Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Popular gay mingling spot, which is straight-friendly. Usually plays pop, disco and dance music.
Must-see nightlife in Costa Rica
Nosara Area
Nosara's premier (read: only) dance club offers an after-hours salsa extravaganza.
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Fans above (to cool the place), fanaticos below, watching every manner of sport on the four big screens. Baseball, hockey, and of course fútbol are all on…
Playa Sámara
One of the last Tico bars left, Pablito and family have a simple outdoor space, a bit of music and the occasional barnyard animal wandering through. Nice…
Playa Tamarindo
Beer on the beach is never a bad thing, and when it's Tico home brew, even better. The 15 varieties of cerveza are a bit pricey, but consider the location…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
The Point is a truly trashy dive bar, complete with video games, and a few TVs showing sports from around the world. Just look for the pirate flag. New…
Central Valley & Highlands
Turrialba's trendy youth hang out at this industrial-chic cafe with corrugated-iron roof, exposed beams and open-plan garden featuring pleasant decking…
San José
Facing Parque Morazán, this exposed-brick, Spanish tile–clad space dates back to 1904. Throughout its long life it has hosted all manner of historic…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Though it's undergone many name changes in recent years, this drinking establishment will always be known to locals as La Taberna (its current name, in…
Playa Sámara
The requisite sports bar in this surf town is located on a balcony overlooking the main drag. The place shows international sports on its flat screens, so…
Península de Nicoya
There's very little nightlife on the northern end of Playa Grande, but there is Kike's. Order the local catch of the day from the blackboard until 9:30pm,…
Liberia
This tropical garden, lush with greenery, is one of the city’s more pleasant places for a drink. There's also sports and music videos on the big screen,…
Playa Tamarindo
Aqua Disco is a proper nightclub with a thumping dance floor and a breezy deck that's critical for the cool-down. Come early for free drinks (with a small…
Central Valley & Highlands
After a few rounds of beers, the party really kicks off at the Miraflores Discotheque, at the southern edge of Parque Central above Coffee Break by…
San José
Just west of Calle 43 and the Fuente de la Hispanidad (the official boundary between Los Yoses and San Pedro), this large, popular bar has live bands some…
Quepos to Uvita
The beachfront Tortilla Flats is the de facto place for surfers to enjoy sunset beers after a day in the water (skip the food, though). Its open-air…
Arenal & Around
It stays open late if there's demand, and sometimes there's karaoke. The American-style pub grub is excellent, as is the cold draught beer. It’s a popular…
Liberia
Facing Parque Central, this open-air bar has cold beer, decent pizza and football on the big screen. The place picks up on weekends, when the party spills…
San José
An enthusiastic young crowd packs in here nightly for foosball, good bar snacks, DJs spinning everything from Latin music to Jimi Hendrix, and occasional…
Jacó
Commonly populated with bachelor parties, this dim lounge is defined by manly brown leather furnishings and a lack of windows. Wednesday nights it gets…
Quepos to Uvita
On the road into town, this lively divey spot plays reggae, has live music or DJs nightly and does a ladies' night on Wednesday, when women get free shots…
Clarita’s Beach Hotel & Sports Bar & Grill
Jacó
Catch the game on the big screen, day-drink with an older gringo crowd (the beers are ice-cold but the mixed drinks are not very strong), and enjoy live…
San José
This cool, crowded Los Yoses bar brings in DJs from as far afield as Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. It's a sweet spot to get a beer and leave with…
Central Valley & Highlands
The distortion pedal is always on at Rock Garage, a dingy spot for those who dig classic rock, metal and punk. Look out for two-for-one drinks promotions.
Cahuita
This day-drinking spot has an outdoor bar with its own swimming pool and often hosts roots and reggae nights, private parties and other special events.
San José
This gay men's bar is more low-rent (and significantly raunchier) than some; you'll find scantily clad go-go boys and over-the-top drag shows.
San José
This popular Barrio La California club stands out for its unusual mix of salsa, rock and stand-up comedy nights.
The Road to Chirripó
An open-air 2nd-floor corner spot in the heart of town. Lunch specials and drink specials draw local crowds.
Central Valley & Highlands
Divey sports bar known for offering boozy promotions on a regular basis.
Playa Tamarindo
An old standby for snacks and drinks, this surf camp offers filling breakfasts, famously huge (and aptly named) nachos and cold beers. Note the emphasis…
Playas del Coco
This is a pretty snazzy nightspot for a beer-drinking fishing port, but it suffers from an identity crisis – with a food menu that spans the globe, plus…
Cahuita
The service can be a bit slow here, but if you're looking for stiff drinks and a good dance floor, you've come to the right place. Food options include…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
There are only four words you need to know: Thursday night reggae party. Come to this enormous concrete hangar – dive bar and dance club in one – to party…
Playa Sámara
If you'd like to settle in for an evening of beers with the locals, check out Bar Olas on the north end of the beach. This archetypal seafront dive makes…
Playa Tamarindo
This place thinks it's a dance club, but it's really more of a tropical dive bar, with occasional live bands and DJs. And that's OK. Better in fact. Come…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
This unpretentious open-air local spot down by the beach, a stone's throw from the bus stop, is a great place to gaze out to sea and sip a beer after a…
Central Valley & Highlands
Shows soccer matches and sells beer and ceviche. Later in the night, patrons stick around for the loud music and flashing lights.
Puerto Limón
Kick back with a smoothie, an empanada, a sandwich or an iced espresso at this corner cafe facing Parque Vargas and the docks.
