66 Best Bars in Costa Rica

There's no mistaking when the party is on at Johnny’s Place, as the music blasts onto the beachfront outside the bar and the crowd dances along to reggae or Latin beats. The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists out for a good time, although some nights the party can take a while to get going.

An LGBTQ+ crowd frequents La Avispa, which has two dance floors with videos and karaoke, as well as a quieter upstairs bar with pool tables. The last Friday of each month is ladies' night. The neighborhood between downtown and the bar is sketchy; take a taxi.

The cellar tavern beneath Le Monastère restaurant is a great place to stop for a drink before dinner, or stay on and while the evening away. You can dance to live music on Thursday through Saturday nights.

Sip an exotic tropical cocktail or munch on hummus and pita bread while watching the sun set at this lovely Mediterranean restaurant and bar, which has settees and rattan chairs set out on the sand, as well as seats in the chic new indoor lounge. You'll most likely need a reservation for sunset.

This stylish bar serves good cocktails in a sleek, modern setting with indoor and outdoor seating. DJs take over after 9 on weekend nights.

This La Fortuna hot spot has local artisan and imported beers plus plenty of cocktails to get you in the mood for live music every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 to 10. Lava Lounge owner Scott Alan runs a dog rescue at this pooch-friendly establishment, so you'll likely have desperate-looking dogs underfoot, telepathically begging you to take them home. Donations to the cause are always appreciated.

This formerly boisterous bar has gotten an upgrade in service and a new, friendlier feel.

Many Costa Ricans learn to merengue, rumba, mambo, cha-cha, and swing (called cumbia elsewhere) at a young age. Play catch-up at dance school Merecumbé, which has 16 branches around Costa Rica. With a few days' notice you can arrange a private lesson with an English-speaking instructor. An hour or two is all you need to grasp the fundamentals of merengue and bolero (what Costa Ricans call the rumba), both of which are easy to master and work with the pop music you're likely to hear back home.

This tiny boîte of a bar is the coolest place in town, with an Escher-inspired tile floor and hip lighting. Bellying up to the bar is a pleasure; in fact, practically the entire space is given over to a handsome bar with an old-fashioned bar rail to lean on. A cool soundtrack accompanies your beer tasting. You can try a sample of any of the 16 Costa Rican craft microbrews on tap. Once you find your favorite, a 12-ounce cold brew costs around $6. A few high tables spill out onto the street, surrounded by groups of happy beer drinkers. Happy Hour runs 2–6, boasting two drinks for $12. 

Follow the “Whole Foods” logo to this food market–meets–bakery–meets wine bar where you can catch live music on Fridays from 7 to 9:30 pm. Mix and mingle with a cocktail, glass of wine, or even liquor from the attached market. Happy hour is daily 5–7 pm. It’s a pricey spot, but hey, you’re in paradise.

One of the coolest bars in Uvita was appropriately birthed out of conversation and cocktails among friends. That 2017 discussion of “what if” popped the cork on a jungle wine bar that brings sushi, charcuterie, and over 40 bottles from around the globe to your table. Not sure what to order? Just ask Casey, the owner and certified sommelier to find the perfect blend for your palate. If you fall in love with a particular glass, you can buy a bottle from their wine shop.

Sunsets, with occasional live music, are the main events in the evening on Playa Pelada, and both locals and tourists gather to watch it here at this beach shack and bar with the best view.

This is a good choice for a cocktail, after-dinner drinks, or a late-night meal. It has a big bar in back, pool tables, and DJs and dancing on weekends.

Tuesday night there's a barbecue with tiki torches, a bonfire, and tables right on the beach. Come at 5:30 to watch the sunset; it's a good idea to reserve ahead.

Sink into a comfortable chair at this chic poolside lounge on Playa Langosta to watch the sunset over the Pacific and listen to live music under the stars (Tuesday 7 to 9 pm), or while the night away with specialty cocktails and sunset happy hour.

A great cocktail selection with very smooth gin and tonics is yours at this unassuming place in downtown Escazú. Occasional live music is on the schedule, too.

In a land of Imperial, it's nice to find good beer. The friendly staff at this independent brewery serve up a tasty variety of stouts, IPAs, sours, lagers, and even root beer. They're conveniently located next to a beer garden of sorts, an outdoor food court with lots of options from burgers to pizza. Take a load off and sip a cold flight. There's live music every Friday at 7 and other events like trivia and bingo other nights.

In high season, this beachfront restaurant-lounge in Santa Teresa is a fixture on the nightlife scene, with "SoundLab" Tuesday and Saturday, featuring international live and DJ music, from 4 to 11 pm. Bonfires, and torch-fire shows add to the excitement. The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists.

In the center of town on the corner of the parquecito, this colorful open-air restaurant serving a full Caribbean menu and tropical cocktails spills out into the park and creates a lively community atmosphere, especially during the live calypso on Sunday nights and the roots reggae DJ on Thursdays. The menu also offers vegetarian options and bright, fruity cocktails that remind you that you’re in the tropics.

Quieter than Coco's across the street (although if Coco's is hosting live music, you'll hear it from here, too), Ricky's is a good place to kick back with a beer and watch the passing parade on the main street. (The food here is nothing special, though.) It's "Ricky's" or "Rikki's," depending on which sign you look at.

This is the biggest, most popular sports bar in town, with huge TV screens showing up to six games at once. After the game, both floors play extremely loud music for dancing. There's live music on Monday, karaoke on Tuesday, and ladies' night Saturday. If sports aren't your thing, the bar food is good. The action starts at 11:30 am and goes to 2:30 am.

You can hear live music many Saturday evenings at this organic-food restaurant.

This low-key, mostly local place serves 30 types of beer—domestic and imported—with the requisite selection of chicken wings, nachos, and other appetizers, along with sporting events—mostly soccer—on the big-screen TV.