By Tai–

So you wanna party and go dancing…….

Part One: San Jose, Costa Rica

The name Costa Rica conjures lush mountains, white sand beaches, surfer-dream curls and jungle adventures – but if you’re coming to Costa Rica, more than likely you’ll be in San Jose for at east a day or two getting your bearings and planning your excursions.  San Jose – or Chepe, as it’s known throughout the country -  is a sprawling, bustling, active city, shabby at the center and confusing in its layout.  There are no street names, roads curve and go dead-end with no notice, and no one can give you any real directions.

What better place to go party??

Start your night at El Pueblo, just north of downtown – all the cab drivers know it well.  Designed to look like an old Spanish village, El Pueblo has a broad mix of bars, clubs and restaurants, scattered with the occasional trinket shop and local art gallery.  Some of the clubs offer rock music; some offer dance; they all promise a good time cozying up to sweaty, fun-loving locals.  Most places here serve reasonable food and lots of beer – an Imperial or Bavaria will set you back about $3, and a decent cocktail will be around $6.  Known amongst the locals as the place where tourists go, be careful to watch your pockets.  Varying hours; some places open as early as 10AM but the place really gets hopping from 9PM – 3AM.

Sand Live is a massive indoor/outdoor performance venue and bar, overflowing with Ticans and ex-pats coming to hear heavy metal and other serious rock music.  Located across from the San Pedro Mall, Sand has hosted the likes of Metallica and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as local, Central American and South American groups.  The ubiquitous Imperial will set you back $3; cover charge varies.

Cheek to jowl grinding not your thing?  Looking to pick up a hot, well-styled Tican or ex-pat, an elegant lounge downtown near the Sabana Park called Rapsodia, will hit high on your list.  Carefully pick a spot to scope the scene – the bustling main room on the first floor has a few semi-private spaces while offering a great view of the crowd; the second floor VIP area has an outdoor patio with a great street view so you can check out exactly who is entering, and the lush backyard is great for cuddling with your new friend, with cushy lounges spread about a bamboo-growers paradise.  Serving light food and well-made cocktails to Costa Rica’s young and upwardly mobile – a Bavaria will set you back $4, and and a Cosmo will run you $6, they have a rotating roster of talented local DJ’s spinning house, minimal techno and sometimes (unavoidably in Central America) reggaeton.  The address is listed as “Frente al HSBC Paseo Colon – In front of the Paseo Colon HSBC.  Hours: from 8PM – 2AM daily.

In addition, San Jose is full of clubs offering salsa and merengue; reggaeton; and just plain drinking.  Check out the week’s listings in the free publications: the Tico Times will give you all the local dirt in English, while La Nacion will deliver more information in spanish, including the latest on clubs, movie theaters and music.

Late night partying means early morning dining – a tough call in San Jose.  The street-food vendors usually wrap up by midnight, well before the serious reveler is ready to turn in.  There’s one great option, downtown by Sabana Park (and very close to Rapsodia): Soda Tapia, a 24-hour diner styled after classic American 1950’s roller-skate diners.  You won’t find any wheeled girls here, but the Tapia Gordito lives up to its name: a huge sub sandwich with beef, sliced ham, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, it’s 3 meals in one.

Not feeling adventurous?  Or more likely, craving a burrito?  There’s plenty of instantly-recognizable Taco Bell’s located throughout the city – and just like our North American counterparts, Ticans on a late night bender all seem to converge upon them around 3AM.  Nothing like Fiesta Fries and Taco Pizzas to mop up the morning hangover.

Happy partying!

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