Guayoyo Bakery and Deli sells more than just the usual baked goods and sliced meats. The recently opened eatery in the western San José suburb of Escazú is a bakery, restaurant and convenience store all in one, and with a Venezuelan tilt evident in both the menu and the Venezuelan newspapers sold inside.
Go Guayoyo: Guayoyo Bakery and Deli in Escazú’s Plaza Florencia, offers Venezuelan dishes like arepas.
Katie Onheiber | Tico Times
The deli’s shelves are lined with both typical foodstuffs and rarer finds such as peanut butter and cranberry juice. At the front of the store, a display case offers meats, cheeses and tempting desserts like Black Forest cake. The outdoor seating area offers a particularly nice atmosphere at this time of year; patrons can enjoy some authentic Venezuelan food and the breezy Escazú weather.
Guayoyo’s menu is short but contains a nice variety of options, including salads and pastas (₡4,000-5,500/$8-11), pizzas like the 4 Estaciones topped with artichokes, ham, anchovies and olives (₡4,500-8,000/$9-16) and Venezuelan dishes such as arepas – corn-dough patties stuffed with meat, cheese or egg, which, though small-looking, make a filling meal (₡2,300-2,800/$4.60-5.60). A tastier option is the plato navideño (₡10,000/$20), a Christmas special that combines three traditional Venezuelan dishes: hallaca, a Venezuelan tamal of stew wrapped in a cornmeal pancake; ensalada de gallina (chicken salad); and pan de jamón, a type of sweet bread wrapped around ham, raisins and olives, served at Christmastime.
A nice variety of Venezuelan food and can’t-miss favorites like pizza and pasta make Guayoyo Bakery and Deli worth the trip. And be sure to grab a sugary dessert from the bakery to go.
The restaurant is in Plaza Florencia, 150 meters north of the BAC San José in Guachipelín de Escazú. Hours are Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 8982-2777 or visit www.guayoyocr.com.
