Bar Cuartel, San Jose. It Never Gets Old.

Written by Cailey Halloran

It had been a few years since I last visited Costa Rica. While I did remember that the nightlife here changes as quickly as Janet Jackson’s waistline, what with new bars constantly popping up, changing name, or closing down, I mistakenly asked my friends what we should do on Monday night. To my question I received a semi-indignant eye-brow raised reply of, “El Quartel.” “Of course!” I laughed at my obvious stupidity.

This haven, whose full name is Bar Cuartel de la Boca del Monte is an ever-fixed mark in Barrio La California, San Jose. Throughout the years of rabble-rousing here, Cuartel has come to be referred to by myself and those I know by such nomenclature as: Cuar-tell is like it is, Cuartsky, Cuartellis and Cuar-tell it like is isn’t.

But all jokes aside, there is no other bar in the world, that I have thus been to and others will surely attest, that resembles Cuartel. Picture this: dark lights, three different levels each replete with its own bar, two tabled areas (for dining or drinking and I should mention the food is surprisingly good), a dance floor with live music and a smaller dance floor with dj jams pumping. The interior is brick and wood, maze-like in appearance, spacious in parts yet intimate in others. The eclectic clientele ranges from foreigners to locals, from your twenty-something to forty-something. The atmosphere is one of mingling and meeting, dancing and drinking, and over all gaiety. Latin music fills the air punctuated by American and European dance classics. In not so many words: the joint is happening. My only concern for foreigners, particularly man-folk, is that some of the women in this bar may be a little “too” beautiful, in which case there might be a bill in the morning. Either way, enjoy!

Costa Rica Nightlife — Monday night at El Cuartel

Cuartel is open generally from 4 pm to 2 am M-F. Monday nights are the most popular night, however some weekends live music shows also take place.

Phone: 506 221 0327

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Cailey has lived and worked in Costa Rica periodically throughout the last decade after attending Country Day School in 1998. She currently contributes and helps maintain the content of:
www.vacationscostarica.com

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