Must-see nightlife in Península de Nicoya

  • Banana Beach

    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…

  • Roca Mar

    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…

  • Drift Bar

    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…

  • Café Tico

    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…

  • Cerveceria Independiente

    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…

  • Sharky’s

    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…

  • La Selva Brewery

    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…

  • Chico's Bar

    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…

  • El Be!

    Playa Tamarindo

    Formerly Le Beach Club, this place has changed languages (and added an exclamation point!) but the cool vibe remains the same. Lounge on beach beds or…

  • L'Authentique

    Playa Sámara

    Step out of Latin America and into this lovely, French-owned wine bar and tapas bistro, where fabulous boards of imported cheeses and charcuterie pair…

  • La Perla

    Península de Nicoya

    You need to know La Perla, the landmark by which all directions are given. You might also want to experience its highly lauded Saturday night rib dinners…

  • Microbar

    Playa Sámara

    Not an inch of space is wasted in this smart little bar on the main road, which serves up 21 Costa Rican microbrews plus infused 'beertails' like the…

  • Flying Taco

    Playa Sámara

    A laid-back, Tex-Mex bar near the soccer field. It's open for lunch – and the grub is recommended – but it's more fun to come at night, when you can also…

  • Beach House

    Península de Nicoya

    It's hard to resist this colorful shack on the beach offering cold fruity cocktails and glorious sunset views. You'd expect seafood and pub fare, but…

  • Junquillal Eco Resort

    Península de Nicoya

    Apart from the beach, the best spot to appreciate Junquillal's explosive sunsets is this charming, second-story hotel bar. Grab a beer or a cocktail, but…

  • Nativo Sports Bar

    Mal País & Santa Teresa

    Fans above (to cool the place), fanaticos below, watching every manner of sport on the four big screens. Baseball, hockey, and of course fútbol are all on…

  • Pablito's

    Playa Sámara

    One of the last Tico bars left, Pablito and family have a simple outdoor space, a bit of music and the occasional barnyard animal wandering through. Nice…

  • Volcano Brewing Company

    Playa Tamarindo

    Beer on the beach is never a bad thing, and when it's Tico home brew, even better. The 15 varieties of cerveza are a bit pricey, but consider the location…

  • Bar Arriba

    Playa Sámara

    The requisite sports bar in this surf town is located on a balcony overlooking the main drag. The place shows international sports on its flat screens, so…

  • Kike's Place

    Península de Nicoya

    There's very little nightlife on the northern end of Playa Grande, but there is Kike's. Order the local catch of the day from the blackboard until 9:30pm,…

  • Aqua Disco

    Playa Tamarindo

    Aqua Disco is a proper nightclub with a thumping dance floor and a breezy deck that's critical for the cool-down. Come early for free drinks (with a small…

  • Eat@Joe's

    Playa Tamarindo

    An old standby for snacks and drinks, this surf camp offers filling breakfasts, famously huge (and aptly named) nachos and cold beers. Note the emphasis…

  • La Lora Amarilla

    Mal País & Santa Teresa

    There are only four words you need to know: Thursday night reggae party. Come to this enormous concrete hangar – dive bar and dance club in one – to party…

  • Bar Olas

    Playa Sámara

    If you'd like to settle in for an evening of beers with the locals, check out Bar Olas on the north end of the beach. This archetypal seafront dive makes…

  • Pacífico Bar

    Playa Tamarindo

    This place thinks it's a dance club, but it's really more of a tropical dive bar, with occasional live bands and DJs. And that's OK. Better in fact. Come…