El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte (San José; [tel] 506/221-0327): This is where San José's young, restless, and beautiful congregate. From Wednesday through Saturday the place is jam-packed. Originally a gay and bohemian hangout, it is now decidedly yuppie. There's frequently live music here.

La Esmeralda (San José; [tel] 506/221-0530): This restaurant serves as a meeting place and central dispatch center for scores of local mariachi bands, some of which even print the restaurant's pay-phone number on their business cards. Hire your own combo for a song or two, or just enjoy the cacophony as the bands battle it out through the night.

San Pedro (San José): This is San José's university district, and at night its streets are filled with students strolling among a variety of bars and cafes. If you'd like to join them, keep in mind that La Villa ([tel] 506/225-9612) caters to artists and bohemians; Mosaikos ([tel] 506/280-9541) is popular with young Tico rockers; Omar Khayyam ([tel] 506/253-8455) is a great place to grab an outdoor table and watch the crowds walk by; and Pizza Caccio ([tel] 506/224-3261) seems to attract a good share of the U.S. students studying here. All of the spots listed above are located in a 3-block stretch that begins 200 meters east of the San Pedro Church and heads north. If you head straight 500 meters east from the church, you'll come to Jazz Café ([tel] 506/253-8933), which as its name indicates often features live jazz.

Mar y Sombra (Manuel Antonio; [tel] 506/777-0510): Located on the beach a couple of hundred yards from the national park entrance, this is the most happening spot in the Manuel Antonio area. There's a large, open-air dance floor and plenty of tables set in the sand. If the dancing gets too intense, you can always cool your feet in the ocean.

San Clemente Bar & Grill (Dominical; [tel] 506/787-0055): This is a quintessential surfers' joint, but whether you hang 10 or not, this is where you'll want to hang out in Dominical at night. The fresh seafood and Tex-Mex specialties are hearty, tasty, and inexpensive. And there are pool, Ping-Pong, and foosball tables, as well as televised sporting events and surf videos.

Johnny's Place (Puerto Viejo; no phone): Picture yourself sipping a cold beer at a candlelit table set in the sand with the Caribbean lapping at your feet. Could you ask for more? If so, a few steps away there's a steamy dance floor that lets loose to loud reggae.

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