Top Restaurants in San Jose
Top 10 restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica
Vibrant and packed with Victorian mansions, Costa Rica's rowdy, bustling capital was built on the profits of the coffee trade and working "golden bean" plantations still surround the city. Try freshly roasted local beans at Mercado Central. For shinier gold, visit the Museo del Oro. Many renovated landmarks now house stylish hotels. Usually viewed as a hub, rather than a destination, nightlife is concentrated in Spanish village-inspired El Pueblo. Don't miss the elegant 1897 National Theater.
Things to do in San Jose
1. Lubnan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 472 reviews
Reviewed By ChelaT1 - San Diego, California
Happy service, cool decor and yummy. Portions are huge! Everything can easily be shared by 3 people. Victor took excellent care of us!
2. Tin Jo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Our Mission is to serve delicious, healthy food in an environment that is conducive to sharing and caring. We believe that food should nourish us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our dishes are inspired from Asian countries: China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand. We have an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu as well as a gluten free menu. Our Asian themed rooms gather together all the art work we have collected as well as those created by closed friends and frequent diners. Tin Jo is our third child and we are very involved owners. We love to interact with you, our customers and it is our sincere wish that your visit to our restaurant satisfies not only your senses but also uplifts your spirit. With Gratitude,Maria Hon and Robert Faulstich
Reviewed By jcabezas2016 - San Jose, Costa Rica
This is the place we celebrate our wedding anniversaries and some of our familyu members birthdays.. Their oriental cuisine from several countries is excellent. Service is outstanding. Saturdas or Sundays i reccomend making Reservations but during the week you can just walk in. Several theme rooms and excellent decoration (venen the bathrooms have artistic touches). They will bend over backwards to serve you.
3. Restaurante Grano de Oro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Restaurant Grano de Oro merges Costa Rican tropical with European cuisine under the expertise of our French chef Francis Canal. Once a simple cafe, this restaurant has evolved into one of San Jose’s finest dining establishments, frequented by locals and tourists alike.Specialty cocktails, classically presented dishes and delicious desserts are served in the charming ambiance of a magnificent period home with an elegant inner courtyard. The bilingual wait staff provides professional and friendly service. Service is offered throughout the day from 7 am to 10 pm. Restaurant, patio and bar are non-smoking
Reviewed By alfonso s
Very nice !! Food is good.Rations in the small side.High end place. Decoration and cleanness awesome. Located in within a hotel installation. Close to downtown San Jose. We also had a wonderful and quiet breakfast.
4. Limoncello
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 253 reviews
Reviewed By Ann A - Toronto, Canada
The pizza here was the best we have ever had! it was large enough to last for 2 days and it tasted just as good the second day. We were here with a group of 14 people and everyone's food was cooked and presented to perfection. The service was excellent and the prices reasonable for this quality restaurant. Our group liked it so much that we decided to reserve a meal for a second time. I am from Canada and I will surely miss the pizza in this restaurant.
5. La Esquina de Buenos Aires
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Bienvenido a La Esquina de Buenos Aires Cuando llegas a esta casa centenaria del centro del San José de antes, es como llegar al Buenos Aires de mediados del siglo pasado. En su menú no solo encontrará, platos como la típica parrilla Argentina con sus cortes de carnes ya conocidos, sino también, excelentes pastas caseras donde se nota el aporte culinario que tuvo la gran inmigración Italiana. Dentro de sus entradas se destacan, las rabas (calamares fritos) camarones al ajillo, marlín ahumado y sus ocho diferentes tipos de empanadas. De la parrilla se destaca la entraña, punta de cuadril y la tapa de asado; sus pastas más pedidas o más buscadas son, los tres tipos de Canelones, los sorrentinos capresse y los ravioles de espinaca y gorgonzola. En los postres encontramos los infaltables, panqueque de dulce leche, de manzana y la elaboración artesanal de la Mouse de chocolate, helado de dulce de leche, higo con nuez y sambayon. Todo creado por el chef argentino Mauricio Cabado.
Reviewed By Ann2013Kay - New York
While on a business trip we got this place recommended by a local colleague and indeed this was the perfect choice for high quality meat, great atmosphere and very friendly and knowledgable staff. We had steaks which were perfectly to the point we had ordered (medium, medium rare, etc) and the Deserts (volcano cake eg) were very delicious too. Great place to spent a nice evening. Reservations absolutely required (easy via whatsapp).
6. Restaurante Jurgen's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 194 reviews
Reviewed By Jorge S - San Jose, Costa Rica
This has been a restaurant with long time in business, I heard lots of great comments but first time experience it. The place feels great cozy, relax, don't know why but transport me to the 70's . The waitress and general service was very professional and the same time friendly, food was well served, I tried the month menu and was happy, wines were good price. I told them we were celebrating a birthday and as surprise they brought a dessert and was quite nice. Prices were reasonable. A fully recomendant restaurant in the east.
7. Park Cafe
Overall Ratings
5 based on 305 reviews
Please read important reservation information on our website before making your booking. Thank you.
Reviewed By Teresa268 - Halesworth, United Kingdom
My husband and I were in Costa Rica for the first time and on the recommendation of friends booked a table to experience the Park Café on our last night in the country. Firstly I should say that unlike most of the negative reviews posted,...MoreDear Teresa and Joe. Thank you for your visit, company and review. Always a pleasure to have people such as yourselves at home with us in Park Cafe. Best wishes. Richard, Ricardo and Louise
8. Mantras Veggie Cafe and Tea House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
Beauty and health come from within, at MANTRAS, we are making this a possibility. We have RAW, ORGANIC, VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN, DAIRY & SUGAR FREE options that are DELICIOUS on your soul!! The active enzymes that our food provides your body will allow it to always be at its prime level of energy, health and beauty. We support serving organically local fruits and vegetables using natural ingredients specializing in a diverse menu. We do natural cold press juicing, smoothies, kombucha and fermented foods. . We work with small producers and venders supporting our local economy. We have outdoor and indoor Seating, take large groups with or without reservation.
Reviewed By Lara S - Oxford, United Kingdom
We opted for this place after it being recommended in our Lonely Planet guide, and also because it happened to be really close to the hotel we were hosted. The neighbourhood is a lovely area with lots of independent cafes, restaurants and beer places.
We were in Mantras for lunch and opted for a big bowl (Fajitas Locas) and a Tico Sandwich with the soup of the day. The food was delicious and the size of the bowl was really big (but so good I finished everything!).
Then we tried a couple of the vegan cakes (one made of fruits and the other being the Tarta Chilena, and both were really good.
The price is quite honest for the quality you get as well, so I would definitely recommend it.
9. La Terrasse French Cuisine
Overall Ratings
5 based on 517 reviews
The restaurant La Terrasse French Cuisine is a concept of table d'hôtes of 12 covers. A private and personalized restaurant that offers you a unique experience to share with generosity the French gastronomy. An elegant place, chic ventage and romantic. The conviviality in the restaurant La Terrasse constitutes a tradition. The chef Patricia Richer receives you in a house of 1925 from Tuesday to Saturday with reservation and will have the pleasure to share with her clients a creative and contemporary French cuisine realized around organic products and the season.
Reviewed By satipatipatti - Atlanta, Georgia
Amazing. Dishes from Ardennes to Provence expertly crafted in Central America. Our respect goes to Chef Patricia Richer. Also to Gerald for his hospitality.
In discussing the absence of aperitifs and digestifs, Gerald said there are components of French cuisine that are just not available in quality in Costa Rica. I assume that this applies to many other ingredients, which makes it all the more amazing that Chef Patricia can put together the harmonious cuisine française that graces this establishment. The chef does not overstep what is permissible and our meal delivered what the menu promised.
Gerald successfully convinced my wife not to order scallops cooked to whiteness all the way through - some thing I have tried to do for years. Instead, he encouraged her to try the salmon. It was cooked through to her preference and had good taste, set off nicely against the pistachio garnish and served with a mild orange/turmeric sauce.
Besides the salmon, our meal consisted of chevre cheesecake, lamb shank, creme brulee and fondant de chocolate. We needed one wine to accompany all of these courses and complement or, ay least, not clash with them and Gerald came up with a light, fruity red, Gamay, I believe, that was a excellent companion to the whole meal. The entire wine list impressed me as being reasonably priced.
The chevre cheesecake appetizer had an uniform creaminess and a good mild lactic dairy taste nicely complemented by the tomatoes.
The honey and rosemary worked magic upon the perfectly done lamb shank and its gravy.
The caramel-throughout creme brulee was very good but,even so, we prefer the classic caramelized sugar crust with the vanilla custard.
The fondant de chocolate was absolutely delicious. We could not guess if the chocolate/cocoa was Guittard, Callebaut, or Valrhona. Turns out to be a local Costa Rican chocolate, and it was delicious.
Notable: it was not possible for my wife, for whom English is a second language, to communicate with Gerald, for whom English is also a second language, over the long-distance telephone to arrange, weeks in advance, an available time for our reservation; the understanding was just not there. No problem. The affable front desk of the Holiday Inn Aurola in San Jose called for us two nights before our desired date and got us our reservation.
10. Aqui Es
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 224 reviews
Reviewed By Adkmthiker - Jay, New York
If you are staying in a hotel or visiting near the Sabana Park, Aqui Es is close by, and one of the best choices for restaurants in that area of San Jose. It's small, cosy, service is excellent and the food (we had salads and pizzas) was delicious.
