Antigua
Put your Gallo beer down for one moment and get to the forefront of Guatemala's craft-brewing revolution at the Antigua Brewing Company. Sup its signature…
Must-see nightlife in Central America
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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…
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Managua
No self-respecting coffee connoisseur should miss out on visiting this altar to the coffee bean, whose owner comes from generations of coffee farmers and…
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Stella's Sunset Wine Bar & Restaurant
Ambergris Caye
Stella's is a classy but unpretentious wine bar set in a lovely garden on the edge of the San Pedro Lagoon that affords fine sunset views. Sit on lounge…
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Roatán
There's a party going on, way out in the mangroves at this over-the-water bar only accessible by boat (including on mangrove tours). Slip onto a stool…
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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…
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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…
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Guatemala City
This small spot for craft beers and cocktails is dedicated to the author Julio Cortázar, as aficionados will know from the name Rayuela (one of the author…
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Tegucigalpa
The Honduras brewery crafts five beers that would thrive in any beer-loving city. Each is named after a passage of the Honduran national anthem. The India…
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Quetzaltenango
On the plaza end of the elegant Pasaje Enríquez, alive day and night with a healthy mix of Guatemalans and foreigners quaffing Cabro by the liter, the…
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San Salvador
Craft beer has landed in El Salvador! This popular brewpub offers seven Cadejo beers on tap; a sampler of six costs US$5. Try the Suegra (mother-in-law) –…
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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…
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Managua
The pick of the neighborhood bars, hip and relaxed Estación Central is your first port of call for the best range of Nicaraguan craft beers, from the…
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Hopkins
Ever-popular Driftwood has moved closer to the center of the village but still has a great beachfront location, Hopkins' best drumming nights, and pizza …
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Utila
Owned by Neil, an eccentric American artist, this psychedelic mango-treetop bar is somewhere you just have to see while visiting Utila. It always draws a…
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Ambergris Caye
Tucked away from the louder bars and restaurants, this is the locals' favorite at Secret Beach, mainly for the picnic tables partially submerged in the…
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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…
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Caribbean Coast
Dance up a storm to dancehall, country and reggae on the wooden dance floor at this legendary disco ranch, comfortable in the knowledge that your dignity…
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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…
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Quetzaltenango
For chocolate aficionados, this is a shrine. Made from scratch on the premises, the chocolate is velvety smooth and served in a variety of beverages: the…
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Belize City
Bird's Isle may be the best that Belize City has to offer. An island oasis at the southern tip of town, it manages to defy the urban grit that lies just a…
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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…
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El Salvador
Juan José and Marisol have fitted their small, artsy coffee shop with books to browse, and use the space to host live poetry readings, literary…
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Western El Salvador
Retro furniture, chunky wooden decking and jungly gardens help create a chill vibe at this sprawling cafe, where vinyl records provide the tunes. Come for…
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Corn Islands
This all-wood open-air bar, right by the road just south of the airport, pulls a crowd when everywhere else is empty and is generally held by locals to be…
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San Juan Del Sur
A great addition to 'gringo street', this small tiki-style bar serves really good cocktails – the passionfruit mojitos and the watermelon margaritas, in…
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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…
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Western El Salvador
Offers a fine selection of gourmet local beans brewed using a variety of methods, plus breakfasts, sandwiches and cakes.
Panama City
Replete with brass fixtures and polished wood bars, this gorgeous low-lit brewpub serves its own award-winning small craft beers, alongside tasty thin…
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Panajachel
This cafe has made Panajachel a major crossroads for coffee aficionados. When he's not roasting beans, the Bay Area owner/head barista spends his time…
Panama City
Though it serves casual lunches, this ultra-hip cafe-bar is best known for sunset happy hours on its rooftop deck. Pair your cocktail with fusion-style…
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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…
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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…
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Antigua
This alternative cafe is a vertically oriented space that takes up an absurdly narrow corner of an old building (grab the rope to reach the upper level)…
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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…
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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…
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Panama City
Wildly popular with travelers and hip young Panamanians, this cavernous hostel bar is a hit. Service is friendly and patrons easily mingle in the ample…
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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…
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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…
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Antigua
Holding a key corner of Antigua's nightlife corridor, Reilly's packs in both Guatemalans and gringos on weekends. The sprawling pub has several bars, but…
