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
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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;…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
