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

Bustling central market full of different stalls to eat and vendors to buy goods from. Plenty of souvenir items if that’s what you’re looking for or meats, cooking supplies, etc. if you’re looking more for that instead. Super cheap food as well, paid 2000 colones for the fish special at the restaurant we went to. Lovely workers there as well!

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!

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

THIS IS A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR TOURISTS! Yes, there's tons of shopping (especially shoes) in this area. However, the market and surrounding areas are not safe for tourists that look like tourists. DON'T: wear jewlery pull out your cell phone leave the immediate market area wear a purse or bag that you dont have complete control of I have been to markets in other countries and this was the place I felt the least safe. This was 10x worse than the tianguis in CDMX Tepito! 1/10 Do NOT recommend. breathe (so poopy/sick animal smelling)

Really cool market building to shop for anything you need, food, souvenirs, groceries, jewelry, whatever. The small street food vendors and the tiny restaurants are really unique and feel like a special local experience.

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.

Nothing fancy on an international scale, but nice for a local cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows and lovely altars

Majestic architecture dated to beginning of 1900s (previous versions of the cathedral didn’t withstand earthquakes), looks sturdy enough. Large number of church-goers during Saturday’s mess…

Beautiful historical landmark of San Jose. The cathedral is very beautiful and stunning.

Beautiful stain glass as well as other architectural features.

Went to have mass. Had enough time before hand to snap some pics. Everything about this place is stunning. Mass was beautiful. Worth checking out

Stunningly beautiful cathedral in the heart of the San Jose. We were fortunate that a special mass was about to be held. Quite the scene to see all the priests (?) in the special robes with gold and red embellishments, line up for the event. As an atheist, doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the grandeur and spectacle that is the church. Interior is stunning and we were told to snap a few pictures before the service started. Well worth visiting but please be respectful of those who worship here.

Very beautiful and the small chapel was very spiritual.I had to pray for Florida before Milton hits and for all my home area where Helene has devastated our communities.

To visit San Jose and not to visit the theater?! This is the most favorite tourist attraction. Entrance from 10 am to the theater grounds costs 7 dollars, they show the premises. In the evening there are performances and you can also buy a ticket and visit.

Attending Berta Rojas’s concert at the National Theater of Costa Rica was truly an unforgettable experience. The theater itself is an architectural gem, blending historic elegance with an atmosphere that feels intimate yet grand. From the moment we stepped inside, we were amazed by the beautiful decor, intricate details, and the welcoming staff. Berta Rojas’s performance was spectacular—the acoustics of the theater made every note come alive. Being part of such a special event in this unique setting was pure joy. Whether you’re a lover of classical music or simply appreciate stunning venues, the National Theater is a must-visit destination in San José. The experience was amazing, and I recommend everyone add it to their Costa Rica itinerary!

The tour was short, about 30 minutes; but the tour guide was great, he explained about everything we saw at the teacher, the origins of every object in the theater with its origin. The theater may be small compared to others in Europe but it’s worth going

Beautifully ornate theatre situated in the heart of central San José. The theatre opened in 1897 and is an exquisite example of neoclassical architecture. We did a guided walking tour of the theatre which was fun and engaging. They do tours on the hour and alternate between English and Spanish (although there are fewer tours in English). We booked our tickets at the kiosk situated outside the theatre and were lucky they weren’t fully booked. I really enjoyed visiting the theatre, and I’d highly recommend booking the guided tour.

Take the tour, enjoy a coffee and snack. This is a national treasure one not yo be missed. SJO has only a few monuments to their rich past, built by and for the coffee plantation owners.. the uber rich of their time

Interesting tour and a cafe with style. Loved it

This is an absolute gem in the heart of San José, and a place not to be missed when you are in town. They have tours on the hour but you need to check when the tours are done in English and when in Spanish. As you enter the main auditorium, you can't stop but to admire the beauty and majesty of the building, which dates back to over 100 years ago. The guides are efficient in their explanation of the history, design, and important events in the theatre. You will also learn about the restoration process going on at the theatre. Overall, it was a great informative tour. The only suggestion is that we could spend more time in the upper hall where the restoration was going on.

It's always a good time at the Children's Museum. It's a good way to spend a day out with your kids. There are lots of different exhibits and the staff is always helpful and friendly. As always, the dinosaur attractions are a huge hit with everyone. I noticed there have been a few changes, making the museum seem as if they are in a transition period. Some exhibits have been moved or taken away entirely. And the newer exhibits are just OK. However, there are still plenty of traditional and popular exhibits in existence to enjoy, so there is still lots to see and do. We love the interactive exhibits the most, and this time around, my kids took part in the canopy activity. Because it's currently vacation period for the kids, there are a lot of extra activities available for kids of all ages. All in all, like I said, it's a fun way to spend the day. Be warned about the parking situation though. It is expensive! And in my opinion, a total rip off.

Fun children’s museum. The place is huge. You could spend all day there. My 3 year old enjoyed it. The only negative is that many of the games don’t work or are very run down so the experience feels like it’s not complete. It needs a serious makeover.

We could have spent the whole day here! We didn’t have a lot of time, as we decided to stop in here before a San Jose city tour. There is so much for kids to see and do here. My 8 year old loved it and gets so excited when she’s telling people about all the things there are to do here. Give yourself half a day to spend here. We went on a Wednesday morning, it wasn’t busy at all. There were a couple of school field trips there but it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Most of the learning exhibits in the different rooms are in strictly Spanish, but if you use google translate it’s easy to understand the different sign. There are staff in rash room to help with the different exhibits, they also speak English to help the non Spanish speakers.

Definitely a place for kids of all ages. There are plenty of activities to keep kids and adults entertained. Most of the activities have Spanish and English instructions / labels - but having a translator app also helps. The volunteets are in extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Kids especially loved the optical illusions, and Dino play area. The museum is ideal location to relax after days of adventures in Costa Rica. The cafeteria offers food at reasonable price (~8-9 USD for cheese quesadilla, fries, and drink)

A fabulous place to visit for kids and adults alike! As an adult, visiting brings out your inner child 🙂 it’s a huge museum and you could spend at least half a day there. It’s a wide range of interactive exhibits and hands-on learning through play.

ThWe have a very good experience here, plenty of parking available, no lines, my kids love the place, the illumination was very nice, all the attractions were in very good condition, the place was clean, the bathrooms were clean too, we also enjoyed a lot taking pictures of the "cars" characters. I'm glad that they keep this place in such a good condition, lots of memories here.

One of my favorite places to visit in Costa Rica because I get to play my songs for the children. It’s a wonderful thing what they did transforming a place of suffering (an old prison) into a palace of joy for children. The facility is well kept, full of fun and educational things to do.

Costa Rican home cooking. Come here if you’re looking for an authentic experience. Food is delicious , quick and cheap. Get the talalpinto with everything.

Showed up for a late lunch to dodge the crowds, and wow, worth it. Service here is no-frills — you won’t get showered with compliments, but you will get food so good you’ll forget your own name. The place has a great local vibe, and if you take just one piece of advice: order the ox tongue.

ATTENTION: cash only. Food Quality: amazing place to have some local style food. For the kind of establishment it is what you would expect and even more. Portions: very good portions especially for such a good price. Drinks: bot many options, but you have to try the local juice they will offer. Price: $ very very good price. Especially when everything else is so expensive. Service: super friendly woman took our order and accommodated us. She helped us through the order and even introduced us to some of the local produce. Atmosphere: cozy little place in the middle of the market. Dont expect much space or comfort, but it is a place to have a good meal and continue your day. Highlights: local food and price. Payment Method: cash only

Delicious typical Cost Rican food at an unbeatable price. The pork chop and natural juices were especially good. It’s in the bustling Mercado Central and very popular, so be ready to eat fast—this is not a place for a leisurely lunch.

Great little Soda. I read about in a Costa Rican guide book and it was highly recommended and for a righteous reason. We walked by it a couple of times and there was also a waiting line in comparison to some of the other nearby Sodas. One of the waitresses got us a seat (limited seating). The food was worth the wait and I believe there is local history with this Soda. We’d eat there again.

Great small place in the middle of the market. fresh home made food! Big portions. Fresh water delicious. Great experience for little money. The only thing is I would like the tortillas to be warm.

Authentic local cuisine in the heart of the Mercado Central. Very good food, always busy, so that's a good sign. Gallo pinto and tortilla con queso both excellent of course. Good limonada too.

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.

Beautiful bistro! Warm, lively, and huge menu! Everything was wonderful and we so appreciated their gracious accommodations as we did not have a reservation. It was packed on a Sunday night! And I think I witnessed people hugging and greeting each other at least a dozen times. Very special place in the heart of the city. Add it to your list!

Really good restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere - would recommend. I walked in on a busy Friday evening. While they didn’t have a table available right that moment, they told me I could wait by the bar with a drink. I had a Sangria - it was packed. Unfortunately I never ended up getting that table, the friendly barman recommended some small tasters and wine exquisite wine to go with it. The empenada with meat was good (a bit dry), the pulpo carpaccio I liked a lot and the lomito Malbec was so tasty yet rich that I left the place absolutely stuffed. Again, I have to say the atmosphere was what caught me and why I would come back. Reservation May be a good idea. Kudos to the friendly bar service.

Omg!. Came here for dinner and I most say. It was probably one of the best dinners experience that I had in Costa Rica. Meaning like the food, service and quality was just on point. You don’t really get service in Costa Rica, since they don’t have to hustle for their tip, but here they make sure that you get the service and attention. The cocktails were well executed and the food was magnificent!. They have a Really good wine selection too. The restaurant itself is beautiful and cozy. Definitely a most try steakhouse in Costa Rica

Amazing last lunch in our trip. Superb food, excellent service and nice Argentinan music We had beef empanada for starter. One of the best I have eaten. Then we had a tenderloin steak. Perfect made and delicious. Linguine in olive oil side dish tasty and delicate. As desert, classic flan. Excellent. Highly recommended!!!!!

The food is delicious and the staff are excellent. We did not have a reservation, but were able to sit at the bar. The bartender was very nice and patient with us. Make a reservation to guarantee a spot and a wonderful evening. So good, we went back at the end of our trip, before flying home. Cannot recommend enough. The food is amazing and the staff are unbelievable.

By far the best steak house in Costa Rica, La Esquina de Buenos Aires has the busy, bustling vibes of authentic Argentinian eateries and locales. The service can be somewhat slow, not due to lack of attention, but because it is always crowded. The rustic decor, dim lighting and vibrant ambience makes it the perfect spot for a casual dinner. We started with cocktails; the Vodka Martini was well made, as was the Pisco Sour. Next, we ordered the Sorrentinos Palermo, pasta filled with goat cheese, eggplant and pepper - delicious! We also ordered the Beef Empanada - spectacular! The Buenos Aires salad was fresh and tasty, although it lacked arugula and was mainly lettuce. The Lomito (tenderloin beef) was perfect - inside tender, lightly charred on the outside, cooked to medium, and MOUTHWATERINGLY delicious. For dessert, we ordered Isla Flotante, a scrumptious, light choice for those who enjoy a little something sweet that is not overflowing with sugar. Absolutely recommended! Be sure to make reservations, as it is always full!

A nostalgic place for locals, politicians, and everyone who seeks ambience with soul. Argentinian beef is a specialty, and is a must for the exotic cuisine.

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!

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!

Vietnamese style restaurant offering a fusion of Vietnamese with Costa Rican cuisine. If you are looking for something different but good this might be the place for you.