Window to Our World

When people come to Costa Rica, San José is usually only on the itinerary as a quick stop while arriving and departing. Understandably, it doesn’t quite compare the the lush rain forests or the pristine beaches. HOWEVER…there are some hidden gems in San José that are definitely worth some attention. Since living in San José, we’ve been able to explore our favourite slices of the city and show off to all our visitors.

Barrio Escalante

If you read anything about San José, you probably read about Escalante. This neighbourhood is close the the University of Costa Rica and has a young student vibe. There are lots of amazing coffee shops, restaurants and one of my favourite co-working spaces. And while Costa Rica isn’t particularly known for it food scene, these neighbourhood has the best Costa Rica offers in terms of restaurants, in my humble opinion.

Franco is my favourite restaurant in all of Costa Rica. It has the best brunches, delicious vegetarian options and excellent drinks with the cutest garden patio. We make sure to take all our guests to Franco for at least one delicious meal. One of our other favourites in Escalante is Jardin de Lolita, a cool outdoor space featuring a variety of food and drink stalls. An excellent hangout spot. We really do love walking around the Escalante neighbourhood, checking out the little shops with local products, grabbing a meal and stopping by Cafeoteca for a coffee.

In December, we found a little artisan market with locally made products from soaps to clothes to jewelry. One of my favourite little booths was Passion for Vintage Jewelry, which had the cutest stuff (and the cutest dog). I recently placed a big order to bring some of my favourite pieces back to Canada. My own little mementos that will always remind me of my year in Costa Rica.

Feria Verde

On Saturdays, there is a market that we visit near Escalante that is a combination of a farmers market and a craft fair. This is where we have been able to find a lot of vegetarian-friendly treats, fancy cheeses, incredible chocolate, and the cutest dogs. There’s often live music and a range of food stalls, including my favourite coffee: Taza Amarilla. Best coffee I’ve had in Costa Rica…and I’ve had a lot. It’s a fun place to just hang out with friends and pick up some treats.

Concerts at the National Stadium

Okay, not so hidden, but a really fun time and a cool experience. We didn’t actually make it to a soccer (football) game, but we did get to see the Foo Fighters and Weezer at the National Stadium, which was a lot of fun! The National Stadium is near a big park, Sabana, which is lovely to stroll around and enjoy some nature in the centre of San Jose.

Slothies and Coffees

I’ve mentioned it before, but a trip to the Toucan Rescue Ranch is a great morning activity, especially if you can get there for ‘Slothies and Coffees’. You get to drink coffee while watching baby sloths eat their breakfast. Do I need to say any more?

Parque del Este

We are always looking for new places to go hiking. This park was close to where we lived and had some beautiful trails and picnic areas, which made for a great day trip on a weekend. The bamboo forests, the pine trees, the jungle-like lushness; it all makes you feel like you aren’t in the middle of a metropolis.