gelato. It combines incredible flavors with a fun setting, and it truly lives up to the hype as a must-visit spot! 

This gelato café is a nice late night spot if you need a sweet treat. It’s reasonably priced for gelato and I loved their Oreo flavor. They also have lots of cake and other bakery treats. They don’t have very much seating but it’s connected to a larger food court area so you can find seating for larger groups if you move inside.

This is part of a really cool outdoor food court. The flavors are classic but they also have a special gelato that is dragon fruit and orange flavored !! You can ask to taste flavors if you want as well. They take visa.

Great place, nice ice cream, spacious seats on the market. Their drinks, as well as the ice cream was really delicious. I also went for a caramel chocolate, which was great in taste and not too sweet. The service was fast and easy. I fortunately they didn’t accept American Express so I needed to switch to cash. There are more restaurants around so do check it out.

2 stars because the gelato was actually pretty good. I ordered the brownie sundae and the brownie was garbage. They have some brownies that looked really good, but then those aren’t the ones that they use for the brownie sundae or maybe they are but only after they’ve been sitting out for probably a week, because it was tiny stale cubes and only a fraction (maybe 1/4) of the size of the brownies that they have on display. If I wanted to waste $6 on the baby scoop worth of Gelato that they give, then I would just walk up the street to Auto Mercado and spend $10 on a Ben & Jerry’s pint instead.

One of the best gelato joints around. They rarely smile, but trust me, the customer service is ON POINT. Your order is done FAST; what usually takes time is people deciding, so expect long lines on weekends. Every gelato flavor is a treat to the senses, and they'll give you samples, no questions asked (just don't overdo it like some politicians do). TIP: Get a 100 colones waffle to go with your gelato."

Delicious gelato! Went there twice with a large group and they were great. My favorite was mouse de maracuyá con Nutella!

One of the ladies at the cash register tried to charge me my smoothie 2 times and when I showed her the receipt 🧾 she didn’t even say sorry what goes to show that she was trying to steal it! Always check your receipt 🧾 specially is you’re a foreigner!

Oui, Oui La Crepe is a decent spot if you’re in the mood for a quick bite and craving a sweet or savory crêpe. I came across it while walking through the area and decided to stop in for something sweet. I ordered the Nutella crêpe, and it came out quickly. Ordering was simple, using a mix of English and Spanish. The crêpe tasted good, but I did feel that the price was a bit high for what it was. When converted to U.S. dollars, it came out to around $10, which even by U.S. standards is on the more expensive side for a basic crêpe. That was really the only downside for me. With so many other options nearby and considering the price, I probably wouldn’t go back. But if you’re specifically craving a crêpe and you’re in the area, it’s worth checking out.

I feel it’s expensive for what you are getting :(

expensive joint with regular food... they dont take orders at your table

great place, great food,good vibes, and a good view, way too expensive though. the banana crepe is great.

Consistently I have found this place to be one of my go to places to relax, enjoy a cappuccino,and freshly baked goods.I can say it's worth a try.

Fantastic, love the food from here.

Coffee, books and Art is our new favorite coffee shop. The amiance immediately draws you in and allows you to escape the bustle of the day. The folks are very friendly and attentive. We just lazed around over our splendid latte and mocachino. Enjoy!

A lovely coffee spot, great desserts and beautiful house, the best mood!

Best place to sit and read a book in San José so far. Food is not surprising, but ambient is perfect!

Not a cheapest place. The menu is very limited. I went 3 times and always the same plate

Good place for meetings. Service is good and the food too.

(Translated by Google) Delicious food, prices valid for the flavor and a beautiful place to share. (Original) Una comida deliciosa, precios válidos para el sabor y un lugar hermoso para compartir.

(Translated by Google) A quiet place to read, have meetings, talk. It has several very pleasant rooms, full of books and paintings (some for sale). The food is delicious. It is not a cheap place, but not excessively expensive either. (Original) Un lugar tranquilo para leer, tener reuniones, conversar. Tiene varios ambientes muy agradables, llenos de libros y cuadros (algunos a la venta). La comida es muy rica. No es un lugar barato, pero tampoco excesivamente caro.

Nice coffee shop where you can also have lunch. We had a burrito and quesadilla and I am afraid I would not recommend the place as both were not what we expect for a burrito and quesadilla. Also the service was very slow. Maybe is just more of a coffee and cake place.

The food was ok, nothing special actually. It was good but it wasn't good enough. The location and the aesthetic is really good and I'll probably go back there.

Excellent place to drink coffee

Spectacular coffee!!

Great food and atmosphere

Delicious 😊

(Translated by Google) The place is nice and quiet. The prices are a little high for the quality. And something I didn't like was that they gave me iced coffee as if it were a cold brew. (Original) El lugar es bonito y tranquilo. Los precios están un poquito elevados para la calidad. Y algo que no me gustó fue que me dieran un café con hielo como si fuera un cold brew.

(Translated by Google) It is incredible that a food store does not use stamps when they send express, the delivery people will steal your food if it does not have stamps. I tried to contact them and what they did was make fun. I hope it doesn't happen to anyone else, and if you are going to buy here remember that a known devil is better than a new one to know. Vulgar and disastrous!! (Original) Increible que una tienda de comida no utilice sellos cuando envian express, los repartidores robaran tu comida si no lleva sellos. Les trate de contactar y lo que hicieron fue burlarse. Espero que a nadie mas le pase, y si va a comprar aqui recuerde que es mejor diablo conocido que nuevo por conocer. Vulgar y nefasto!!

(Translated by Google) Very rich (Original) Muy rico

(Translated by Google) I liked it (Original) Me gustó

(Translated by Google) Fast delivery (Original) Rápido en entrega