Nowhere else in Puerto Viejo de Limon, Costa Rica, do they offer quite as many incentives to stay up late as Hot Rocks does.
A casual, unpretentious vibe welcomes all walks of life at this open-air space, and it’s a fine place to unwind to the sounds of reggae, rock, calypso and salsa. A cool set of swings offers an excellent vantage point of the stage and the street.
And they keep things interesting, with special events almost every night of the week.
A diva rocks the bass — Photo courtesy of Greg Younger
Sundays kick off at 7 p.m. with a live Calypso band, followed by free salsa lessons at 8 p.m. The fun continues with a live salsa set from the Caribbean Kings of Limon at 9:30 p.m.
Monday is movie night, mixed with reggae music; it's ideal for relaxing and relishing refreshing cocktails starting at happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesdays are home to Hot Rocks' Open Jam, when any number of talented musical acts may take the stage. This is a great opportunity to discover local talent and listen to unexpected sounds from around the globe.
Thursday at Hot Rocks is Diva Night. To make sure everybody arrives safely, there's a free shuttle running from various points along the coast.
Enjoy drink specials, discounted dishes such as a tasty quiche Lorraine and live music from the likes of Tracy & Bad Monkey – a local favorite that plays a heady blend of rock, blues and soul.
Friday is karaoke night. Starting at 8 p.m., folks from all over line up to belt out unique renditions in a variety of languages. Come hear Prince's "Purple Rain" in Spanish, or grab the mike and surprise yourself with what you're capable of.
Be reassured by this axiom: What happens in Puerto Viejo stays in Puerto Viejo.
New this summer, Hot Rocks is expanding its horizons with the addition of free T-shirt workshops, co-hosted by Miau, a local shop that offers clothes made in Puerto Viejo. Guests are invited to bring an old T-shirt and learn how to craftily transform it into a cool new one or repurpose it into a handy bag.
Finding Hot Rocks is easy; it’s located smack dab in the center of Puerto Viejo, where the main road converges at the edge of the sea. By day, the bar and stage are readily visible from the street, and by night, you can hear it from a ways away.
Hot Rocks is one place that’s hard to miss, and even harder to forget.