Barrio Amón

A historic neighborhood filled with restored coffee-baron mansions, cafes, boutique hotels and street art. Visit for its architecture, galleries and relaxed strolling atmosphere.

Things to do

• Admire coffee-baron mansions — Stroll the tree-lined streets to see restored early 1900s Victorian and neoclassical homes built during the coffee boom.
• Hunt for street art — Seek out the colorful murals and painted facades that have turned the neighborhood into an open-air gallery.
• Visit Casa Amarilla — Photograph the striking yellow colonial building that houses Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Explore the Jade Museum nearby — See the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade just a short walk south toward the Plaza de la Democracia.
• Café-hopping — Settle into one of the boutique cafes housed in restored mansions to sample locally roasted Costa Rican coffee.
• Stay in a boutique hotel — Book a room in a converted historic mansion like Hotel Don Carlos to experience the era's architecture firsthand.
• Walk to Parque Morazán — Relax by the neoclassical Templo de la Música bandstand on the neighborhood's southern edge.

Food to try

• Casado — A hearty lunch plate of rice, black beans, plantains, salad and your choice of meat found in local sodas.
• Gallo pinto — Costa Rica's signature breakfast of rice and beans stir-fried with Salsa Lizano, often served with eggs.
• Costa Rican coffee — Order a freshly brewed cup at a neighborhood cafe, ideally poured through a traditional chorreador cloth filter.
• Chifrijo — A popular bar snack layering rice, beans, fried pork chicharrón, pico de gallo and tortilla chips.
• Tres leches cake — A moist sponge cake soaked in three milks, a common sweet finish at cafes and restaurants.

Local customs & good to know

• Greet with 'pura vida' — This national catchphrase means hello, thanks, and all-good, and locals appreciate travelers using it warmly.
• Walk during daylight — The neighborhood is best enjoyed on foot by day, but stay aware of your surroundings after dark as in any city center.
• Respect the historic homes — Many mansions are private residences or offices, so admire and photograph from the sidewalk without entering.
• Colones and small talk — Carry some Costa Rican colones for small cafes and sodas, and expect an unhurried, friendly pace of service.

Nearby

• Jade Museum — 0 km
• National Theatre of Costa Rica — 0 km
• Pre-Columbian Gold Museum — 1 km
• National Museum of Costa Rica — 1 km