If you fly to Costa Rica from other countries, your most probable landing will be at San Jose or Liberia airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport, also known as San Jose Airport, is the largest international airport in Costa Rica. San Jose, the capital city, has various attractions and a robust food scene.
Only a few people believe there is something good near San Jose Airport. However, on my many flights to Costa Rica, sparing one or two days before leaving, I discovered some unique things about the capital city. Food is usually one of the things that attracts me to a place, and near San Jose Airport, there are many foods.
Key Takeaways
Known as “Chepes” by the locals, San Jose is the economic hub of Costa Rica. However, amidst the concrete jungle of buildings and lush greenery, there are various places to enjoy local and international cuisines. You can find them in the markets, sodas (traditional restaurants), fast food joints, cafes, or fine dining establishments. Here are my key takeaways on the best food near San Jose Airport.
- If you have an early morning flight, you’ll be glad that some restaurants serve breakfast as early as 4.30 AM. Others, like Denny’s and Chelles, are open 24 hours a day.
- While brunch is not a traditional meal in Costa Rica, it’s good to know that San Jose has several places to have it. I recommend Kalu if you have small kids and want a play area.
- If you want a wide selection of food options, the San Pedro Square Market has several vendors offering different cuisines.
- There are several places to get street food near San Jose Airport.
Best Breakfast Near San Jose Airport
Breakfast is essential as the first meal of the day, especially if you have a lot of activities to do during the day. If you are staying at an accommodation option that offers breakfast, you might not need to look for another place.
However, if your accommodation does not offer breakfast early, you might have to eat your morning meal at the following places:
| Breakfast Places Near San Jose Airport | |
| Airport Lounge: The Club SJC | The club opens as early as 5.00 a.m. daily. It is at Gate 15. |
| It’s a lounge where you can purchase a day pass for $50 and enjoy drinks and snacks. | |
| The lounge has vegan and vegetarian options. | |
| Chick-fil-A (Terminal B Between Gates 24 and 25) | It is open from Monday to Saturday: 4:30 a.m.–9 p.m. But breakfast is available until 10.30 a.m. |
| The restaurant serves the original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, waffle fries, boneless nuggets, biscuits, fries, and salads. It also serves hand-punched milkshakes. | |
| Tier options include gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. | |
| Denny’s | It is near the airport at the base of Best Western Irazu, next to a casino. |
| The restaurant is open 24/7. | |
| Its menu includes the original American breakfast and Costa Rican versions, including gallo pinto. | |
| Chelles | Another breakfast place is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
| You can get arroz con Pollo or simple bocas. | |
| The hotel began operations in 1909 and is popular with frequent travelers to San Jose and locals. | |
Best Brunch Food Near San Jose Airport
Costa Rican restaurants are catching up with the international Sunday breakfast brunch. While it’s not a standard meal in San Jose, my favorite brunch places are near San Jose Airport.
Mantras
Opening hours: Open: 9:00 AM – 5 PM Daily.
Location: Barrio Escalante, Calle 35.
It’s the best brunch place, with vegan and vegetarian options. Visit their Facebook page, where they post unique brunch offerings every Saturday and Sunday. They offer artisan foods, lactose-free, gluten-free, raw, and organic options. It’s a trendy joint, and you should go earlier than 9:00 AM to get a place to sit.
The restaurant has four enclosed seating areas.
- The main dining room.
- The front terrace is great to watch people enter and exit the restaurant.
- Back dining room for a bit of privacy.
- The back terrace is for nature lovers.
You’ll then enjoy the chef’s organic egg omelets and Costa Rican coffee. They also offer rich smoothies for those who want a more nutrient-based drink. Their vegan breakfast burritos are a must-try. Those with a sweet tooth will love the free gluten-free and vegan goodies.
Café Miel Garage
Opening hours: The store is open from 9:00 AM to 6 PM (Monday through Friday) and 10:00 AM to 6 PM (Saturday).
Location: Barrio Amon.
There are three different addresses for Café Miel Garage, but I recommend the one at the edge of Barrio Amon. Between the lovely shops and the art galleries, you can’t miss it. It serves cold coffee as one of its specialties.
Although small and barely having enough seating, the small cafe is popular with many locals and tourists. The window display features baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies, and wafers.
You can get chocolate, fruit juices, lemonades, and teas from cold or hot coffees. Sorbets, ice cream, and caramel popcorn are also on the menu.
Kalu
Opening hours: 9 a.m.–4 PM (Sunday), 9 a.m.–10 PM ( Saturday), and noon–10 PM (Tuesday to Friday).
Location: Barrio Escalante
Kalu is the place to be when you want a place where the kids can play while the adults have their brunch. Popular with the locals, Kalu is the second home of a chef and her architect husband. The repurposed house has a courtyard and a kids’ area.
The chef serves delicious eggs Benedict, profiteroles, Pecan Brownie cheesecake, passion fruit pie, and vermicelli noodles in sauce. The fruit pie has a lot of sugar, but you might like it.
Kalu also has a gift shop selling nice souvenirs if you want to do some last-minute shopping before catching your flight.
Tortillería Y Café
Opening hours: Open: 6:00 a.m.–7 p.m. daily.
Location: Barrio Luján.
If your interest is more in traditional Costa Rican breakfasts, you’re in for a treat. Their menu includes gallo pinto, sweet plantains, homemade and cheese-stuffed tortillas, torticasado, and eggs.
They make coffee using the traditional method of brewing. The staff will bring a mug with coffee grounds in a hanging bag, and you’ll pour hot water into it to have your coffee. You can also order some milk if you want.
Best Lunch/Diner Food Near San Jose Airport
Regarding the local food scene near San Jose Airport, Barrio Escalante wins over other areas. You will find a variety of restaurants serving various international cuisines. Some combine traditional local dishes or add their own twist.
However, if you want a quick place to grab lunch or dinner before heading to the airport, you can try the following places:
Vito’s Trattoria is open 11:00 a.m.–2:00 PM and 4:30 p.m.–8:00 PM (Monday through Friday). While Vito mainly serves Italian cuisine, you will love the wide selection. Some of its popular meals include the Corvina sea bass, the rib eye steak, and the shrimp cocktail.
The San Pedro Square Market is another excellent place to grab food. It is in downtown San Jose, where there are a variety of food vendors. Whatever you want to eat, you are most likely to get it here. You will get international cuisines and local dishes. While enjoying your food, there is live music, book signings, sports games, and other live entertainment.
Spaghetti Factory, City Mall, is in Alajuela, a few minutes from the airport. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM and serves authentic Italian cuisine with excellent service. It also has a kid’s menu. Their signature pasta and chicken dishes will make you request some takeout while waiting for your flight.
La Criollita, at Avenida 7, is another excellent place to have lunch or dinner. They serve Costa Rican traditional dishes with generous portions of meat, fish, beans, rice, chicken, and salads on the side. You will also have a wide selection of appetizers. The restaurant has three different dining spaces. I recommend the place for dining if you want a more relaxed atmosphere.
Best Street Food Near San Jose Airport
If you’re looking for street food near San Jose airport, you’ll indeed find some good places. Here are some nice places you can try:.
- Amor de Barrio is open between 12 and 10 PM daily and is in a warehouse in Barrio, La California, in San Jose. The place has a great view of the city. There are different restaurants with food trucks. The food trucks change often, but you will always get excellent street food.
- Lolita’s Garden (Jardin de Lolita): Various restaurants serve food in open and semi-open areas. The area is famous for burgers, fish, chips, pizzas, and other street foods.
- Distrito G: The restaurant opens between 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (Tuesday through Saturday). Its homemade burgers attract most patrons and come with a side plate of sliced potatoes or French fries. The restaurant also has a kid’s menu and many salads and sandwiches.
For unforgettable experiences in Costa Rica, browse our recommendations for Costa Rica Tours for Families.
Conclusion
While I am sure there are many great foods near San Jose Airport that I have left out, try a few of the ones I have mentioned. You will find something you like, and trying newer foods is also good.
What were your favorite foods near San Jose Airport, Costa Rica? Please share your experience.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
