Discovering Costa Rica

Page 35

Dining and Nightlife

Eating Out

San José has a diverse dining scene, with superb cuisine from France, Italy, Peru, Spain,

Japan, etc. The greatest concentration of restaurants is located in the downtown area as well as

nearby Central Valley suburbs of Escazú and Santa Ana.

A few customs are worth noting, as they may be different from what you are used to. First, the

check will never come unless you ask for it. Costa Ricans think you should relax and enjoy your

meal. If the waiter doesn’t bring the check, this is not poor service – he/she will bring it when

you feel like you are done. When you receive the check, you will notice that 10% is added to the

total for a tip. If you had a good experience with the wait-staff, they appreciate an extra 5-10%.

Lastly, remember to pay with colones to get the most for your money.

Budget Dining

For cheap eats, seek out little restaurants known as “sodas,” which are equivalent to diners in

the United States. For example, Musmanni is a bakery found all over the country. They offer a

lunch special with a sandwich and drink for 1,000 colones ($2 USD). At sodas, you will find

‘comida tipica,’ typical Costa Rican fare. Some forms of casados include a plate of rice, beans,

cabbage, pasta, and a meat.

Helpful Hint:

For a light snack, there are fruit and vegetable stands all over town. Fruit

is available whole or in snack bags for eating on-the-go. This inexpensive treat is a way

to hold you over until the next meal.

Nightlife

Bars

There is a spot for every taste in town. People who like to lounge will be pleased with most hotel

bars in downtown. Sports fans have plenty of options to catch the most recent game, and a lot

of brewpubs are drastically improving quality and selection of their drinks. One of the local-

favorites is called a “boca” which is similar to a tapa in Spain.

Clubs

Dancing is very popular within the culture, and there is a plethora of dance club options from

which to choose. Some clubs have live bands where others have DJs. Sometimes these places

will have a cover charge, but it usually also covers a drink or two. Karaoke is very popular in the

nightlife, so don’t be surprised to walk into a bar with a singer on stage.

Helpful Hint:

It is important to know the different between a club and a “nightclub” in

Costa Rica. A club is a dance club, while a nightclub is a club with exotic dancers.