El Portón Rojo

San José


Serving up some of the best pizza and sangria in the Los Yoses area, this hip restaurant doubles as a gallery. Funky local art sells right off the brick walls, and a steady influx of customers from the local hostels keeps things lively.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San José attractions

1. Barrio Escalante

0.48 MILES

Formerly a residential enclave, the streets of this increasingly hip neighborhood are now lined with dozens of restaurants, cafes, bakeries and bars. The…

2. Parque Francia

0.53 MILES

A lovely little space of former farmland, bordered by a French cafe and French-Spanish bookstore, as well as some restaurants. Shade trees and plenty of…

3. Cooperación Española Cultura

0.6 MILES

One of the city’s most vibrant cultural institutions, this Spanish-run center offers a full roster of events. There is also an audiovisual center and a…

4. Estación del Ferrocarril de Costa Rica

0.73 MILES

Less than a block east of Parque Nacional is San José's historical train station to the Atlantic, built in 1908. Nowadays offering weekday train service…

5. Museo de Insectos

0.8 MILES

Reputedly Central America's largest insect museum, this place has an extensive collection assembled by the Facultad de Agronomía (agronomy faculty) at the…

6. Parque Nacional

0.85 MILES

One of San José’s nicest green spaces, this shady spot lures retirees to read newspapers and young couples to smooch coyly on concrete benches. At its…

7. Museo Nacional de Costa Rica

0.88 MILES

Entered via a beautiful glassed-in atrium housing an exotic butterfly garden, this museum provides a quick survey of Costa Rican history. Exhibits of pre…

8. Asamblea Legislativa

0.88 MILES

Costa Rica's congress meets in this grand structure – known as the 'blue castle' – in the center of San José. It's scheduled to be replaced by a…