San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class
Description
A Complete Evening in One Experience. More than a food tour, combining a historical walk, market visit, a hands on cocktail class, and an interactive cooking session into one unforgettable night. Dine in an Exclusive Historic Building offering an intimate dining experience you can't get anywhere else. Designed for Connection this tour is built to be social. The interactive classes create a relaxed atmosphere perfect for a unique date night to connect and make new friends. Fun and Flexible Participation: Our goal is fun not a stressful lesson! You will get to cook your own Empanada Arreglada and have a blast crafting two unique signature drinks: the Morenito a delicious coffee based cocktail and a refreshing Mojito de Cas made with a tropical fruit unique to Costa Rica. The Morenito this isn't just a drink; it’s a tribute to Costa Rica’s world famous coffee culture. Mojito de Cas: The Cas fruit is a local treasure sour, refreshing. The Empanada Arreglada: You aren't just making a snack.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour begins at the entrance of the bank, right next to the Monumento de los Presentes, which features small, green figures. We'll start by discussing how this monument symbolizes the resilience and survival of the community through challenging times, bridging the past and present. It's a powerful reminder of the strength and unity that have shaped the city, setting the tone for our journey through its rich history and vibrant culture.
We will visit the Central Market, established in 1880, where you'll have the opportunity to learn about the foundations of Costa Rican agriculture and daily culture. This historic market is a vibrant hub of local life, offering a glimpse into the traditions and practices that have shaped Costa Rican cuisine for generations. As we explore the market, you'll discover the essential ingredients, meet local vendors, and gain insight into the agricultural practices that sustain the region. It's a perfect introduction to the rich cultural tapestry that makes Costa Rica unique.
We will pass by the Templo de la Música, an iconic structure located in Morazán Park. As we explore this beautiful pavilion, you'll learn about its rich cultural history and the significant role it has played in the city's artistic and social life. Built in the early 20th century, the Templo de la Música has hosted countless concerts, events, and gatherings, becoming a beloved symbol of the city's vibrant cultural scene. Its design, inspired by classical architecture, adds a touch of elegance to the park, making it a perfect spot to reflect on the cultural heritage that has shaped the community.
An Exclusive "Farm-to-Table" Finale The evening concludes in a private home dining setting within a designated historical building. This is the ultimate highlight because: • Caribbean Influence: While many tours focus on Central Valley food, this highlights the vibrant, spicy, and coconut-infused flavors of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. • Intimacy: It avoids the "tourist trap" feel of public restaurants, offering a quiet, art-filled space that feels like a dinner party with friends. You will get to cook your own "Empanada Arreglada" and have a blast crafting two unique signature drinks: the "Morenito" (a delicious coffee-based cocktail) and a refreshing "Mojito de Cas" (made with a tropical fruit unique to Costa Rica). Whether one person crafts cocktails while the other helps cook, or you both prefer to just relax and enjoy the show, the choice is yours!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Children under 12 years of age are not allowed on the tour
- Dress code: casual
- Safety Tips, San Jose is a big city like any other, it is a preventive measure to dont wear flashy jewelry
Reviews(544)
Angel was our incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful guide and instructor. His tour of the Mercado and Avenida Central was thorough and funny. We had so much fun making cocktails and empanadas—our group was diverse and cohesive — and that was just the appetizer. Afterwards we went downstairs for even more authentic food and drinks for dinner. We highly recommend this experience to curious travelers and adventuresome eaters.
Thank you so much for this stellar review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your evening with Angel was such a thorough, funny, and memorable highlight of your trip. He is an incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful guide, and he will be overjoyed by your kind words. We love how perfectly you described the flow of our experience! From the vibrant walk through the Mercado and Avenida Central to the hands-on fun of mixing cocktails and making empanadas upstairs, followed by a traditional dinner downstairs, we aim to create a seamless and delicious journey. Bringing a diverse group together to share laughs and great food is exactly what we love to do. Thank you for highly recommending us to fellow curious travelers and adventuresome eaters! Safe travels and Pura vida!"
The experience was fantastic! Angel and his team provided such a great experience for us all. No better way to celebrate my birthday in Costa Rica!
Happy Birthday! 🎂🇨🇷 Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful review with the traveler community. We are absolutely honored and thrilled that you chose to spend your special day celebrating with us in San José! Angel and the entire team put their whole hearts into making every experience memorable, but knowing they made your birthday extra fantastic is the best reward we could ask for. We hope this kicks off an amazing year of adventures for you. Thank you for choosing San José Urban Tours, enjoy the rest of your beautiful vacation in Costa Rica, and Pura vida!"
This is a must do in San Jose Costa Rica! We did this in our first night to get accustomed to the country/city and Oscar, our guide, did an absolutely fantastic job. He was very knowledgeable in history, funny, and kind. The group was 6 people including myself, and we walked through the central market and the central avenue. Oscar did not pressure us to buy anything or get any souvenirs, he just simply told us about what's in the area and what to look for. He was honest about pick pocketers and the not-so-charming things about Costa Rica as well, giving us a realistic perspective of the country. The food and drinks served at dinner was super delicious. I am personally not a heavy drinker so it was nice to be able to have a mocktail or do a very light pour for myself. Overall this was an amazing tour to learn about the food, area, and culture. Thank you Oscar!
"Thank you so much for this incredible and detailed review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your first night in Costa Rica was a fantastic success with Oscar. He is an exceptional guide, and we love that his blend of history, humor, and kindness made you feel right at home. We truly appreciate you highlighting his honest approach. At San José Urban Tours, we believe in giving our guests a realistic, authentic perspective of our city—including practical safety tips—so you can navigate the rest of your vacation with total confidence and zero pressure. We are also delighted that you loved the dinner and found our drink flexibility to your liking! Crafting delicious mocktails and accommodating non-heavy drinkers is something we intentionally do to ensure everyone feels included and pampered. Thank you for choosing us to kick off your vacation, safe travels, and Pura vida!"
Angel is such a friendly and knowledgeable guide. He was very patient with us and explained to us each detail of what we were making/ how it related to Costa Rican culture. 10/10, thank you guys!
Thank you so much for the 10/10 review! We are incredibly proud to have Angel on our team. He truly has a passion for sharing the deep roots of Costa Rican culture, and we are thrilled to hear that his patience and knowledge made your experience so special. Connecting the dots between the flavors we create and our history is exactly what we aim for at San Jose Urban Tours. We will definitely pass your kind words along to Angel—he is going to be absolutely thrilled to hear them! Thank you for choosing us, and we wish you nothing but amazing adventures on your next travels. Pura vida! — Eric, Founder"
Angel was a great host and guide. I traveled solo and ended up enjoying the night with the rest of the group. The walking was manageable and there was more food than I expected. The hosts at the private restaurant we ended up at for the rest of the evening were very kind and helpful. I would highly recommend this.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience was so memorable, especially as a solo traveler. ### 🌟 Solo Travel-Friendly with Angel **Angel** is going to be so happy to read your kind words! We take immense pride in creating an inclusive, warm atmosphere, and we love hearing that you instantly connected with Angel and **ended up enjoying the night with the rest of the group**. Our tours are a fantastic way for solo travelers to make new friends from all over the world! --- ### 🍛 Come Hungry! We are glad you found the walking manageable and that **there was even more food than you expected**! We always tell our guests to bring a big appetite because we definitely don't want anyone leaving hungry. ### 🏡 A Warm Welcome at Our Private Restaurant It is so wonderful to hear that the hosts at our private evening location took such great care of you. We love wrapping up the tour in a cozy, welcoming setting where everyone can relax, chat, and feel right at home while enjoying authentic Costa Rican hospitality. Thank you so much for highly recommending us! We wish you many more incredible adventures on your *Pura Vida* journey! **Pura Vida!**
Angel was a very good guide. It was fun to learn a little about the city on our walking part of the tour. We also really enjoyed getting to make the food and beverages typical to the area. It was an extra treat to get a full meal and drinks while enjoying the company of other tour goers! This tour was very reasonably priced for all that you get. Do it!
Thank you so much for this amazing review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that the experience exceeded your expectations and felt like a fantastic value. ### 🌟 Five-Star Guiding with Angel **Angel** is going to be so happy to read your kind words! He loves weaving together the history, daily life, and architecture of San José during the walking portion, and we are glad you found it both fun and educational. --- ### 🥟 Hands-On Flavors & A Full Feast We are so glad you loved rolling up your sleeves to craft your own traditional food and beverages! But as you mentioned, the real magic happens when you get to sit down, relax, and be treated to a **full meal and drinks**. There is truly nothing better than bonding over delicious food and sharing stories with fellow travelers from all around the world! ### 💰 Incredible Value We work hard to ensure this immersive cultural and culinary experience is accessible and **reasonably priced for everything that is included**, so hearing that you highly recommend others to just "Do it!" is the best compliment we could receive. Thank you again for joining us, and we wish you a wonderful journey ahead filled with plenty of *Pura Vida* memories! **Pura Vida!**
A great way to learn some history and immerse yourself in local culture. The food was delicious. Angel did an awesome job.
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a wonderful time on the tour.
My family and I (5 in total) were a bit late because we left our hotel late after checking in, so we missed the market tour. We still had a fantastic time enjoying the farm to dinner table and cocktail class. I would recommend this experience to anyone staying in San Jose.
t is wonderful to hear that the farm-to-table dinner and the cocktail-making class were such a major hit for your group! Crafting drinks with our fresh, tropical ingredients and sitting down together to enjoy a fresh, local meal is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of travel. Thank you for highly recommending us to anyone staying in San José. We hope you and your family have an incredible, stress-free time exploring the rest of beautiful Costa Rica! Pura Vida!
This is fun, engaging and entertaining. We learn a lot about downtown San José. We have done this often when guests visit.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that our tour continues to be a fun, engaging, and entertaining experience for you.
Very good! But please be mindful when presenting on food so that it’s not too close to your mouth, at times your saliva was getting into the food.
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience exploring the city. We pride ourselves on having knowledgeable, local, and multilingual guides who can bring the history of San José to life while keeping the journey fun and easy to understand for visitors from all over the world.
