Restaurants in towns and cities serve a variety of foods including Chinese, French, Italian, Mexican and North American. Food is satisfactory, from the most expensive to the cheapest eating places (which are generally found west of the city centre). Food sodas (small restaurants) serve local food.
National specialities:
• Casado (rice, beans, stewed beef, fried plantain, salad and cabbage).
• Olla de carne (soup of beef, plantain, corn, yuca, nampi and chayote).
• Sopa negra (black beans with a poached egg).
• Picadillo (meat and vegetable stew).
• Gallos (filled tortillas).
• Tortas (containing meat and vegetables).
National drinks:
There are many types of cold drinks made from fresh fruit, milk or cereal flour, for example:
• Cebada (barley flour).
• Pinolillo (roasted corn).
• Horchata (corn meal with cinnamon).
Imported alcoholic and soft drinks are widely available. Coffee is good value and has an excellent flavour.
Tipping: Tipping is not necessary but is acceptable if the service was particularly outstanding. Restaurants add a 23 per cent service charge to the bill.

San José especially has many nightclubs, venues with folk music and dance, theatres and cinemas.

Special purchases include wood and leather rocking chairs (which dismantle for export), as well as a range of local crafts available in major cities and towns. Local markets are also well worth visiting. Prices are slightly higher than in other Latin American countries. Best buys are wooden items, ceramics, jewellery and leather handicrafts. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900. There may be variations between areas.