There are innumerable restaurants around Cartago and finding a place to eat at any time of day is seldom a problem. Standards of hygiene in cafés and restaurants are generally high, and Costa Rica is about the best place for dining out as a whole in Central America.
The food is quite well priced in Cartago - certainly cheaper than in San Jose, although there are expensive touristy eateries around the biggest attractions. Dining at the local 'sodas' (usually a combination of a family run restaurant, convenience store and bar) is the best bet for cheaper, local food, while American-style burger joints, such as McDonald's and Burger King, are here, too.
What to Eat, and Where
Most restaurants in Cartago are based in the downtown area, between Calle 7 / Calle 4, Avenida 7 and the main Highway 10. There is everything here from local eateries serving rice, black beans and peanuts, to cool cafés with regional dishes, and several top-end Spanish and international dining establishments.
The Plaza Major is right in the city centre and has a good selection of terrace cafés, with Pizza Papa John's to the south being a particularly popular fast choice. There is also KFC a few blocks west of here on Avenida 3 for some familiar eating, while all the main routes out to surrounding towns have local eateries available. Just off the turnoff for Pacayas, the interesting museum-type Restaurant 1910 is filled with photographs which clearly document the devastating earthquake of 1910.
'Comida tipica' (typical food) is a common Cartago type of restaurant, which is found around the main tourist routes, including to the Irazu Volcano, to Orosi and to Paraiso. For a higher end place, look to the streets surrounding the Basilica of our Lady of the Angels. For a popular local beverage, 'Chaguite' is a good choice and is a little like anis, while the sugar-cane liquor named 'Cacique Guaro' is the national drink.
Cartago restaurants usually open before noon, ready for lunch, and then reopen for dinner at 18:00, usually staying open until midnight. Costa Ricans generally dine out late, with most places outside the main tourist areas of Cartago being quiet until around 20:00. Fast-food joints will, of course, open all day, every day.
