Neighborhoods in San Jose, Costa Rica

Downtown San José

The Q’Café ((tel) 2221-0707; www.quecafe.com) is a delightful little European-style cafe with a pretty perch above the busy corner of Avenida Central and Calle 2. Try to grab a seat overlooking the action on the street below.

San Pedro/Los Yoses

Local and visiting vegetarians swear by the little Comida Para Sentir Restaurante Vegetariano San Pedro ((tel) 2224-1163), located 125m (1 1/4 blocks) north of the San Pedro Church. Despite the massive size and popularity of the nearby Il Pomodoro ((tel) 2224-0966), I prefer Pane E Vino ((tel) 2280-2869; www.paneevino.co.cr), an excellent pasta-and-pizza joint on the eastern edge of San Pedro, with other outlets around town, as well. If you’re hankering for sushi, try Ichiban ★ ((tel) 2253-8012; www.ichibanrestaurante.com) in San Pedro, or Matsuri ★ ((tel) 2280-5522), a little farther east in Curridabat. Both of these sushi places have outlets on the west side of town as well.