Jacó
Farmed and harvested in Tarrazú and roasted in Jacó, this is some of the finest-tasting coffee in Costa Rica. The small artisan coffee shop in Jacó has no…
Must-see nightlife in Costa Rica
Jacó
The best place to sip on artisan mixed drinks and watch the sunset is this mellow, palm-tree-fronted place with minimalist airy design and pops of…
San José
Just when everyone thought it would be Imperial versus Pilsen forever, this artisanal brew pub paved the way for craft beer in Costa Rica. The brewery's…
San José
On the other side of Av Central from the rowdier college bars, this two-level house has about two dozen beers on tap to satisfy the thirstiest of hop…
San José
Chepe's oldest dance club, this classic Latin American disco in Barrio México draws crowds of locals and tourists to its large dance floor with a…
San José
Two dozen-plus Costa Rican microbrews on tap and an appealing setting in a historical building create a convivial buzz at this pub half a block from Plaza…
Liberia
Liberia's best sabanero (cowboy) hangout is this family-owned cantina, serving cheap Pilsen since 1970. It's a fun place to watch sports or people, there…
Puntarenas
This social hub near the ferry port ticks a lot of boxes: it offers a tiki bar, bountiful seafood, a tour desk, live music (Thursday to Saturday) and…
San José
Hidden away in a courtyard within the historical Steinvorth building, this new third-wave coffee shop is the passion project of a local photographer with…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
What began as a few tables and a hut in the sand has blossomed into Santa Teresa's liveliest sunset bar. Grab a fruity cocktail and plop down in an…
Jacó
Stationed in the glitzy Jacó Walk, this microbrewery is the city’s first. Try PuddleFish's own rotating brews, like Fatty Knees IPA, The Nut Smuggler…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Tucked away at the Blue Surf Sanctuary hotel at the northern end of town, this pretty perfect beach lounge attracts a local expat crowd. Beanbags are…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
Part cocktail bar, part vegetarian restaurant, part art gallery, Drift bar is wholly satisfying. Drinks are made with cold-pressed juices and are best…
San José
Named Wilk (Wolf) in honor of its former life as the Polish embassy, this Escalante pub attracts a mixed Tico/gringo crowd who share an appreciation for…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Specializing in tacos, Caribbean bowls and sweet plantain fries, this popular spot is the perfect end-of-day cocktail stop – hit happy hour from 4pm to…
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Coffea Diversa is equal parts coffee shop, coffee farm and coffee academy. Folks come from all over the world to learn about the cultivation and…
Playa Tamarindo
Walk in. Take a deep breath. Smell the magic brewing? On the wall it says, 'good days start with coffee.' Sip it on the shady patio while snacking on a…
Quepos
Café Milagro sources its coffee beans from all over Costa Rica and produces a variety of estate, single-origin and blended roasts to suit any coffee fiend…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Constructed around a 1954 Fairchild C-123 plane (allegedly purchased by the US government in the ’80s for the Nicaraguan Contras but never used), this…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
The insane views of two pristine bays and jungle on all sides at Ronny's Place make it worth a detour for a drink and a tasty meal (mains US$14-70). While…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
With one of the longest happy hours in town (noon to 6pm), Z Poolside Bistro is a mellow afternoon drinking spot. Centered around a big pool, you can…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
With picture windows overlooking the mountainside, this Santa Elena mainstay evokes the atmosphere of a ski lodge. But there are DJs, karaoke and pool…
San José
This glitzy, recently established cocktail den in the historic Steinvorth Building is brought to you by the mixologist/chef team from Maza Bistro, and…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Run by brothers Khalil and Abasi and their friend Rocky, Puerto Viejo's most dependable spot for live music draws big crowds, plays reggae, and serves two…
San José
Old-school San Jose cantina La Bohemia is a traditional gathering place of poets and guitarristas, whose spirits still sometimes trouble the night air…
San José
Voluble owner/brewer Alberto Sancho's encyclopedic knowledge of all things hoppy and his passion for classic rock make this a very, very fun place indeed…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
It’s not a brewery – contrary to the sign – but it does offer a selection of local craft beers. There’s a shady deck out back and smiling servers on hand;…
San José
If you’re drinking the night away with Ticos, you might find yourself here at 4am, clutching a cold one and professing your love for recent acquaintances…
San José
Located on the ground floor of the nondescript Centro Colón office tower, the city’s premier club packs in Chepe’s beautiful people with a mix of house,…
Uvita
A pleasant open-plan wine bar serving a long list of imported wines from South America and Europe. You can also dabble in potent craft drinks like Malfy…
La Fortuna
Just uphill from the town center, these guys are all about Tico artisanal beers, offering a dozen different home-country bottled cervezas. They also brew…
San José
Set in a historical mansion that once belonged to a Venezuelan general, Antik offers a tri-level experience, with a basement catering to the EDM crowd, a…
Península de Nicoya
Anchoring Playa Potrero's gastronomy park (El Garden), this expat-owned brewery excels at sours, stouts and gose-style beers. And once the friendly owners…
Jacó
Tucked into a nondescript plaza, this little watering hole features 10 craft beers on tap; it's a welcome alternative to some of the grimier nightlife…
Playa Tamarindo
If you want to catch the big game, look no further than Sharky's. Besides nine screens showing sports, there are burgers, wings and lots of beer. There's…
Quepos
This well-established pub offers a good happy hour (runs 4:30pm to 6:30pm) with two-for-one cocktails, plus excellent fresh seafood, sports on the screen…
San José
Inspired by Madrid's 'Mercado San Miguel,' El Mercadito (as the locals say) is a recent addition to the up-and-coming Barrio La California. The line…
Península de Nicoya
If there is a list of unlikely places to find a craft brewery, put Cabuya on there. But it has one! Hidden down a quiet side road, the tiny tasting room…
Montezuma
When it comes to nightlife, Chico's is the main game in town, which means that everybody – old, young, Ticos, tourists, rowdy, dowdy – ends up here…
La Fortuna
La Fortuna’s raucous sendero bar with an attached disco fronts the bull ring and attracts an ever-enthusiastic local following: it does tend to more of a…
