The Tico Times’ Sports Bar Guide: Costa Rica’s bars offer taste of home

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.

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

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

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

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

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)