:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21979860/DSC01857.jpg "San José Central Market by eater.com")
Lively market with produce, fish, coffee, snacks, crafts
WWM9+V5F, Calle 8, San José Province, San José, Paso De La Vaca, Costa Rica Get directions
"Pick up a batido, a colorful drink of fresh fruit blended with ice." - Nina Kokotas Hahn
"This Central American country, where "pura vida" (pure life) is a greeting and description of the culture, stretches from the Caribbean to the Pacific, with rain forests, jungles, and beaches. Costs vary as widely as environments, but, in general, the cost of living in Costa Rica is reasonable. For example, in the city of San José, the cost of housing is about 79 percent lower than in New York City, and consumer prices are around 44 percent lower. A few ways to become a resident include the Pensionado Program, which requires a monthly income of at least $1,000. Those funds must be transferred to a Costa Rican bank to be withdrawn for expenses. The Rentista Program, for those without a monthly pension, requires a minimum of $60,000 or a monthly income of $2,500 for at least two years. Health care is available through public and private systems. For residents, the national medical program (with no co-pays or exclusions) is available, along with the option of private care with out-of-pocket costs that can be self-insured or paid through a private insurance policy." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"You’ll spot this casual food stall in San José’s bustling, crammed, historic Mercado Central by the giant fake octopus sitting on top of the awning. Named after a national park declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the stall serves one of the most consistent ceviches in the city, with chunks of fish in lime marinade garnished with onion, cilantro, and peppers. And if the ceviche is good, you can bet the caldosa will be, too; it’s served in a bag of crunchy Picaritas, best eaten immediately." - Rafael Tonon
"I would suggest visiting Mercado Central for artisanal gifts and to try typical foods."
"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
Debbie Pacheco
Will Valenzuela
John L.
Anthony Plaxen
Sami Engle Price
Paul Parent
Mike W
Jana Daigle
