Digital Nomad’s Guide to San Jose
San Jose is the biggest city in Costa Rica, but nobody seems to like it very much (including those who live here). However, it’s certainly not without its attractions, and if you find yourself here at some point - perhaps before heading off to Nosara or another nomad hotspot - there are some places worth checking out.
(Want to know what Costa Rica sounds like? Unfortunately I couldn’t find much local music I liked, but here’s a playlist of great bands and artists from elsewhere in Central and South America.)
Coffee Shops
La Casa del Cacao
Calle 1, San Jose Entre avenida central y, Av. 1, San José, 20501
A friendly little cacao cafe in an old music hall converted to a cute shopping area. There’s wifi and plenty of tables to work at.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Entre Nous
Av. 7 2935, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101
A chic cafe and craperie in Barrio Escalante - easily the city’s best neighbourhood - with a gorgeous outdoor section.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Apotecario
300m Este de la Iglesia de Santa Teresita, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101
A bar and cafe with a bit of an esoteric/occult vibe, but also a sunny and plant-filled interior.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Restaurants
Bosque Urbano Cafe
Calle 37 751, San José Province, San Pedro, Dent
I was surprised to find most places in San Jose don’t seem to use particularly fresh ingredients, but this bright vegan joint probably had the freshest food around.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Huacamole
Calle 63, San José, San Pedro, Empalme, 11506
Wonderful vegan resto with casual but quality food.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Árbol de Seda
Av. 7, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101
A really cute, artsy, plant-based “space dedicated to gastronomic trips” according to their website (translated by Google).
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Parks and Recreation
Feria Verde de Aranjuez
Cancha de fútbol, San José, Aranjuez, 10103
Idyllic farmers market with a hippie vibe, which takes place every Saturday at Aranjuez Park.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Museo del Jade
13 bis, y, Av. Central, San José Province, San José
A fascinating archeological museum with tons of artifacts from pre-hispanic Costa Rican cultures.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol: Legal drinking age in Costa Rica is 18.
Cannabis: Recreational cannabis is prohibited, although personal possession is reportedly not subject to criminal penalty (subject to certain details). Regulated medical cannabis use was approved in 2022.
Psychedelics: Costa Rica is famously an ayahuasca retreat hotspot, as the substance is unscheduled. Most other psychedelic substances, however, are explicitly prohibited.