I love craft beer! One thing I always aim to do when I go to a new city is to dive into the craft beer scene.
I recently moved to Costa Rica and spent my first couple months in San Jose. I don't care for cities, so I didn't do much while I was there, but one thing I did set out to do was to explore the nearby breweries.
The competition is steep! You'll not only find a fair variety of local craft beers to try, but the foods are top tier as well! Nothing brings me more joy than a brewery that has great beers and amazing food choices to pair with them.
If you're like me and love beer, check out these breweries in San Jose, Costa Rica, listed below.
If your spanish is lacking and you want to ask if a restaurant serves craft beer, you can ask ¿Tienes cervezas artisenales?
Wilk.cr
Wilk.cr is a chill bar and restaurant located in Barrio Escalante of San Jose. I ordered a pizza along with a couple beers to try: The Passion Fruit Ale and the Tropical IPA. Both delicious beers that I'd love to try again, along with their shrimp pizza.
Wilk.cr certainly isn't a bad spot, and I definitely recommend it, but it definitely wasn't my favorite brewery in terms of food and beers.
Lupulus
Lupulus, located in Barrio Escalante, San Jose, is a chic dinner spot where you can find burgers, craft beer, and a menu filled with much more.
As a matter of fact, Lupulus was created to cater to lovers of good burgers and beer.
This is a great atmosphere for a date night or a solo night out to take in the ambiance of the surrounding nightlife in the area. This isn't necessarily a place I'd recommend if you want to sit and explore craft beer options like you would at a typically brewery.
Definitely check this spot out. Explore their extensive handheld eats menu and enjoy a craft beer or two with your meal.
Soberanos Brewers Escalante
Soberanos has a few locations in San Jose, Costa Rica. I visited the one in Barrio Escalante and the Lindora outdoor mall. They have a good variety of asiatic foods, cocktails, and craft beer.
In terms of food, their mussels are to die for! Unfortunately I don't have a picture of these because I was on an important phone call. The Shanghai noodles are delicious as well. I wish I'd been able to try more from their menu. Everything I had was good.
I highly recommend their Oh My Buddah! beer if they still have it. It's an excellent Saison and a great pairing for the dishes they serve.
La Planta Brewpub
La Planta is a serene and scenic brewpub located in Cuidad Colón. Sit outdoors and admire that natural scenery from high up while taking in a cool beer and a delicous meal to pair with it.
I ordered a beer sampler and their surf and turf. Both are definitely something to write home about.
Costa Rica Beer Factory
A beer sampler at Costa Rica Beer Factory.
Costa Rica Beer Factory (CRBF) was my favorite spot for it's menu options and atmosphere. Try out their appetizers like nachos and wings, grab a bite of ceviche, or explore their vegetarian options. They also have plenty of burgers and chef specials to choose from.
You can grab a beer sampler and a delicious meal while sitting outside on the patio and enjoying the vibrant scenery of Barrio Escalante.
If you find yourself hanging out with non-beer drinkers, they have their additional options of cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and shakes.
Well there you have it! Not only do you have your recs for craft beers, but for some of the delicious foods from their menu to try as well.
Hangout in Barrio Escalante to hit up several breweries at once, or venture out into the other corners of the Greater San Jose area for a change of atmosphere. If you're looking to create a self-guided San Jose brewery tour, feel free to use this as a guide!