
A stop with valley views on the way to Irazú: breakfast, Costa Rican cooking, pour-over coffee and sunsets.
- Hours
- Every day, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Address
- 200 m north of the Cot junction, on the road to Irazú Volcano.
The place











Menu
Breakfast
- Pinto Tortilla de Chicharrón₡5.600
Handmade cheese tortilla filled with aged cheese and chicharrón (fried pork), served with gallo pinto (rice and beans), fried or scrambled egg, avocado and pico de gallo.
- Alforja de Campo₡5.200
Traditional hand-patted tortilla (tortilla palmeada) wrapped in a plantain leaf, with seasoned beans, egg omelet, Turrialba-style cheese, ripe plantain and salchichón (Costa Rican sausage), served with pico de gallo and natilla (Costa Rican sour cream).
- Healthy Bowl₡4.950
Chia flavored with coconut milk, seasonal fruit, passion fruit reduction and crispy coconut flakes.
- Escala Traditional Breakfast₡3.650
Gallo pinto, scrambled or fried egg, ripe plantain, natilla and hand-patted tortilla.
Breakfast – ADD TO YOUR BREAKFAST:
- Shredded Beef₡1.750
- Salchichón₡750
Costa Rican sausage.
- Turrialba-Style Cheese₡750
- Steak with Onions₡1.750
- Side of Tortillas₡500
- Ranchera Sauce₡750
Breakfast – KIDS' BREAKFAST
Any option: ¢4.000. All kids' breakfasts include a small orange juice or small hot chocolate.
- Happy Mini Pancakes₡4.000
Soft mini pancakes with banana and fresh strawberry.
- Traditional Mini Pinto₡4.000
Freshly made gallo pinto, served with an egg any style and fresh cheese.
- Classic Sandwich₡4.000
Ham and American cheese sandwich, served with house sauces and fresh fruit.
To Share, Any Time
- Empanada Trio₡3.950
Three mini empanadas filled with seasonal picadillo (vegetable hash), beans with cheese, and cheese, served with homemade chilera (spicy pickled vegetables) and Worcestershire sauce.
- Enyucados de Carne₡4.600
Three fried cassava (yuca) pastries filled with shredded beef, with a small criolla salad and homemade mayonnaise.
- Enyucados de Queso₡3.950
Three fried cassava (yuca) pastries filled with grated cheese, with a small criolla salad and homemade mayonnaise.
- Pleito de Gallos₡3.950
Three hand-patted tortillas with seasonal picadillo, criollo chorizo and salchichón, served with criolla salad and pico de gallo.
- Cartago Root Vegetable Board₡2.800
Seasonal root vegetables with seasoned beans, pico de gallo and house dressing.
- Patacones Board₡4.800
Three homemade patacones (fried green plantain) with seasoned beans, palmito cheese (Costa Rican string cheese) melted with mozzarella, guacamole, pico de gallo and chicharrón or shredded beef.
Flavors of Costa Rica
- Entraña de Escala₡10.800
Skirt steak (250g) in culantro coyote (wild cilantro) butter, served with herbed potatoes, corn on the cob with butter, mayonnaise and parmesan, and grilled zucchini with sautéed cherry tomatoes.
- Stuffed Chicken Breast₡6.900
Chicken breast stuffed with ham, palmito cheese and mozzarella, topped with Alfredo sauce with mushrooms, served with white rice, herbed potatoes and salad of the day.
- Olla de Carne₡6.200
Beef broth cooked for 12 hours with vegetables, served with white rice.
- Fogón Tico₡7.200
Oxtail stew with vegetables, white rice, refried beans, patacón and salad of the day.
- Arroz Escala₡6.400
Rice sautéed with bacon, chicken and beef, served with salad of the day, seasoned beans, French fries and house dressing.
- Rice with Shrimp₡7.200
A unique, delicious flavor, served with salad of the day, seasoned beans, French fries and house dressing.
- Casado Escala₡5.200
White rice, seasoned beans, ripe plantain, seasonal picadillo and salad of the day, with your choice of protein: grilled chicken, grilled fish, stewed beef or steak with onions.
Specials – CARIBBEAN FLAVORS
- Rice & Beans Escala₡6.950
Traditional rice & beans with coconut, served with Caribbean chicken or oxtail in Caribbean sauce, with patacón, ripe plantain and criolla salad.
- Caribbean Chifrijo₡6.800
Rice & beans, chicharrón, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeño, lime wedge and tortilla chips.
Specials – HOUSE FAVORITES
- Classic Chifrijo₡6.800
White rice, tender beans, chicharrón, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeño, lime wedge and tortilla chips.
- La Cartaga Burger₡6.400
Homemade beef patty, lettuce, tomato, fried Turrialba-style cheese, bacon, ham, crispy potatoes, mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce, served with Cartago root vegetables or plantain sticks.
Specials – PASTA
- Chicken and Mushroom₡6.400
Spaghetti with herbed chicken strips sautéed with mushrooms and Alfredo sauce, served with parmesan and artisan bread toasts.
- Shrimp and Parmesan₡7.200
Spaghetti in a creamy sauce with sautéed shrimp, served with parmesan and artisan bread toasts.
Coffee Time – CREPES
- Alfredo CrepeGarlic shrimp ₡7.200Herbed chicken strips ₡6.400Sautéed mushrooms ₡6.400
Filled with palmito cheese and mozzarella, topped with Alfredo sauce, served with green salad and Cartago root vegetables. Choice of protein. Add mushrooms ¢500*
- Arroz con Leche Crepe₡5.950
Filled with rompope (Costa Rican eggnog) cream, Irazú strawberries and arroz con leche (rice pudding), topped with arroz con leche-flavored whipped cream.
- Mango Taro Crepe₡5.950
Taro-flavored crepe filled with condensed milk cream and fresh mango, topped with taro whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes, served with coconut ice cream.
Coffee Time – COSTA RICAN TRADITION
- Tortilla with Cheese₡3.400
Traditional tortilla with aged cheese and natilla. With extra melted cheese ¢750
- Chorreada₡3.400
Traditional sweet corn pancake with homemade natilla and honey. With extra melted cheese ¢750
Coffee Time – A SWEET TREAT
- Chocolate Volcano₡3.800
With strawberry reduction and vanilla ice cream.
- Fried Plantain with Cheese₡3.800
Fried ripe plantain filled with melted white cheese, served with natilla and condensed milk.
- Arroz con Leche₡2.800
Our recipe for creamy, homemade arroz con leche (rice pudding).
Sandwiches
- Lápiz Escala₡5.600
Toasted artisan bread filled with shredded beef, seasoned beans, ham, American-style cheese, lettuce and tomato.
- Shredded Beef₡5.600
Artisan bread, shredded beef, lettuce, tomato, pickles, house dressings and palmito cheese melted with mozzarella.
- Mano de Piedra₡5.600
Artisan bread, mano de piedra beef, lettuce, tomato, palmito cheese melted with mozzarella and Salsa Lizano.
- Crispy BBQ Chicken₡5.600
Artisan bread, breaded chicken in BBQ sauce, coleslaw and palmito cheese melted with mozzarella.
- Chicken Bacon₡5.600
Toasted artisan bread filled with grilled chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato with avocado and ranch sauce.
- Tico Ahumado₡5.600
Artisan bread, smoked turkey breast, a blend of melted Costa Rican cheeses and herb butter. Served with a criolla dipping sauce.
Sandwiches – LITTLE CHEFS' MENU
Any option: ¢4.500. Dishes include a small iced tea.
- Kids' Spaghetti₡4.500
Soft pasta with butter or homemade tomato sauce, with melted cheese.
- Papa Pollo₡4.500
Breaded chicken nuggets with French fries, ketchup and homemade house mayonnaise.
- Crispy Fish with Fries₡4.500
Bite-size pieces of breaded fish fillet, easy to eat, with French fries and homemade mayonnaise.
- Mini Ollita de Carne₡4.500
Homemade broth with tender beef, Irazú potato and vegetables, served with rice, in a kid-size portion.
Hot Drinks – COFFEE
- Espresso₡1.500
- Cortado₡1.800
- Americano₡2.150
- Cappuccino₡2.850
- Flavored Cappuccino₡3.250
Vanilla, Condensed Milk, Chocolate, Irish Cream or Caramel
- Mocaccino₡3.250
- Flavored Latte₡3.250
Vanilla, Condensed Milk, Chocolate, Irish Cream or Caramel
- Black Chorreado Coffee₡1.900
Traditional Costa Rican drip coffee.
- Chorreado Coffee with Milk₡2.200
Traditional Costa Rican drip coffee, with milk.
Hot Drinks – CHOCOLATE • CHAI • AGUA DULCE
- Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows₡2.500
- Chai Latte₡3.250
- Agua Dulce Negra₡1.950
Traditional hot drink made with unrefined cane sugar, without milk.
- Agua Dulce with Milk₡2.500
Traditional hot drink made with unrefined cane sugar, with milk.
Hot Drinks – BREWING METHODS
- Ask about our seasonal coffees.2 Cups ₡3.600
French Press, Vandola, Chemex, V-60
Cafescala Specialties – ICED COFFEES
- Arroz con Leche Frappe₡3.850
The tradition of arroz con leche (rice pudding) reinvented as an iced coffee. Made with: double espresso, whole milk, arroz con leche whipped cream and caramelized puffed rice.
- Banana Bread Ice Latte₡3.850
Inspired by freshly baked banana bread. Made with: double espresso, whole milk, Banana Bread cream and caramelized pecans.
- Palomita de Maíz₡3.850
A sweet coffee with Costa Rican identity. Made with: double espresso, corn milk, sweet foam and caramel popcorn.
- Horchata Espresso₡3.850
Spiced horchata with espresso. Made with: horchata base, double espresso, iced vanilla cream, toasted coconut and cinnamon.
- Chocolate Volcánico₡3.850
Chocolate and espresso. Made with: ice cream, espresso, chocolate-coffee sauce, milk, brownie and whipped cream.
Cafescala Specialties – PREMIUM SHAKES
- Pistachio Matcha Signature₡4.250
Premium pistachio shake. Made with: vanilla ice cream, milk, pistachio ganache, whipped cream and matcha.
- Strawberry and Condensed Milk Shake₡3.850
Strawberry shake with a special presentation. Made with: vanilla ice cream, strawberry base, milk, condensed milk swirl, whipped cream and strawberry faux caviar.
- Fig and Horchata Shake₡3.850
Creamy, spiced notes. Made with: vanilla ice cream, milk, fig and horchata blend, whipped cream.
Matcha Bar
Our high-quality Japanese matcha: a balanced blend of first- and second-harvest leaves, with less shade exposure during cultivation.
- Classic Matcha₡3.450
The traditional version. Made with: ceremonial matcha and milk.
- Matcha Taro₡3.950
Sweet taro profile. Made with: taro matcha and milk.
- Matcha Nube₡3.950
Smooth, creamy matcha. Made with: matcha, milk and whipped cream.
- Matcha Dulce de Leche₡3.950
Sweet and balanced. Made with: matcha, milk, dulce de leche and Lotus.
- Matcha Latte₡3.450
The traditional version. Made with: ceremonial matcha and milk.
Premium Teas
- Perla Negra₡1.900
Black tea, green tea, orange peel, rose petals, safflower and calendula leaves.
- Salted Caramel₡1.900
Rooibos, caramel pieces, almonds, hazelnuts and pearl salt.
- Bora Bora₡1.900
Apple pieces, papaya, raspberry, strawberries, Corinth raisins, elderberries, blackcurrant, hibiscus, sunflower petals and blue cornflower.
- Chamomile₡1.900
Egyptian chamomile.
- Digestive Mint₡1.900
Mint.
Cold Drinks – HOUSE LEMONADES
- Mint₡2.500
Refreshing and classic. Made with: lime, syrup, water and mint.
- Ginger and Mint₡2.500
Made with an Agua de Sapo Escala base. Made with: lime, Agua de Sapo Escala, ginger and mint.
- Coconut Lemonade₡2.500
Tropical and creamy. Made with: lime, coconut cream and toasted coconut.
- Tamarind & Cold Brew Lemonade₡2.500
Acidity and coffee. Made with: house tamarind, lime and cold brew.
Cold Drinks – ITALIAN SODAS
- Trapiche₡3.600
Refreshing, with Costa Rican identity. Made with: Agua de Sapo Escala, pineapple juice and soda.
- Tropical Soda₡3.600
Mango-passion fruit with soda. Made with: mango-passion fruit base and soda.
- Fresas del Volcán₡3.600
Classic strawberry soda. Made with: local strawberry base and soda.
Cold Drinks – FRESH FRUIT DRINKS
- Casi Sapo₡1.950
Natural base blend of cas (Costa Rican guava) and Agua de Sapo Escala.
- Piña con Arroz₡1.950
Inspired by Costa Rican tradition. Made with: natural pineapple base blend and rice cream.
- Strawberry Lime₡1.950
Refreshing and balanced. Made with: a blend of fresh local strawberries and lime juice.
- Mango Passion Fruit₡1.950
Tropical and fruity, made with mango and passion fruit.
Cold Drinks – MORE
- Sodas₡1.850
- Orange Juice₡1.600
Prices in Costa Rican colones. Prices include all applicable taxes.
