When couples ask us where we source the food, flowers of flavor, and the bar for a destination wedding in Jacó, there's one answer we give every time: Auto Mercado. It's Costa Rica's upscale supermarket, and the branch at Plaza Herradura — just a few minutes north of Jacó — is a wedding caterer's dream. Fresh seafood, premium cuts, imported cheeses, ready-made charcuterie boards, a full wine cellar, a bakery, and even the party extras, all under one roof. Here's a photo tour.
Auto Mercado Herradura is at Plaza Herradura, Playa Herradura — a few miles north of Jacó, right at the turnoff toward Los Sueños. For a Jacó beach wedding, it's the one-stop that lets your chef build a restaurant-quality menu without a trip to San José.
Why it's the best grocery store for a Jacó beach wedding
A wedding menu lives or dies on its ingredients, and Auto Mercado simply carries more — and better — than anywhere else near the coast. Imported specialty items, a serious butcher and seafood counter, a cheese and deli wall built for grazing tables, and a wine room that lets you actually plan a pairing. For us, that range is everything: your menu isn't limited to what's on the shelf, it's built around exactly what you and your guests want to eat on the big day.
Fresh seafood for the main course
Jacó is a beach town, so of course the main event is often seafood — and this is where Auto Mercado shines. Fresh fish and shellfish on ice at the counter, jumbo shrimp, Pacific and Norwegian salmon, smoked salmon, and a full freezer of corvina, pargo, róbalo, calamari and seafood mixes for larger guest counts. Whatever your wedding dinner calls for, it's here.
Cheese & charcuterie boards for the reception
Cocktail hour is where a wedding feels effortless, and Auto Mercado makes it easy. The deli wall is stacked with brie, camembert, fondue, aged and specialty cheeses, cured meats and olives — plus ready-made grazing platters you can set out the moment guests arrive. It's the backbone of a beautiful grazing table.
Bakery, cake & the sweet table
From a fresh bread spread for the dinner service to pastries, pies and the sweet table, the bakery keeps things easy. Add an ice-cream bar — Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's and local favorites — for a crowd-pleasing dessert the kids and adults both love.
The bar: wine, sangria & spirits at La Cava
Every great wedding needs a great bar, and Auto Mercado's wine cellar — La Cava — is the best near Jacó. Shelves of reds, whites, rosés and sparkling from Spain, France, Italy, Chile, Argentina and the U.S., plus spirits and fun ready-to-pour sangrias for a beach-wedding welcome drink. Easy to build a toast, a signature cocktail, and the whole open-bar list in one stop. (Want us to handle it? See our grocery & bar pre-stocking service.)
Everything else your beach wedding needs
Beyond the plate, Auto Mercado quietly covers the details: party balloons for the décor, a full pantry of imported dressings, oils, vinegars and sauces, quality kitchenware if your villa is short a gadget, breakfast cereals for the morning-after brunch, and even beach sandals and toys to keep traveling families happy. It really is a one-stop for the whole wedding weekend.
Let your Jacó wedding chef handle the shopping
Here's the best part: you don't spend your wedding week pushing a cart. As your private chef for your Jacó Beach wedding, we plan the menu, shop Auto Mercado for the premium ingredients, cook it all at your villa or venue, and clean up after — so you can actually enjoy the celebration. Explore our Jacó wedding planning guide and the best wedding venues near Jacó, and when you're ready, reach us at www.jacobeachchef.com. (For everyday groceries and stocking the villa, our Más x Menos guide has you covered too.)