Key Largo
Key Largo occupies a meticulously restored 1887 colonial mansion just off Parque Morazán in Barrio Amón, and the building is worth entering even before you order a drink. The carved wood ceilings and colonial architecture survived whatever the intervening century threw at them. The bar operates as a live Latin music venue every evening, with bands playing from 8 PM, and it connects to the Del Mar Restaurant next door, open 24 hours. The same group operates the Hotel Del Rey and the Blue Marlin Bar nearby.
What to Expect
Live Latin music in a genuinely remarkable colonial building. The crowd is international and ranges from curious tourists to regular expats. The music quality varies by night.
Lively, Latin, and housed in one of the more beautiful old buildings in central San José.
Live Latin music nightly: salsa, cumbia, bolero
No code
Visitors who want live music and historical architecture in the same venue, and anyone doing a Gringo Gulch evening.
Cards and cash (CRC and USD)
Price Range
Beer $3-5, cocktails $5-9
≈ €3-8 / CRC 1,600-4,700
Hours
Daily 8 PM to 2:30 AM
Insider Tip
The building itself is as much the attraction as the bar. Arrive at 8 PM when the bands start rather than later when the crowd thickens. The 24-hour Del Mar next door handles food at any hour.
Full Review
Key Largo occupies a restored 1887 colonial mansion near Parque Morazan in Barrio Amon, and the building is the first thing that hits you. Carved wood ceilings, colonial-era architectural details, and a sense of permanence that survives whatever the evening throws at it. Live Latin music starts at 8 PM nightly, with bands rotating through salsa, cumbia, and bolero sets on a small stage surrounded by tables.
The crowd is international and varied: tourists drawn by the building, expats who know the music schedule, and locals who come for the dancing. The same ownership group runs the Hotel Del Rey and Blue Marlin nearby, but Key Largo carries a different energy. The music is live and serious, the setting is genuinely beautiful, and the atmosphere rewards being present rather than performative.
Key Largo is the strongest argument for spending an evening in Gringo Gulch rather than Escalante. The colonial mansion gives it architectural credibility, the live music gives it cultural substance, and the 24-hour Del Mar restaurant next door handles food at any hour. No other venue in this part of the city combines history and live music this effectively.
Arrive at 8 PM when the bands start rather than later when the crowd thickens. The building itself is worth a careful look before settling into a table. The Del Mar next door solves the food question if you're hungry. Prices are reasonable for what you're getting.
The Neighborhood
Key Largo sits near Parque Morazan in Barrio Amon, one of San Jose's oldest residential neighborhoods. The restored colonial mansion makes it a cultural landmark in a district that's better known for its rougher edges.
Getting There
Near Parque Morazan in Barrio Amon, a 10-minute walk from the National Theatre. Uber from Barrio Escalante takes about 10 minutes.
Address
Calle 9, near Parque Morazan
Where to stay in San Jose
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Gringo Gulch
Blue Marlin Bar
The ground-floor bar inside Hotel Del Rey, open 24 hours. Draws a rotating cast of expats, fishermen passing through, and tourists, with live music several nights a month and sports on plasma screens.
Sportsmen's Lodge
Upscale sports bar set in four wings of a restored 1906 mansion. Multiple TV screens cover American sports events, and the elegant wood-paneled interior sets it apart from the rougher bars nearby.
Poas Bar
Recently revamped expat-owned bar and restaurant that survived the decline of the surrounding strip. Serves comfort food and cold beers to a loyal crowd of regulars and downtown workers.
Chubs Bar
One of the last standing bars on the original Gringo Gulch circuit, now among the most popular in the area for both locals and expats. Straightforward drinks, no pretense, open late.