Information for: San Jose
San Jose is Costa Rica’s capital city. It’s a modern and trendy city with much to see and do. Shopping malls, colourful markets, fine restaurants, museums, theatres, night clubs and bars, all dot this city’s landscape, making it a cosmopolitan and vibrant place to visit. The heart and soul of Costa Rica, San Jose today has a charm that is uniquely distinct, with an appeal that is all its own.
Hotels located in: San Jose
Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San Jose
The Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San Jose is a modern full service hotel ideally located ten minutes from downtown and just five minutes drive from Juan Santamaria International Airport. The excellent facilities and amenities include Curime Restaurant – which specializes in steaks and regional dishes – and a Swimming Pool with Whirlpool, Fitness Center, Casino [...]
San Antonio de BelenSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2239 0022
Crowne Plaza Corobici
The Crown Plaza is ideally located only five minutes from the financial district. And its affordable quality makes it ideal for the business traveller. Amongst the many highlights you can visit the Fuji restaurant for some of the best Japanese cuisine in the country and unwind in the swimming pool or just relax with a sauna [...]
Sabana NorteSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2232 8122
InterContinental Real Costa Rica
The Real InterContinental Costa Rica Hotel is strategically located in San Jose and this classic luxury hotel is well recommended. They’ve recently open a new heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi and the Azulejos Restaurant offers International cuisine and delicious buffet options.
Prospero Fernandez HwySan Jose
Tel No: +506 2208 2100
Costa Rica Marriott Hotel
Voted by Conde Nast as one of the best hotels in Central America and Mexico this his luxury hotel offers exceptional service and a relaxing ambiance. You can experience fine dining with delectable tapas and wines at La Isabela take a dip in the outdoor pools, hit some shots at the golf driving range then [...]
700 Metros Oeste De La FirestoneSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2298 0000
White House Hotel
The five-star White House Hotel is in a great location offering views of all three of San Jose’s volcanoes from the glass-encased upper balcony. And the hotel’s facilities are terrific too including a luxury spa and on-site casino as well as dining in the mouth-watering Capitol Grill.
San Antonio de EscazúSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2288 6362
Culture & Entertainment Located in: San Jose
La Isabela
La Isabela is located inside the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose. Featuring a variety of Spanish tapas, as well as their own wine cellar, you can catch live music here along with flamenco dancing shows. La Isabela is known as one of the best restaurants in San Jose.
700 meters west from Bridgestone/FirestoneSan Jose, Costa Rica
Tel No: +506 2298 0206
La Castilla
La Castilla is located within the Costa Rica Marriot Hotel – a fine bar within a fine hotel. And this lobby lounge bar has a warm and inviting atmosphere as well as laying-on live music most nights. Look out too for their excellent selction of fine wines.
700 Metros Oeste De La FirestoneSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2298 0000
Bar Chiriqui
Bar Chiriqui is located within the luxurious Double Tree Hilton. And here you can expect a lively atmosphere with a combination of live music and great drinks. Open 24 hours 7 days a week this is definitely a place to party!
San Antonio de BelenSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2239 0022
Club Vertigo
Club Vertigo is an elite and excellent dance club. You can expect DJs, live house music, special events, music performances, singers and concerts – there’s always something going on here. Without doubt this very busy club is one of Costa Rica’s best.
Paseo ColonCentral Colon
San JoseTel No: +506 257 4381
Trio Bar
Trio bar is an elegant sophisticated venue one of the best the city has to offer. A really good spot for a relaxing drink after a hard day’s work you’ll find a happy professional crowd in here. And to add further to the appeal the restaurant at Trio serves up delicious cuisine.
Plaza FresesCurridabat
San JoseTel No: +506 524 0380
El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte
El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte is a highly-popular bar and one of San Jose’s best. There’s usually live music on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and it’s open til 3am at weekends. The only word of warning – it gets packed later on in the evenings so get here early.
Av. 1 between calles 21 and 23San Jose
Tel No: +506 221 0327
Restaurants Located in: San Jose
Tin Jo
Serving cuisine from China, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Japan Tin Jo is a stand-out restaurant in this city. Try the salt-and-pepper shrimp or the mu shu (beef chicken or vegetable stir-fry with crepes) or any of the mouthwatering dishes they serve here. Open Mon-Sat 5.30pm til 10pm & Sun 11.30am til 10pm.
Calle 11 between Avenidas 6 y 8San Jose
Tel No: +506 221 7605
La Piazzetta
Serving fantastic European and Italian cuisine at La Piazzetta you will find fresh seafood, handmade pasta and sauces. Open Mon-Sat 6.30pm til 11.00pm this place is well worth adding to your dining list. And reservations are strongly recommended.
Frente al Banco de Costa RicaPaseo Colón,
San JoséTel No: +506 222 7896
Bacchus
One of the best restaurants in Costa Rica Bacchus serves the finest Italian and French cuisine. Pastas, antipasti, pizzas and entrees such as duck breast are all recommended and you can watch the open kitchen and wood-burning pizza oven in action. Definitely best to book if you’re coming here.
Santa AnaSan Jose
Tel No: +506 282 5441
Factory Steak & Lobster
Steak & Lobster specialises in indulging you in the finest land and sea offerings. Imported beef and lobster share the spotlight on this menu while the glass-enclosed kitchen allows you to watch the chefs at work at the grill. This InterContinental Hotel cracker comes very well recommended.
Prospero Fernandez HwyEscazu
San JoseTel No: +506 2208 2100
Antigua
The Antigua restaurant is located in the outstanding Marriott Hotel. In comfortable and luxurious surroundings you can take full advantage of the lovely Latin American cuisine at this attractive resto-bar. We strongly recommend this place as just one of the many excellent options within the hotel.
700 Metros Oeste De La FirestoneSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2298 0000
Capitol Grill Restaurant
Located within the luxurious White House Hotel, Capitol Grill is one of the finest restaurants in Costa Rica. Try mouth-watering dishes such as Jumbo Lobster Tail, Alaskan King Crab and Angus Steak and you will not be disappointed. Very impressive.
San Antonio de EscazúSan Jose
Tel No: +506 288 6362
Sporting/Leisure/Beauty Located in: San Jose
Mall San Pedro
Located a short distance from San Jose in San Pedro this huge four storey shopping mall is one of Costa Rico’s largest shopping centres. A wide variety of boutiques, specialty shops, gift shops and clothing stores are available for an interesting afternoon’s shopping. Opening hours: 9am-8.30pm.
La Fuente de la HispanidadSan Pedro
Tel No: +506 225 5172
Boutique Annemaries
Located in the Hotel Don Carlos this specialty shop carries select goods almost impossible to find elsewhere in the city including jewellery, gifts, clothes, paintings, leather goods and crafts. Various items crafted by artisans from throughout the country can be found in the two- storey gift shop. Opening hours: 7am-6.30pm.
Calle 9 between Avenidas 7&9Hotel Don Carlos
San JoseTel No: +506 221 6063
Valle del Sol Golf Club
Valle del Sol is San Jose’s premier public golf course. One of the best Golf Resorts in the country and only fifteen minutes from downtown San Jose this 18-hole course is located in the beautiful Santa Ana Valley. Open for play to the general public this is a popular course with business travellers.
Santa AnaSan Jose
Tel No: +506 2282 9222
Terra Mall
The largest mall in Central America. Terra mall is one of the newest on the Costa Rican Shopping scene. Located off the highway to Carlago it offers 125 shopping outlets including Guess, Levis and mega department store Alyss. Set aside at least one day to visit here. Opening hours:10am-8pm.
Autopisto Florencio del CastilloTres Rios
Costa RicaTel No: +506 278 6842
Real Hotel and Club Tower CR
The world-class Spa InterContinental welcomes you with a full menu of treatments incorporating Costa Rica’s rich natural resources. The retreat is surrounded by lush gardens to create a delightful sense of total privacy. You are invited to arrive early and enjoy a shower or sauna before your treatment. Try the two-hour Head to Toe Reviver [...]
Prospero Fernandez HighwayEscazu
San JoseTel No: +506 2208 2165
La Casona
Looking for an unusual souvenir to take home? Then visit this three-storey complex that offers a large and varied inventory of souvenirs comprising jewellery, clothing and ceramics. If you are looking for something different there is also a selection of Guatemalan and Honduran crafts for sale. Opening hours:9am-7pm.
Calle CentralBetween Avenidas Centras + 1
San JoseTel No: +506 2461 0990
Entertainment located in: San Jose
Muse de Oro Precolumbino
This museum boasts a stunning collection of over 1500 gold artefacts. It has one of the world’s most noted collections of Pre-Columbian gold with valuable coins, figurines, jewellery and many other items of interest. On the 2nd floor learn about the social and cultural aspects of the Pre-Columbian culture while the 3rd floor offers insight [...]
(Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold)Calles 3&5
Avenida Central +2Tel No: +506 223 0528
Teatro Nacional
This architectural work of art was constructed in 1897 and welcomes visitors into the beautiful neoclassical facade with statures of Beethoven and Calderon de la Barca a noted 17th century dramatist. The interior is equally impressive with marble staircases, gold ceilings, parquet floors, murals and exquisite paintings. A visit to this beautiful building is worthwhile [...]
Calles 3&5San Jose
Tel No: +506 221 1329
Costa Rican Art Museum
Located next to the Sabana Metropolitan Park this modern art museum showcases cutting edge Costa Rican paintings, prints and sculpture. Local talent is well displayed in this unusual building which is an art work in itself. Formerly an airport terminal it has been refurbished and features the story of Costa Rico in a bas-relief on [...]
Calle 42Sabana Este
(Behind the Leon Cortes-Castro Sculpture)Tel No: +506 222 7155
La Paz Waterfall
Try to schedule a day trip to La Paz Waterfall. It is located about one hour from San Jose and features no less than five breathtaking waterfalls surrounded by lush tropical plants and wildlife. There are walking paths which allow you to enjoy the beauty of the falls at your own pace. In the grounds [...]
Vara BlancaCosta Rica
Tel No: +506 2125 0643