Liberia, Costa Rica

This low-key cafe serves everything from fresh salads and Costa Rican wraps to home-baked cakes and shakes, with a cantina-style buffet to pick and choose from. Self-service.

Start with one of Coquitos Cafe's fresh salads before savouring a burger, pasta or Costa Rican specialties, and do not forget to finish off with a piece (or two) of their wonderful cakes — in fact, the sweet treats are already worth the visit all by themselves.

El Pilón is a great find for seafood lovers, as their menu always features fresh catch and great drinks to enjoy them with. Take a seat at their wooden tables within the dark-tiled dining room, and soak in a laid-back yet classy atmosphere, preceding it with, perhaps, an aperitif at the bar.

Located on a street corner, the CoffeeHouse offers a good selection of food, drinks and air conditioning, which can be very important if you still haven't adjusted to local climate. The place is fairly modern yet retains the quaint charm of a small town cafe.

Kaffee-tal serves excellent espresso-based drinks and pastries, some of which are German-inspired. The quality of their coffee is widely praised not only by visiting coffee enthusiasts, but also by vacationing professional baristas. This cosy cafe is a peaceful oasis in the (slight) craziness of Liberia. The owners are amazingly friendly and speak good English.

Posada Real serves amazing gluten free food from a beautifully renovated colonial house. Come by for their delicious breakfasts and one of the best-fried banana ever.

Café Avenida 4 has arguably the best prepared espresso in Liberia. The venue itself is beautiful, with covered outdoor seating and lots of plants. Great place to relax with a cup of coffee and a brownie while reading a book or chatting with friends. WiFi is available too, in case you want to upload some fresh photos to your insta.