The Bar

The bar / restaurant at our Costa Rica lodge is called Mirador Quetzal and has seen a fair amount of action. One only needs to flick through the stacks of photographs featuring the bar as a backdrop, to see how popular our in-house watering hole is with our guests.

As you wander through Cost Rica villas on a San José tour you’ll notice the Ticos  sipping  beverages that may seem a bit different to what you’re used to. Let’s have a quick rundown of the drinks favoured by the local Costa Ricans:

• Refrescos is a refreshing drink made from fruit and ice. They are sold at most corner stores and restaurants.

• Horchata, on the other hand is more suitable for colder days. This sweet and spicy beverage is prepared from ground rice and cinnamon.

• Agua dulce, which translates to ‘sweet water’, is just what it says it is  water sweetened with cane sugar. In a hot county like Costa Rica, this drink is just the ticket to cure the lethargy that can be a result of prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

• Guaro, is the local spirit of choice. This fiery number is sugarcane liquor that is usually served as a shot, or is the main ingredient of a number of cocktails.

• Beer. Yes, the worldwide favourite is prevalent in Costa Rica as well. The country has two main breweries, namely Bavaria and Imperial, which produce crisp lager-style beers that provide the perfect way to cool down in the balmy weather.

• Wine is available but not very popular among the Ticos, so it is usually imported and quite expensive.

• Coffee. Being the country’s second largest export product, coffee is of course a very important part of the Costa Rican lifestyle. Coffee plantations produce rich, robust blends that normally rule the roost but you might get a few funny looks if you attempt to temper it with milk or sugar!

So, now you know what to order if you’re trying to blend in. All that’s left is to sit back, relax and enjoy your stay at your Poas accommodation.