Central Market

Mercado Central

A bustling covered market dating to 1880, packed with food stalls, coffee vendors, sodas and local goods. Visit to sample Costa Rican cuisine and soak up authentic daily life.

Things to do

• Sit at a traditional soda — Grab a stool at one of the market's classic sodas like the famed Soda Tala for a home-style casado lunch.
• Sample fresh Costa Rican coffee — Buy freshly roasted and ground beans from long-standing coffee vendors who supply local homes.
• Wander the labyrinth of stalls — Lose yourself in the narrow passageways packed with butchers, fishmongers, florists and souvenir sellers.
• Try a fresh fruit batido — Cool off with a blended tropical fruit smoothie made with milk or water at a juice counter.
• Shop for local goods and souvenirs — Pick up leather goods, hammocks, spices, medicinal herbs and handmade crafts at bargain prices.
• Browse herbal and natural remedy stalls — Visit vendors selling traditional plant-based cures and macrobiotic products used by locals.

Food to try

• Casado — A hearty plate of rice, black beans, plantains, salad and your choice of meat that defines Costa Rican home cooking.
• Chorreadas — Sweet fresh-corn pancakes often served with natilla (sour cream) at market sodas.
• Olla de carne — A traditional beef and vegetable stew loaded with yuca, plantain and chayote, best on weekends.
• Ceviche — Fresh fish or seafood cured in lime with cilantro, onion and peppers, sold at market seafood counters.
• Agua dulce or coffee — Sip hot sugarcane drink or locally grown coffee the way Ticos start their day.
• Gallo pinto — The classic breakfast of stir-fried rice and beans seasoned with Salsa Lizano.

Local customs & good to know

• Go for lunch, not dinner — The market operates during daytime hours and mostly closes by early evening, so plan a morning or midday visit.
• Watch your belongings — The crowded aisles attract pickpockets, so keep bags zipped and valuables close in this busy downtown area.
• Bring cash in colones — Small vendors and sodas often prefer local currency and may not accept cards.
• Say 'con gusto' — Ticos are polite and warm, so a friendly greeting and this local phrase for 'you're welcome' goes a long way.

Nearby

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