Costa Rica food and drink

Costa Rica might be known for its lush jungles and abundant wildlife, however, there’s plenty of tasty food and drink to be enjoyed while you’re there – especially if you like your food fresh and full of local character. The flavours are generally quite mild and often accompanied by fresh coriander, lime, and a splash of chilli sauce. Rice and beans are a staple, but you will find most places have their own unique take on this classic combo.

Gallo Pinto/Casado

The national staple food of Costa Rica is rice and beans. This dish is entwined with the country’s history. The majority of the population worked in the fields and needed something healthy and hearty to power them through the hard farm work. The combination of rice and beans is packed with carbohydrates and protein and is still the main filler for most meals, being that it’s more affordable than eating meat.

The two ingredients come together to form separate dishes depending on the time of day. For breakfast, it’s called “Gallo Pinto” and is mostly served with scrambled eggs, meat, sour cream or bread. For lunch, it is called “Casado” (Casado translated as “married”, as rice and beans are inseparable) and is served with vegetables, meat (beef, chicken or fish), corn tortilla and salad. The Caribbean variation, “rice n’ beans”, is prepared with coconut milk and chilli, giving it a twist on the Costa Rican version.

Sopa Negra
A comforting black bean soup, often served with a boiled egg and rice. Great if you’re up in the cooler highlands.

Olla de Carne
A hearty beef stew with yucca, corn, plantain, and other root vegetables. It’s a proper local favourite, especially in rural areas.

Chifrijo
A bar snack turned national obsession. It’s a mix of rice, beans, crispy pork (chicharrón), pico de gallo, and avocado—usually eaten with tortilla chips. Best enjoyed with a cold beer as the sun goes down.

Snacks on the go

• Patacones – Slices of green plantain fried until crispy, served with guacamole or refried beans.

• Empanadas – Corn pastry pockets filled with cheese, beans, or meat. Great for a quick bite between beaches.

• Tamales – Cornmeal and savoury fillings wrapped in banana leaves. A Christmas tradition, but you’ll spot them year-round.

Something sweet?

Costa Rica’s tropical fruit is hard to beat—mangoes, pineapples, papayas, and passionfruits are everywhere. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, look out for:

• Tres Leches Cake – A rich, creamy sponge cake soaked in three types of milk.

• Cajeta de Coco – A kind of coconut fudge made with condensed milk.

Fruit & vegetables

Costa Rica has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables which make for a healthy and rounded diet. Depending on the season, you can find mangoes, pineapples, watermelons, melons, guanabana (soursop), guava and passion fruit so you won’t be short of fresh fruit to eat. Do as the Ticos (the local term for a Costa Rican) do and indulge yourself with fresh fruit juice to boost your lunch or breakfast, and invigorate yourself before you go on your next tropical adventure.

Coffee
You can’t visit Costa Rica without trying the coffee. It’s some of the best in the world—smooth, rich, and grown in the hills you’re likely exploring. Order it black or with warm milk (café con leche).

Refrescos naturales
Fresh fruit juices blended with water or milk, served ice-cold. You’ll see them everywhere in cafés and sodas (local eateries), and they’re great for cooling down.

Agua Dulce
A traditional hot drink made from unrefined cane sugar dissolved in hot water or milk. Sweet and cosy—great after a rainforest downpour.

Beer & Guaro
The most popular beers are local brands like Imperial and Pilsen—light, refreshing and just what you need on a sunny day. If you’re up for something stronger, try guaro, a sugarcane spirit often mixed into a spicy little cocktail called a chiliguaro.