Thanks to the popularity of North American-style sports bars among Costa Ricans – and a solid Gringo expat population – a juicy burger, an ice-cold beer and TV screens showing your favorite games are easy to find in the capital.
Mac Daddy: Patrons can shoot a game of pool at Mac’s American Bar in Sabana Sur.
Jessica Phelps
And it’s not just Gringos who will fill the bars. Expect to see some Ticos in the crowd as well.
When North American-style sports bars first opened in Costa Rica, there were only Gringos hunched over beer bottles watching top teams on televisions overhead, said Eddy Barrientos, manager of Mac’s American Bar in the west-side Sabana Sur neighborhood. But sports bar popularity has gradually caught on among the Costa Rican crowd.
“The American population is growing and they are bringing their culture here,” Barrientos said. “But Ticos are also becoming interested in sports bars.”
The former Tiny’s Tropical Bar on Avenida Central is said to have been the first sports bar in Costa Rica. It was opened by a former Michigan football player in the 1980s and closed in 2003 due to the owner’s failing health.
Dozens of others followed on its heels, including Mac’s, Time Out Tavern, Henry’s Beach Café and Hippos.
So if you want to head out for burgers and beers this weekend try the following places:
TICO TIMES BAR GUIDE TO U.S.-STYLE SPORTS BARS
Time Out Tavern
Time for time Out: Time Out Tavern, a popular expat hangout in Escazú.
Alberto Font
Address: 300 m south of the Costa Rica Country Club, Escazú
Contact: 2588-2622, www.facebook.com/timeouttavern
Price of a burger: ₡4,900-5,900 ($9.80-12)
Price of a beer: ₡1,500-3,000 ($3-6)
Hooters Costa Rica
What a Hoot: Hooters has three locations in the Central Valley, in Heredia and Escazú on the west side and in San Pedro to the east. A new location will open by the end of this year in Cartago, east of San José.
Francesco Vicenzi | Tico Times
Address: Plaza Itskatzú, across from Multiplaza Escazú; and across from the UCR Faculty of Law, San Pedro
Contact: 2588-2340 (Escazú); 2234-0317 (San Pedro), www.hooters.co.cr
Price of a burger: ₡4,900-6,600 ($9.80-13)
Price of a beer: ₡2,000 ($4)
Henry’s Beach Café
Address: 400 m north of Fischel, Guachipelín de Escazú
Contact: 2289-6239, www.henrysbeachcafe.com
Price of a burger: ₡4,500 ($9)
Price of a beer: ₡1,900 ($3.80)
Hippos Grill & Tavern
Address: 700 m south of Multiplaza rotary, Escazú
Contact: 2288-1534, www.zonahippos.com
Price of a burger: ₡6,900 ($14)
Price of a beer: ₡1,668 ($3.30)
Goool!!! Sports Bar
Goool!!! Sports bar in Rohrmoser.
Jessica Phelps
Address: 150 m west of Channel 7, Rohrmoser
Contact: 2290-0216, www.gooolsportsbar.com
Price of a burger: ₡3,000 ($6)
Price of a beer: ₡1,500 ($3)
Mac’s American Bar
Tasty wings at Mac’s American Bar.
Jessica Phelps
Address: 75 m east of the Contraloría, Sabana Sur
Contact: 2231-3145, www.macsamericanbar.com
Price of a burger: ₡3,500 ($7)
Price of a beer: ₡1,100-1,300 ($2.20-2.60)
Chubbs Bar
Address: 50 m north of the Del Rey, downtown San José
Contact: 2222-0835, www.chubbsbar.com
Price of a burger: ₡3,000 ($6)
Price of a beer: ₡1,200 ($2.40)
Casino Club Colonial
Address: Av. 1, Ca. 9/11, downtown San José
Contact: 2258-2807, www.casinoclubcolonial.com
Price of a burger: ₡4,995 ($10)
Price of a beer: ₡1,300 ($2.60)
Sportsmens Lodge
Address: 200 m west of Calderón Guardia Hospital, Ca. 13, Av. 9/11, Barrio Otoya, San José
Contact: 2221-2533, www.sportsmenscr.com
Price of a burger: ₡3,500 ($7)
Price of a beer: ₡1,100 ($2.20)
