San José Central Market

The Best Food at Costa Rica’s Mercado Central | Eater

"Established in 1880 in the heart of downtown San José along more than a block of the Avenida Central, this sprawling market is a winding labyrinth of alleys and narrow corridors overflowing with food stalls, herbal remedies, flowers, local handicrafts, leather goods and spices. Declared a cultural patrimony in 1995, it functions as a living repository of Costa Rican traditions—home remedies, staple recipes and regional crafts—and is famous for its small restaurant stalls or sodas that serve century-old menus of traditional cooking. The layout grew organically, so visitors should expect to get lost and distracted, follow crowds or ask vendors for the best sodas, and plan to visit between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; stalls accept colones best, though some take dollars or cards, and bars and cantinas may be closed under health regulations." - Sofía González