Entertainment & Nightlife
in Costa Rica!

*Entertainment & Nightlife in Costa Rica!
Lounges & Bars in Costa Rica, Night
Clubs in Costa Rica, Music in
Costa Rica, Karaoke, Dance in
Costa Rica, Dating.

Night Life in Costa Rica!

San Pedro pulses with life at night:  the dance is salsa and merengue, the drink is either ice-cold cervezas  or  guaro 
sunrise cocktails, and the scene  varies from  ticos belting
out Latin tunes  in karaoke bars  to American sports bars 
packed with tourists  playing pool  and chatting in English.

 

Calle de la Amargura  is always hopping  and has the
best casual atmosphere  for  meeting young ticas
(Off-Campus street of  nightspots, student / bohemian 
energy) !

Don't  forget  to pick up some "Vegas  de  Santiago"  fine
cigars   hand made to perfection to  make  your  evening 
complete.  They  can  be  found  in  most  all  of  the  Hotel
Shops  and Tabacaleros  in  and  about  San  Jose!
 

Lounges, Bars and Nightclubs
 in Costa Rica!
 

Neto  Quiros - Piano  and  Daniel  Morera - Sax Alto
http://www.JazzdeCafetal.cjb.net
Phone: 350-51-11

Recently opened, this has quickly become a favorite with Latin-jazz fans. Here, great artists such as Chucho Valdés y Irakere and the Argentinean Diego Urcola have held their shows while in Costa Rica. It has an excellent New York-jazz club atmosphere with beautiful architecture. The café is decorated with paintings and original sculptures. This is a place with a casual bohemian ambiance, specially designed to guarantee the perfect sound of music.

A theory about the origin of the word "mariachi" claims that it comes from the French word for "marriage," which refers to the bands that played at French weddings during the occupation of Mexico.  You can hear mariachi here, as well as salsa, meringue and all the typical Latin sounds. Dance to the beat or just relax and watch the Costa Ricans get it down. A cover charge is in effect on weekends only.
 

All Stars is located in the center of the active nightlife of San Pédro.  It's an American-style sports bar with large TV screens featuring the main American sports games. A bilingual crowd gathers here to watch TV, play pool or darts. Decorated with sports-related images and icons, the bar offers a wide variety of beers and cocktails. The restaurant specializes in grilled meats and offers a fairly extensive menu with snacks and main dishes.
 

In the evening, clients can enjoy backgammon, darts and music while they sip a cocktail or have some food. Dishes include a variety of meat-based recipes, pasta, seafood and salads.  Live Music Wed. and Sundays.....
 

On Friday nights is the "Dance Party" with a cover charge of 1500, which includes three drinks and free tequila. On Saturdays, the "Dance Party" continues and there is a cover charge again of 1500 that includes three beers.  Liquors run from 550-1500 and beer between 400-500.

Thursday nights there is live music, and a good menu of bocas, which are delicious Costarrican snacks, and beer and drinks.

After the game, trendy music takes over and it is time to dance. Some, who prefer a quieter atmosphere, sit on one of the two balconies outside to contemplate the night, or maybe the incoming guests. This is no doubt a spot for the youngest crowds.
 

Located on a corner in a nice, familiar and informal setting, this bar offers a wide array of bocas (snacks) along with your drinks. However, more than a simple snack, these are almost a full meal!  Just imagine a shrimp, onion and sweet-pepper brochette, or a fish zarzuela, stuffed with ham and cheese. If a couple of beers or drinks along with lunch is your ambition, this is a good place to visit. A  Sunday buffet is served until noon.
 

This place was borrowed from a well-known bar chain in the USA, and adapted the idea to the Costa Rican public. Good food and drinks, and live music on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, this place has been turned into a favorite spot among people of all ages. The menu has an international approach, and there is a wide selection of cocktails to choose from.
 

No Rock 'n Roll, House, Reggae, or any imported rhythms in this place. Owner Sandra Solano, a very well-known singer and show-business personality, wanted a place where the Latino Soul prevails geared towards the romantic side.  Bolero and Spanish Ballad will delight the crowd, and a karaoke system is available for those who want to call it a night.  Sandra and her group perform live on Friday nights, and a wide array of snacks can be ordered from the menu.  It is definitely a place for those young at heart and over 30.
 

Sitting in the middle of a farm, in the beautiful skirts of the mountains of Heredia, lies this large bar.  More than a bar, this place is a dance hall, which offers live music with well-known Latin orchestras on weekends.  On Thursday evening, live music is also featured, however, this music is more suitable for listening than for dancing. The bar offers a full menu of international cuisine, so you can dine or order some snacks.  A wide array of local and international liquors are
also available.

This is the Captain speaking, please unfasten your belts, remove your ties and bring down the tables in front of you.  You may smoke if you wish.  Well, not exactly what we hear on normal flights everyday, but this is no ordinary flight into the night. At Zulu, you can enjoy a quiet dinner in the restaurant area, or drinks and snacks in the bar where airplane and chopper models hang. You can even dance to the latest hits, and the rhythm of the lasers and the spinning of the lights. No jet lag guaranteed!

Nowadays, Castro's has expanded its premises with a second level that contains a bar, while the lower level is a discotheque.  It maintains its tradition of the olden days offering a complimentary boca (snack),  with every beverage purchased.

Jazz, jazz and only jazz, just three days a week, so you can rest the other days, perhaps.  This is the Blue Note. In this "tunnel of time," where the hours seem to lose track and time rolls back, the best local groups of this musical genre delight the audience.  Low lighting help to set the atmosphere, and a wide array of wines and liquors can be ordered, even milkshakes for those who like to get high on just music. Snacks and some pasta and meat dishes comprise the menu as well.
 

This is a small brewery offering five house beers: Sexy, Amber, Stout, Wheat and Tropicana, all of which are prepared in front of the visitor's eyes.  The bar offers a small taste of every beer for less than one U.S. dollar, so you can choose yours with a more informed opinion.  With a modern bohemian atmosphere, Cabeza Grande becomes one of the main stages for the Costa Rican jazz and blues scene on the weekends.
 

This bar and pizzeria right in the middle of San José's student neighborhood is a big hit with the locals, with its agreeable atmosphere and reasonably priced food. If you are staying in the neighborhood, this is a good place to start the night before you head out for some drinking and dancing.  Most of the clients are students and it is usually somewhat quiet. Come with a friend and enjoy a conversation over your meal.
 

If you like sweets, this café will be perfect for you. It offers a large variety of cakes and desserts, including flan, chocolate cake and biscuits of various flavors. There are also light meals, including sandwiches, salads and various egg, bean and rice dishes. The coffee is excellent, after late nights on the town, and the atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable. The café's central location also makes it very convenient to visit.

Located on a structure of German Medieval architecture that was designed to work as a restaurant or café, not an old refurbished house, this place exudes class, good taste and European savoir-faire.  A sober, stylish décor with a nice lounge area, marble tables and black furniture are a perfect match to set the proper ambiance.  Here, you can order all sorts of coffee delights, mixtures of the best coffee grains with imported liquors and syrups, and all types of delicious pastries and dessert pies.

This café forms part of the luxurious Gran Hotel Costa Rica, but even the most budget-conscious traveler can enjoy its splendor, and enjoy some coffee and
cake here. The view is of the Plaza de la Cultura, and you can watch ticos,
young and old, crossing the square. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and you
can stay for hours enjoying the view, people watching, while you read the paper.  Also a great meeting place for business associates!

If you have some old LPs, or would like to buy a few, the Acetates Club,
which meets here on Thursday night, might be just for you. On Wednesdays
live Jazz performs on stage for lovers of this genre. Darts, backgammon and chess are part of the experience, and if you want tropical music, Salsa 54
is one level down.

As in a never-ending story, this place repeats itself over and over regarding
food quality, elegance and atmosphere. Located at the National Theater, its
lavish décor, particular to the neoclassic period, sets an almost holy ambiance. Precious woods and crystal on the bar counter, and marble flooring and tables, welcome guests as if members of a Royal Court, and the food and pastries
bring along the taste and savoir-faire of the best classic European cuisine.
When visiting the theater, you know now where to satisfy your palate like a
king.
 

Describing this place is difficult.  It is a café and a bar; it has a bohemian atmosphere, but is also elegant and exquisite in its decoration and details.
It is romantic, but it may get loud.  It has great food, but is not a restaurant.
It is very, very "in" and exclusive. Here, you will meet members of high society, politicians and a wide array of artists, TV and media personalities, and models. Dressing properly and creating a successful image are a must. European
cuisine and imported wines comprise the menu.

No, it does not mean that your name has to be Carlos or Charlie to get in here. However, many well-known personalities throughout history with that name
hang on the walls with a welcoming smile.  The menu at this bi-level bar and restaurant offers Mexican specialties. 


The bar is on the first floor, while the restaurant is on the second floor, although Wednesday nights both levels fuse into one with an all-you-can-eat-and-drink special offer, which includes beer, tequila and tacos, for just 3,000 colones! Trendy music and a good atmosphere also enhance this place.

This traditional landmark in the heart of San José has undergone a series of cosmetics, but has always been a gathering place for the late-night people.
Some time ago people came here for a snack and a nightcap after a wild
party, so the owners decided to attract the guests with their own wild party
as well!


A three-level arrangement was built, with a restaurant on the first floor, a bar
on the second level, and a disco on the third. Now everyone is happy round
the clock.

For those not familiar with karaoke, this is a sound and video system where the sound tracks of the latest hits only play the music. The letters of the songs are displayed on a video monitor, so you can sing along. A microphone plugged into the system, a small stage and presto, turn yourself into a musical star instantly! Cash Box has a central stage in front of everyone, and two small separated ones, so that those a little shy put on the show only to their closest friends. For your added pleasure, they serve all sort of beverages.
 

Located at the famous "golden mile" of Escazú, which is one of the best commercial and residential areas in the Metropolitan area, you can find
Chango. No "monkey business" here, just great food, drinks and music.
This place has a casual and informal atmosphere, but surrounded by
savoir-faire and a cosmopolitan ambiance.


It is open during the afternoons, so you can enjoy coffee or tea with pastries.
You can also have drinks and snacks at the bar if you do not feel like
having a full meal.
 

This late-night restaurant and bar boasts a wide range of meat and seafood dishes, such as shrimp with garlic, fillet of fish in Mexican-style sauce and
steak with all the trimmings. Vegetarians will not feel neglected, with the considerable variety of salads on offer. Not to everybody's taste, but very
Central American, is the tongue, fried and served with a traditional sauce.
When you have finished your meal, you can drink and dance on the same premises.
 

This is a trendy atmosphere of urban delight where the "be's and wanna be's" share the secrets of success, enticed by the glamour of the night, the musical videos displayed on there is a gift shop, or you can have your best facial
features captured for posterity by an expert caricaturist.  More than 12 TV
monitors and a giant TV screen. Delights the Reggae fans!
 

This stylish bar and nightclub attracts a large gay and lesbian crowd, although anybody is welcome. The music is international with emphasis on modern
techno sounds, which you can enjoy on any one of three dance floors. There
is a "drag-queen spectacular" on Saturday nights. Whatever your personal inclinations, this is one of the most happening places in town. Cover charge
is 1500 Monday-Friday, 2000 Saturdays.
 

As the night spreads its shroud and the explosion of the sunset's wildest
colors start giving way to the blinking of the stars, many go home to rest. However, many others start a new life cycle: "Living La Vida Loca" (Living
the crazy life). El Cuartel is the perfect place to do so. Here, people of all
ages, colors and backgrounds gather to eat, drink, listen to the music, and
make new friends. It has three different areas, including an art gallery, so
you can "Live La Vida Loca" the way you like it best.
 

What is a cuchifrito, you may ask? Well, it is a very colloquial name for the traditional chicharrones, , which are pieces of tender pork meat with some
fat that are cooked in huge pans, preferably over a wood fire. Roll them in a
corn tortilla, add some lemon juice, and eat them along with parboiled green plantain. In this establishment, you eat cuchifrito and listen to local swing
round the clock until the "wee hours."

On an eclectic and colorful environment, with a mixture of Bolivian fabrics
along with more avant-garde and new-age designs, this bar or "drink'o'theque,"
as it was baptized by its owners, welcomes its patrons. These are mainly
young people, bohemians, and rock-and-rollers, which gives this place a
very particular personality. Live music, Spanish rock and delicious Bolivian turnovers, or Intis, along with a beer or a cocktail will make you have a
wonderful time at this unique bar.
 

One curious note is that they do not have "Mate," that bitter drink of
South America from which the place takes its name. Probably an
inheritance of  the  former Argentinean owners.
 

Seen from the outside, El Rancho de Fofo looks like a simple bar with two
twins next to it, Caramba, similar to a small tavern, and Mariscos y Más,
more like a restaurant. They all connect internally trough a "secret" hallway,
so if you get tired of the music and atmosphere of one place, just move to
the other without even going through the main door. An extensive menu of international food, snacks and cocktails are served in all three places.

This bar is pioneer in the so-called "bocas bar" (bocas are snacks), where
the boca is almost a main course! For this reason, they have become very
popular among the "ticos." One boca is served along with each beer or
drink, and because of the wide variety of this delicious serving on the menu,
any whim can be pleased. On Wed, Thu and Fri nights, a Calypso band will
liven up your stay. Mon, Tue and Wed, smaller bocas  are  "on  the
house" to pamper the guests.

 

Amid the blue and the yellow tones of the walls that create a balanced and
warm atmosphere, Eurocafé awaits its patrons. The menu goes far beyond croissants and pies. Here, jumbo shrimps in an almond sauce dance a
waltz with sirloin medallions, while a peach strudel waits in line. No doubt,
this is a different place that well deserves a visit.

 

This bar mixes a cocktail that should be drunk very, very carefully. On the
first floor, there is an indoor go-kart racetrack, electronic games, and
air-hockey tables. If you like living in the fast lane, you might want to test
your skills running a ten-minute "heat" on one of the miniature Formula 1 racecars. The second level houses the bar, restaurant and pool tables.
Sound fun? It is. Just make sure you start your visit from the first level up,
and not the other way around! Wednesdays and Thursdays feature live
music.

 

Recently opened, this has quickly become a favorite with Latin-jazz fans.
Here, great artists such as Chucho Valdés e Irakere and the Argentinean
Diego Urcola have held their shows while in Costa Rica. It has an excellent
New York-jazz club atmosphere with beautiful architecture. The café is
decorated with paintings and original sculptures. This is a place with a
casual bohemian ambiance, specially designed to guarantee the perfect
sound of music.

 

What  comes in a  tall  glass or  a  chubby  jar,  has a light body 
sometimes, or sometimes  is  strong  and  smelly, and  always, sports
bubbling thick  foam  as a hairdo?   Beer!   At  K&S  you can refresh
your heart and soul  with these  wonderful  German-style  beers, made
on the premises  in huge  bronze  tanks  that sit off  to one side.

The taste and smell  is different than the bottled beers  on the market, so
if  you  love  this  drink, you  will  love  K&S.   German  Specialties!  Closed
on Sundays.
 

Long live Mexico! You will hear this expression, more likely in Spanish,
quite a few times at this traditional and well-known place in the heart of
San José. Here, you can have some drinks, eat food and listen to the
Mariachis and "Trios" singing at your table for a little cash. The "Trios"
are musical groups of three persons that specialize in the romantic
boleros-style music. Additionally, if you so desire, you can hire them,
or any of the Mariachis, to perform a serenade to your beloved at home
or at a party.
 

On weekends, a delicious meat and seafood barbecue is prepared
"al  fresco,"   which  is  recreated  again  on  Mondays  along with a jam
session  with the members  of  the  K-LOR  music  band.

 

In a very old adobe house  with thick white walls, that many claim  are
bewitched, this peña  (friends  meeting  place),  welcomes its guests.
Owned by  two  members  of  the traditional  and  very  well-known
cultural music group  Cantares,  it  has a unique  Costa  Rican  décor
and  atmosphere, including  coffee  sacks  and  oxcarts.   The menu
is typical Costa Rican. Friday  nights,  Cantares  performs, and  on
Sundays, at  lunchtime, there  are special  activities  for  children.

In  the  warmth of  earth  colors  combined with antique pieces  of  glazed earthenware  hanging here and there, this place is ideal  together  with
a  friend  and  to  share  the intimacy  of a good conversation.  While 
you might  think   this  is  just  a  café   for  desserts  and  pastries, the
menu proves  you  wrong, as  it  offers  a variety  of  full  meal  dishes
including meats, chicken  and  fish  with  a  tendency  towards  French
Haute  Cuisine.   Great  food  and  cozy  ambiance  are  combined  here
for a wonderful  gastronomic  experience.

 

Located  in  one  of  the most  attractive  zones  in the city, this  small
restaurant, café  and  art  gallery  maintains  the  original  architecture
from  the  oldest houses  in  the  city.    Paintings  by  the  most
important  Costa  Rican artists  hang  on  the  walls.   In  Los  Cuatro
Gatos  (the  four  cats),  prevails  a  bohemian  and  artistic  restaurant.
The menu  is  simple  and  well  balanced:   soups, salads, pizzas,
chicken, fish  and  red  meats, complimented  with  delicious  fruit
juices, different types  of  coffee  and  exquisite  desserts.

By night (Thu-Sat), the bowling alley transforms itself, and neon lights,
lasers, smoke and loud music take over turning the place into some sort
of "disco bowl." A very clever idea!

This is a combination discotheque and tavern, and is one of the town's most popular nightspots. In the tavern, you can listen to various musical styles including local tunes and reggae. Meanwhile, if you feel like dancing, you can venture into their disco to dance the night away. Live music is also featured at Miraflores on Mon, Tue and Thu from 10pm-2am. This place is worth a visit for the variety of nightly entertainment that is provided here.

 

Calle de la Amagura:   Off-campus street of nightspots, student / bohemian energy!  A bar with a youthful atmosphere—and with good reason, because it is right in the center of San Pedro, the student neighborhood of San José. International music of all kinds, including reggae and hip-hop, is played, along with the usual North American pop and rock and the occasional Latin number. If you are staying in the area, this is a great place to spend the evening, and it will not empty your wallet.

Close  by:     Taberna  El  Ballenato

Loud Music, good Tico food, both popular with students, and intellectuals.

Close  by:    Restarant  Omar  Khayyam -  Phone:  283-8455

Cheap  Persian  Specials, cold  beer,  sidewalk  patio!

This is a bar that has a very nautical theme, which is popular with students from the area. Its décor features surfboards, fishing gear and videos that display ocean-related scenes. While you can order beer and other drinks here, another appeal to the bar is that you can listen to alternative and classic rock-and-roll music while you enjoy your drinks. Students also always pay a set price for beers here (250).

Cool Jazz, Drinks and Great Food!    The sounds of :  Fusion Caribe",     The Vocals of:  Friday:  Fuzzy Rojas  Saturday:  Robert Aguilar  Sunday:  Closed   Monday:  In Concert - Sasha Campbell  Tuesday:  Saxophonist - Geovanny Escalante  Wednesday:  Hot, Hot, Hot, Latin Jam  Thursday: Incomparable  Fuzzy  Rojas.

If you feel like "shaking your body" (or at least looking and learning) to the rhythm of a Latin dance orchestra, then this is the right spot, with a capacity of as many as 700 people, each drinking, dancing, eating and chatting. These kinds of places are very popular among the "ticos" of blood and soul, so stopping by is more like a cultural experience. The live orchestras perform weekends only, including Sundays.

 

Although here you will not find "gauchos" riding horses, drinking "mate," or cooking huge steaks over open charcoal pits, this place offers a variety of activities all in one place. The restaurant features a menu that ranges from light entrées and burgers to steak Argentinean style. There is also an open patio that presents live concerts of local rock groups, and a disco with the latest musical hits. On this Patagonia you do not need to ride for endless hours to enjoy a bit of everything!

 

Reportedly the largest disco in Central America!  Inside, the latest technology in sound, lights, strobes, lasers and artificial smoke create an atmosphere of cosmic delirium. With two levels, the second one being some sort of a catwalk, and a whole glass curtain wall overlooking the San Pédro residential area and the mountains, the atmosphere is set to spend the night, "out of this world."

 

Standard disco music is on offer here, and a very young crowd comes to dance the night away. It can be packed to the hilt on weekends, so it is probably wiser to come during the week. There is a modest minimum charge, but you should have no problem enjoying a few beers. Several bars and nightclubs are located in the Commercial Center, so if you get tired of this one you can easily move on to the next.

 

Rio  Bar  and  Restaurant - Los Yoses -  Phone:  225-8371

Favorite  hangout....... light  lunches, live music  on  the  weekends.

Also:   Bar  El  Yos -  Los  Yoses - next  to  Hotel  Las  Orquideas -
Phone:   280-1139

Young  Crowd.......  concerts  with  local  bands.

 

Housed....  in what once...  was Costa Rica's National Library...  at the turn
of the century, this place breathes...  tradition and history...  on the walls...
but  fashion  and  glamour...   on  the  ambiance.   It  has  different  levels....
for  different  audiences, so  if  you  are  in  the  mood  to  dance, the  disco  is your  place, but  if  your  idea  of  fun...  is  something  quieter, the  bar... is
just  perfect.   Burgers  and  light  snacks...  fashion the menu...  in case you
get  hungry.   Also, modeling  and  maripepinos  (male  stripper) shows..  are performed....  some  Wednesday....  and  weekend  nights.

 

This pleasant bar features live jazz and blues. However, there is no regular schedule, so if you want to be sure to see a performance you should telephone ahead. Even if you are not lucky enough to hear a band, this is a pleasant place to enjoy a few beers, with its vaguely bohemian atmosphere. This bar is a unique and interesting place to visit.

 

More than a tavern, this establishment is a dance hall. Lights, mirror balls and powerful speakers create a perfect atmosphere to "shake your body" to the rhythm of this place's preferred music, "The Native Swing." This dance is authentically Costarrican and is a mix between the Swing brought in by the Jamaican people and the Cumbia. The owner Cupido, and his daughter Purdy, offer dance lessons 7pm-9pm Wednesday.

 

The tango has made its way up from South America and you can hear it played here, as in many other parts of Central America and Mexico. The atmosphere is pleasant and adult-oriented; good for a romantic evening or a prelude to some more fun. A suggestion is to dance the tango here only if you really know how. Otherwise, you may feel quite uncomfortable amid the more experienced dancers.

 

The power of the Beatles is really amazing; the owners of this bar are Canadian, but the famous English singers attract thousands of Costa Ricans. Karaoke is available on some nights—ask the waiter for a timetable. Drink your beer in a cheerful environment, where tourists and locals are brought together by shared appreciation of the Beatles.

 

Bongo's  Bar,  the  new  hotspot -  Sporting  a  tropical  rainforest-African jungle motif, Bongo’s Bar is  the newest  nightspot  in  El  Pueblo.
 

Expect a $5-6 cover charge on weekends, when they have live music. "Sabado de Safari," or Safari Saturday, is often the liveliest night, with free entry and drinks for the ladies until 10 PM. Closed on Sundays.

The party often lasts until dawn, though El Pueblo closes at 2 AM. (Other discos also party all night.)
 

The Blue Marlin Bar ....  is a place....  where you can watch a game...  and hang out...  with  the gringos, but  be  forewarned:   this  is  also  a  major  hangout...  for  prostitutes.

 

Our  Dance  Program....  is  a  very  exciting  venture...  as it
offers dance styles...  that are not currently on offer...  in the country;  Irish, contemporary,  jazz,  hip hop, break dance  and  workshops...  in  Capoeira, Flamenco....  and  more  planned.   The  Dance  of  the  Cultures!

Please  visit  our  Website  above,  if  interested.. 
in  our  Dance Program!

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