San José and other well known tourist areas, there are a great variety of exquisite restaurants with international cuisine. The daily life is characterized by simple, local places , the so-called Sodas, where typical Costa Rican dishes like Casado are served.

Beef, fish or chicken is usually fried and served with beans and rice ( Gallo Pinto ) - a standard in local dish. Often slices of fried bananas (tostones or Patacones ), lettuce, and sometimes other vegetables and of course tortillas ( thin and relatively flavor neutral corn flapjacks) are served with your casado.

There are also other rice dishes like arroz con vegetables , arroz con pollo (with chicken) or arroz con camarones (with shrimps). Sometimes you get hamburgers and sandwiches in the fast food scene - the American way of life continues to impregnate Costa Rican ways of life, but also Chinese and Italian cuisine is also playing a role.

Local specialties like pejibaye (palm fruits), tamales (banana leaves stuffed with meat and mashed corn) and elotes ( boiled or roasted corn-cobs) are also served.

Another special dish is ceviche - raw, marinade fish. And for desert, don´t miss flan de coco (coconut pudding) or tres leches (evaporated milk and sugar), and taste some of the cakes and pastry offered in Costa Rican bakeries.

Another specialty of the country are the different local cuisines, like for example the Jamaican-Caribbean influenced Creole cuisine, that can be found along the Atlantic coast. Taste rice boiled in coconut water, fish in banana leaves and much more. Coffee is the national drink.

All kinds of international softdrinks and beer are available, for example local beer brands include Imperial, Pilsen, Rock Ice, Bavaria .

Wine is often imported from Chile and rather expensive compared to the local made alcoholic liquors like GUARO CACIQUE ( made from sugar cane) and others such as rum, whiskey and vodka.

Be sure to taste the delicious Costa Rican coffee liqueur.