A Day in San José

Here's your guide to San José, Costa Rica in a day!

Welcome to San José, the capital of Costa Rica and the nation’s largest city. Now, to be fair, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of San José. My first impression was it’s a crowded, dirty, outdated concrete jungle with crumbling sidewalks and honking traffic everywhere. But after many trips and a little hope I discovered the glitter behind the grit and began to appreciate San José for the cultural capital it truly is.

If you're visiting Costa Rica then you’ll most likely be flying into San José and if you are, I always recommend spending at least a day here and then setting off to the beaches or mountains the next day. This is just part of the overall Costa Rican experience!

In the morning

Mercado Central - This place is just that, San José’s Central Market. If you don’t already feel like you’re in a developing Central American country, this place will transport you there. Built in 1880, this is basically a flea market with hundreds of vendors selling everything from snakeskin boots to herbal remedies to handcrafted souvenirs to freshly squeezed juices. Take your time, browse around, get some cool photos, do some shopping and before you leave grab some breakfast at one of the little “sodas”, a typical Costa Rican restaurant. Tip: There are a TON of sodas in here and it can get a little overwhelming trying to figure out which one to eat at. Just select the one that’s crowded. It’s gotta be good if the locals are flocking there!

Museo de Oro Precolombiano - To continue your Costa Rica cultural experience head over to the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum. Here you’ll find Costa Rica’s most priceless pieces of Pre-Colombian gold along with contemporary art & historical currency. The gold artifacts are absolutely fascinating with over 1,600 individual pieces of artworks and monuments of Pre-Columbian era that dates from 500 AD to 1500 AD. This museum is a great place to get to know the culture, art & heritage of Costa Rica. It’s located in the Plaza de la Cultura (underground) and tickets are about $10.

In the afternoon

Bici Barista Café - You must be exhausted from all of this exploring, but there’s no time for rest. It’s time for a coffee break! And not just any coffee break. After all, Costa Rica has some of the best coffee in the world! One of my favorite coffee spots in San Jose is Bici Barista Café. Now, don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t an actual coffee shop. It’s basically some dude that converted his “bici” (aka bicycle) into a coffee cart, parks it on a street corner and serves up the perfectly poured pour-over along with other delicious coffee concoctions. It’s brilliant if you ask me. Bici Barista can be found in Parque España Monday-Friday in the afternoon.

Café Miel - Now you’ll need a little something sweet to go with that coffee. Café Miel is a garage converted into a shabby-industrial bakery with badass tattooed chicks serving up some of the best desserts around. Here you’ll find milkshakes, cookies, cakes, brownies, more coffee, basically anything your sweet heart desires. The Snickers Cake is my favorite! It’s a rich chocolate cake filled with a layer of homemade nougat, caramel and peanuts and then covered in a chocolate ganache. I’m salivating just thinking about it! They have 3 locations, but the one in Barrio Otoya is right around the corner from Bici Barista.

Parque la Sabana - By now you’re feeling like the fat ass you truly are. Head over to Parque la Sabana and get moving! This is my favorite park in San José. As you casually stroll around you’ll forget you’re in a bustling city. It’s quiet, it’s quaint and it’s beautiful. After some walking grab a “pipa” and take a seat under a shady tree near the soccer fields and watch the locals play a game.

In the evening

Costa Rica Beer Factory - Yes, there’s a craft beer scene in Costa Rica! Yes, it’s legit! If I had to pick 1 place to visit in San José, this is it. The Costa Rica Beer Factory is a hip beer joint located in a chic foodie part of town, better known as Barrio Escalante. It serves up brews from all over the world, but you have to get your hands on their craft beer, The Escalante, dubbed after the neighborhood. It’s a very smooth & drinkable red ale and one of my favorite beers here. I wouldn’t recommend eating here. The food is ok and a bit pricey for what it is. You come here to enjoy the wide selection of beers in their charming, cozy patio!

Restaurant Row - Barrio Escalante is San José’s unofficial restaurant row due to its wide streets & rows of extensive restaurant options. Some of the best restaurants in San José are located in this little neighborhood. After a few brews at the Beer Factory stroll around for a bit. It won’t be long until you see (or smell) something appetizing. From hole-in-wall diners to fine dining establishments to Tico style gastropubs, you’ll be sure to find some good eats around here.

Late Night

Calle de la Almargura - If you still have it in you head over to San José’s “college town.” This neighborhood is located near the University of Costa Rica so you know what that means; a row of bars, cheap beer & youthful vibes! My favorite spot here is Caccio’s which is famous for their $5 liter of beer, better known as the “Olafo”. Have fun & drink responsibly!

Chelles - A night of drinking is not complete without a late night foodgasm. Chelles is a landmark in San José and is open 24/7. The Gallo Pinto here is famous and one of my favorites. Gallo Pinto is a very typical Costa Rican dish consisting of rice and beans alongside eggs and tortillas. I guarantee it’ll hit that late night munchies spot!

There you have it, San José in a day! I hope you enjoy your time in this cultural hub before you continue your vacation in this beautiful country. If you’ve been to this bustling Central American city, let me know what spots you love to hit up in the comments below!