The restaurants at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica are Avokato, Bar Imperial, Britt Café & Bakery, California Pizza Kitchen, Chill and Drinks, Deli Malinche, Gastro Pub, Restaurante Malinche, Starbucks, and Toro Gourmet Burgers, according to the airport’s list. The food court is in International Departures, right after immigration and the security checkpoints, so you need to have cleared those first.
In this article
Which Restaurants Are Inside Juan Santamaría Airport
Here’s what each place offers, with its Google user rating as of December 2025.
| Restaurant | What it offers | Google rating (December 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Britt Café & Bakery | Coffee drinks, pastries, salads, pizzas, and sandwiches | 4.6 (281 reviews) |
| California Pizza Kitchen | California-style pizzas, salads, pastas, soups, and desserts | 4.5 (553 reviews) |
| Bar Imperial | Local and international beers, cocktails, wines, soft drinks, hamburgers, and other food options | 4.4 (535 reviews) |
| Gastro Pub | Coffee shop, ice cream parlor, bar, and restaurant | 4.3 (332 reviews) |
| Toro Gourmet Burgers | Local and international beers, cocktails, hamburgers, and hot dogs | 4.1 (1,155 reviews) |
| Starbucks | Sweet and savory baked goods, breakfast or lunch sandwiches, yogurts, fruit, and hot and cold coffees | 4.1 (495 reviews) |
| Avokato | Healthy food options, salads, bowls, and soups | 4 (295 reviews) |
| Restaurante Malinche | Traditional Costa Rican breakfasts, healthy breakfasts, main courses, salads, pastas, desserts, natural drinks, soft drinks, and wines | 3.8 (846 reviews) |
| Deli Malinche | Snacks, cold drinks, baked goods, coffees, and beers; operates separately from Restaurante Malinche | No rating |
| Chill and Drinks | Gifts such as T-shirts, coffee, chocolates, and souvenirs, plus food and drinks to go | 5 (only 2 reviews) |
If you’re looking for traditional Costa Rican food, Restaurante Malinche serves traditional Costa Rican breakfasts and main courses, and if you want something light, Avokato has healthy food options. Keep in mind that Subway isn’t on the airport’s list of restaurants.
What the Food Court at Juan Santamaría Airport Is Like
The commercial building was unveiled in November 2022. It has 1,350 m² on 2 levels, and the food court takes up 649 m², 128 m² more than the old dining area. It seats 240 people and has digital self-service stations for ordering food to go.
The area opened with Avokato, Toro Burgers, Britt Café Bakery, and Toro Bar. The opening also featured 2 stores with a variety of products and a large screen for keeping an eye on flight departures. In 2022, it was announced that Morpho Travel Experience, a group with more than 20 years in travel retail, would run these businesses.
“This area aims to offer unique shopping experiences, and we hope to revolutionize the dining options,” Adriana Echandi, CEO of Morpho Travel Experience, said at the time.
California Pizza Kitchen opened later, in 2023, next to boarding gate 8, with 400 m² and 172 seats.
The lower level isn’t for passengers: it has operational support and staff facilities, such as a kitchen, lockers, meeting rooms, and a nursing room.
“The new commercial building reaffirms the gateway to the pura vida experience,” Ricardo Hernández, general director of AERIS, said in 2022.
What If You’d Rather Eat in a VIP Lounge?
The VIP lounges include food, but access depends on your card or a day pass. Here you can see the cards that get you into the VIP lounges and which Juan Santamaría VIP lounge to choose.
