People ask us all the time: where do you shop for the food you cook at our villa? The honest answer is Auto Mercado at Plaza Herradura, a few minutes north of Jacó. It's Costa Rica's upscale supermarket, and for anyone staying in a rental who wants to cook — or just stock the kitchen and bar — it's the single best store near the beach. Here's a chef's walk-through of what's worth buying, aisle by aisle.
Where it is: Auto Mercado is inside Plaza Herradura in Playa Herradura, about a 10-minute drive north of central Jacó, right at the turnoff toward the Los Sueños marina. It's an easy Uber from most Jacó rentals, and the one grocery run that saves you a trip to San José.
Start at the seafood counter
Jacó is on the Pacific, so seafood is the reason to come here first. The fresh case has fish and shellfish on ice — corvina, pargo (snapper), róbalo (sea bass), salmon and trout — plus jumbo shrimp sold by weight. If you're feeding a bigger group, the freezer section carries family-size bags of shrimp, calamari and fish fillets. This is where we source the catch for ceviche, whole grilled snapper and shrimp dinners.
Cheese, deli & charcuterie
The deli wall is better than anything else near Jacó: brie, camembert, fondue, aged and specialty cheeses, cured meats and olives. If you don't feel like building a board yourself, they sell ready-made charcuterie and cheese platters — grab one and you've got a sunset snack on the villa deck in minutes.
Bakery & dessert
Fresh bread for the dinner table, pastries and tarts for the morning, and a premium ice-cream freezer stocked with Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's and local scoops. Easy wins for breakfast and for keeping the kids happy after dinner.
The wine cellar: La Cava
Auto Mercado's wine room — La Cava — is the best-stocked near Jacó. Reds, whites, rosés and sparkling from Spain, France, Italy, Chile, Argentina and the U.S., plus spirits and ready-to-pour sangrias that make an easy welcome drink. If you're hosting at the villa, this is a one-stop for the whole bar. (Want it done for you? See our grocery & bar pre-stocking service — we fill the fridge before you land.)
Pantry, kitchen & the little extras
Beyond the plate, Auto Mercado covers the stuff that makes a villa stay smooth: imported dressings, oils, vinegars and sauces; kitchenware if your rental is short a pan or a good knife; breakfast cereals and staples; and even party balloons, beach sandals and toys if you're traveling with family. It genuinely is a one-stop for the week.
Find it at Plaza Herradura
The store sits inside Plaza Herradura, a few minutes north of Jacó on the main highway. Grab it on the drive in, or make a dedicated run your first afternoon so the villa's stocked for the trip.
Or skip the shopping entirely
If you'd rather spend your vacation on the beach than pushing a cart, that's exactly what we do. As your private chef in Jacó, we plan the menu, shop Auto Mercado for the fresh seafood and ingredients, cook it all at your villa, and clean up after. Hosting something bigger? Here's our Auto Mercado wedding-catering guide, our Jacó wedding planning guide, and for everyday basics the Más x Menos guide. When you're ready to eat well, reach us at www.jacobeachchef.com.