Nightlife!

Handsome ticos and friendly chicas, casinos and lush tropical surroundings! Could a vacationer ask for more?

There are numerous bars around San José, with 3 major 'nightlife centers':
A street known as the Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro near the University of Costa Rica, with a couple of bars and discos where students like to hang out, thus offering 'reasonable' prices.

A group of discos in Escazu with more elevated prices.
Centro Comercial "El Pueblo" which resembles an old, colonial-style town with little alleys and many discos and bars.

The Calle de la Amargura (bitterness street) is a small 200 meters long street located in San Pedro, one of the most populated zones in San Jose, Costa Rica. ...

The University of Costa Rica (in Spanish, Universidad de Costa Rica, abbreviated UCR) is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. ... Escazú is a city in Costa Rica, bordering the capital San José. The city currently has over 30,000 inhabitants and covers roughly 13 square miles of land. ... 

-Studio 2000 (506) 233-3814
-El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte- popular loud disco for young Ticos
-Planet Mall (506) 280-4693
-Coco Loco (506) 2228782
-Sand Rock Bar- loud rock
-La Plaza- large dancefloor for top 40
-Salsa 54 (506) 233-3814
-Jazz Café
-Infinito- most popular disco
-Meridiano al Este
-Shakespeare Bar
-El Tobogán
-Key Largo
-Mosaikos
-Terra U
-El Tunel de Tiempo
-Bar Morazán
-Vértigo
-Dynasty & Partenon
-El Observatorio
-Risa's
Okey

Café 83 Sur


Manuel Antonio Nightlife
Discos are becoming almost as common in Manuel Antonio as capuchin monkeys. Night owls and dancing fools have lots of choices here. Down near the beach, folks get going at the restaurant Mar y Sombra (tel. 777-0510). This is my favorite spot -- you can walk off the dance floor and right out onto the beach, and there's usually no cover. For real late-night action, the local favorite appears to be the Arco Iris, which is located just before the bridge heading into town. Admission is usually around $2.50.
The bars at the Barba Roja restaurant and the Hotel Sí Como No are good places to hang out and meet people in the evenings. You can also check out the Vela-Bar, which seems to be popular with gay men. Back in Quepos, El Banco Bar, Mar y Blues, Sargento Garcia's, Wacky Wanda's, and the Fish Head Bar at El Gran Escape are the most popular gringo hangouts.
If you enjoy gaming tables, the Hotel Kamuk in Quepos and the Hotel El Byblos on the road to Manuel Antonio both have small casinos and will even foot your cab bill if you try your luck and lay down your money.
If you want to see a flick, check what's playing at Hotel Sí Como No's little theater, although you have to eat at the restaurant or spend a minimum at the bar to earn admission.

Monteverde Nightlife
The most popular after-dark activities in Monteverde are night hikes in one of the reserves and a natural-history slide show. However, if you want a taste of the local party scene, head to La Taberna, which is just outside of downtown Santa Elena before the Serpentarium. This place attracts a mix of locals and tourists, cranks its music loud, and often gets people dancing. Alternatively, the Flor de Vida and Moon Shiva sometimes feature live music or open-mic jam sessions.
You'll certainly want to check to see if there's any live music or other performance at the new Monteverde Amphitheater, a beautiful open-air performance space, located up a steep driveway across from CASEM. However, be forewarned: The concrete seats here are uncomfortable, so try to bring something soft to sit on.

Playa del Jaco Nightlife
Playa de Jacó is the central Pacific's party town. There are tons of bars and several discos. As with bar popularity everywhere things change. La Central is only open on weekends now and about to be bulldozed for condos, according to Nathon Dees at Nathons Hostel on Central.

"Onix is out of business too, It's the Jungle bar now. Filthy McNasty's is now owned by the Monkey Bar people and is probably the best party in Jaco. The El Galleon mall has Nacho Daddy's Disco that stays open late and the Plankton Lounge. Poncho Villas is still open all night and has a tit bar upstairs called Divas. But I'm sorry to say the Disco Is Dead. This Semana Santos might be the last big party the La Central might ever see. The Beatles and the Bruja are still rocken," Nathon Dees @ Nathon's Hostel wrote.