Foodies can live the dream at Los Sueños Resort & Marina: Fresh, locally sourced seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables, as well as local spices and coffees, are readily available. Here’s how to eat well without breaking the budget.
Right next door to Los Sueños Resort & Marina, you’ll find the Harradura shopping center, which is home to Automercado, the nation’s higher end grocery store. Automercado has a decent wine, beer and liquor section, and also stocks plenty of imported goods, as well as local fare including fresh fish, fresh meat, cheese, veggies (with a great organic section) and fruits.
In Jacó, 10 minutes from Los Sueños Resort, you can find artisanal breads, cheeses, and tropical fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ market. Known as feria verde, the market opens Friday mornings at the south end of Avenida Pastor Diaz. From the center of town, turn right at the Palacio Municipal, then right again near the Post Office. Jaco also boasts a Mas x Menos supermarket (owned by Wallmart), and a Maxi-bodega for the more budget-minded shopper.
If you’re planning a trip to San Jose, there are several ferias throughout the week. Arrive early, within the first few hours, for the best selection.
Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Feria Verde de Aranjuez is fun to visit at the Polideportivo of Barrio Aranjuez, and you’ll find plenty of seasonal organic produce. Food vendors sell breakfast, coffee, smoothies and more at the pavilion, including Bolivian peanut soup and falafel sandwiches. You’ll also find artesanal breads, pastries and cheeses at this very popular street market. With live music and a high vibrational, hippy kind of groove, it’s a great place to spend a Saturday morning.
Escazú’s market, every Saturday, 4:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., is on the south side of the San Miguel de Escazú church. Though not organic, you’ll find farm-grown fresh produce—the old standbys as well as the more exotic fruits, herbs and vegetables indigenous to Costa Rica. You’ll also find barley, chan, linseed, tamarind and other products—cheeses, juices, empanadas, tortillas, handicrafts, plants, flowers and live aquarium fish.
The market in Ciudad Colon, Tuesdays, 3 – 9 p.m., at the Mercado Viejo is associated with the Aranjuez organic market and like the Feria Verde de Aranjuez, vendors must meet organic growers’ guidelines. Fresh-picked produce, specialty cheeses, organic gluten-free flours, lovely spice mixes, local honey, breads and pastries rival any American health food store, including garden plants and handcrafted gifts.
If you hanker after the taste of home, Jimmy T’s Provisions and Gourmet Foods, at the Los Suenos Marina, has a variety of specialty items: Buckhead Beef, local and imported cheeses, marinades, Asian and Italian ingredients, as well as spices and condiments to satisfy the exacting epicure. Jimmy T’s has deli trays and offers concierge, chef and catering services that will keep the pantry full without lifting a finger.
Also in the Marina Village, you’ll find a well stocked wine specialty store so you can always find the perfect pairing for your gourmet meals.
Finally, many restaurants in and around Los Sueños take pride in innovative menus that offer a Tico take on the best of international cuisine. Most weekday evenings, one of the restaurants in Marina Village has great offers on great meals. For our top 10 picks, check out our post, “A Foodie’s Dream.”