Escazu, Costa Rica
15 minutes from the center of the capital, the village of Escazu is a fashionable suburb that has earned the nickname ‘Beverly Hills of Costa Rica’ owing to its great restaurants and upscale shopping. Away from the chaotic traffic and noise of San Jose, Escazu comprises three distinct communities: San Rafael de Escazu is the commercial hub with shopping plazas, hotels and restaurants; Escazu Centro is centered around the San Miguel church and plaza which gives the area a small town feel; further up the hills, San Antonio de Escazu is the residential component where posh villas and adobe homes stand side by side; San Antonio’s beautiful setting overlooking San Jose and the surrounding mountains is well worth a visit. On the lower slopes, some hotels and restaurants offer spectacular views across the Central Valley.
There are three prominent shopping centers in San Rafael: Multiplaza, located opposite the Intercontinental Hotel, is an extremely popular two-level upscale shopping mall with boutique shops, department store, supermarket, restaurants, food court and cinemas; Plaza Colonial, located next to the village football field, houses three levels of shops in a colonial style building with a central courtyard; Plaza Itzkazu, located adjacent to the Marriott Residence Inn, is best known for its eclectic mix of restaurants and bars; the open air setting of some of the restaurants here creates a congenial atmosphere and makes the plaza a prime spot for having a nice time with friends and family.