What to eat Costa Rica? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Restaurant hours are more or less the same as in France. Be careful however, in Costa Rica, we adapt to the rhythm of the sun and it can happen that some restaurants close at 8pm. So make sure you get the information you need before going there. In the tourist spots, restaurants remain open until 10pm. Be careful, in Costa Rica the meal times are slightly different from those in France. The Ticos get up and go to bed, in principle, at the same time as the sun. Rather early, Costa Ricans get up around 6am and have a champion breakfast, which is quite copious to say the least! A quick and light snack will be quickly swallowed at noon. To finish the day, dinner starts at 6pm.

In Costa Rica, many small popular restaurants, also called sodas, are easily spotted by their open construction on three or four sides. Mostly covered with palms, these small establishments serve fresh, local food at low prices. They serve basic dishes like casado, gallo pinto or empanadas and sometimes even daily specials. If you are lucky, you will enjoy an extraordinary view on the beach, the forest or the mountains, but sometimes on the road... In any case, this is where the locals eat! Don't forget the pulperías, very small shops - a bit like the grocery stores in our villages! -where you can eat something. And to save money and feel full, try the casado, a complete meal in itself! It is a plate filled with white rice, meat, black beans, plantains (fried or fried) and a salad made of tomatoes, fresh cabbage, carrots, red onions... all perfectly seasoned with lemon juice.

Tipping (la propina in Spanish) is commonplace in Costa Rica. The North American culture, accustomed to this practice well anchored in its customs, constitutes a large part of the tourists and exported the reflex of the tip to the Ticos. If the service you receive warrants a tip, be aware that the average tip percentage is between 5 and 10% for tour guides and between 15 and 20% in restaurants. Tips can be in U.S. dollars or Costa Rican colones. Tips in dollars are preferred (more stable than colones).

In Costa Rica, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. In order to get your strength before attacking your excursions, opt for the Gallo Pinto! This typical dish is a mixture of rice, black beans, plantain, eggs and cheese. You will find it everywhere, in restaurants, sodas or on hotel buffets.

Be careful where you smoke: smoking is prohibited in all restaurants. Costa Rica has a very strict smoking policy, even outdoors.

Most bars and clubs come alive on weekends, but the crowds don't usually leave until 10 or 11 pm. Once the party starts, closing times vary greatly. Some places close at 2 a.m., but others, such as beach clubs and other outdoor structures, may close later.

If you are satisfied with the service, it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip for the waiter.

The minimum age to consume alcohol is 18.

In Costa Rica, it is customary to have "ladies' nights" a popular practice that guarantees ladies free entry to clubs and free drinks. For the aperitif, nothing better than a cocktail at sunset!

Smoking is not permitted in public places.