Costa Rica Guide
San José
Cafés and bakeries
1 Café de Artistas 100m south of the Plaza in San Rafael de Escazu Home of the local artist community, discussing the city's latest cultural offerings over steaming cups of coffee and flaky pastries. Open Tues through Sat 7:30am-6:30pm and Sun 8:30am-2pm.
2 
Café Parisienne Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Av 2, C 3/5 The closest thing in San José to a European street café, complete with wrought-iron chairs and trussed-up waiters. Laze away the afternoon over coffee and cake while taking in the tunes and antics of buskers and performers on Plaza de la Cultura. It's one of the few cafés that serves continental breakfast.
3 La Esquina del Café C 3 bis, Av 9 Small, quiet, aromatic café with excellent coffee and freshly roasted beans. The friendly staff will answer questions about the entire coffee process, from bean to cup. They serve a good cappuccino with proper frothed milk, tasty desserts (you can try before you buy) and lunches of soups, salads and sandwiches. You can also buy little bags of beans from Costa Rica's various coffee-producing regions.
4 Giacomín Branches next to the Automercado in Los Yoses, in San Pedro, and in Escazú Comfortable café for chocolate and cake lovers, with lots of seasonal cakes such as stollen and panettone.
5 News Café Av 0, C 7/9 Refuel over a cup (or two) of Costa Rica's potent coffee at this midtown café. Find a comfortable perch on the balcony and people-watch to your heart's content. Inside, the walls are adorned with pictures that tell the story of Costa Rica's coffee-growing industry.
6 Ruiseñor 150m east of the Automercado in Los Yoses Upmarket café serving sandwiches and pastries on a pleasant outdoor terrace. The old-fashioned, European-style atmosphere and service are a treat, but you pay for it.
7 Spoon Av 0, C 5/7, and other branches throughout San José and the Valle Central Packed with Josefinos ordering birthday cakes. Coffee is somewhat bitter but served with mix-it-yourself hot milk; the choices of cookies and cakes are endless.
8 Teatro Nacional Café Ruiseñor Av 2, C 3/5. Coffee, fruit drinks, sandwiches and fantastic cakes served amid a Neoclassical decor of marble, crystal and dark wood. Settle in at a table by the window and check out the goings-on in Plaza de la Cultura.
9 Zucchero C 33, Av 5, just north of Los Yoses Excellent coffee and French-style pastries and cakes served up in quiet, residential Barrio Escalante.