Overview
Barrio Escalante, east of downtown San José, is known as the 'Gastronomic Street' — the city's trendiest food neighborhood. Since the 2010s, Costa Rica's top chefs have clustered here, and today dozens of independent restaurants, specialty coffee shops, craft breweries, and ice-cream parlors line the streets. Modern twists on traditional Costa Rican cuisine draw foodies, alongside Italian, Japanese, and Peruvian options. Vintage shops and galleries make for pleasant strolling before or after a meal.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (individual restaurants and cafes keep their own hours).
Travel Tips
Thursday-Saturday evenings are liveliest. Franco Café is San José's top specialty coffee shop — a must for coffee lovers.
Hotels near Barrio Escalante
Hotels and guesthouses in San José, Barrio Escalante, San José
Other attractions in San José
National Museum of Costa Rica
A museum housed in a former fortress, with pre-Columbian stone spheres and a butterfly garden.
Mercado Central (Central Market)
A traditional market open since 1880, offering local food and souvenirs in one place.
National Theatre of Costa Rica
An 1897 European-style theatre - an architectural gem and a national cultural symbol.
Jade Museum (Museo del Jade)
A modern museum housing the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts.
Poás Volcano National Park
One of the world's largest active volcano craters, with a stunning emerald crater lake.
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
An underground museum with 1,600 exquisite gold artifacts from Costa Rica's indigenous peoples.
Irazú Volcano
Costa Rica's highest active volcano (3,432m), with a mystical green crater lake.