Participants fete Design Festival in Escazú

Leafy branches bloom from the collar of a suit at Saúl Bistro in Escazú. The inventive display welcomed guests to an exclusive International Design Festival soiree, which took place Thursday night. The outdoor party was a mix of renowned designers and eager festivalgoers who finally had the chance to let their hair down after two full days of activities and workshops at the Antigua Aduana. Far from San José, Saúl served as the perfect setting for aesthetes: The bistro has only been open since December, but the owner, Saúl E. Méndez, is a Guatemalan fashion designer specializing in men’s formal wear. (His company entered the Costa Rican sartorial scene in 1995.) The eatery has been well received for being affordable but elegant. Such is the restaurant’s refinement that it was sometimes hard to tell where the two environments crossed over: When asked whether an abstract sculpture was created by one of the FID designers, a waiter smiled patiently and said, “No, señor. That is part of the restaurant’s permanent collection.” (Robert Isenberg/The Tico Times)