Chasing Chiliguaro

One woman's quest to find the perfect shot.

Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to Dawna Knapp, a fellow traveler and passionate member of our community. Dawna has embarked on a unique journey that many of us can only dream of - a quest for the best chiliguaro in Costa Rica! 🍹

I love chiliguaro. You could say I’m a fanatic. If you’ve got it, I want it. But not all chiliguaros are created equal. I have gone in search of the best chiliguaro in Costa Rica, and here’s a little taste of my tour.

First, what is chiliguaro, you ask? It’s kind of like bloody mary mix, but instead of vodka, it’s made with guaro, which is a type of alcohol made out of sugar cane. It’s kind of like clear rum and it’s very popular in Costa Rica. Hot take: guaro alone tastes like rubbing alcohol, but mixed, the bitter flavor almost disappears and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

My chiliguaro challenge includes asking any bartender I meet if they serve chiliguaro, and if they do, I ask for two, one for me and one for my sweetie. I have a loose points system, and my first test is visual: what does it look like? Is it filled to the brim? Does it have salt on the rim? Does it look textured or smooth? Is it bright red or a healthy reddish orange? These characteristics factor into my decision making.

Next, I take a little sip just to taste. How spicy is it? Is it sweet? Is that because they used Kern’s ketchup (yuck!) or is it because it’s a fun flavor like passionfruit (yum!)? Are there other flavors besides tomato, like pepper, celery, or Lizano (a Costa Rican vegetable-based sauce)?

Then I usually take it down in one or two healthy shots with a warm fuzzy smile on my face.

Here are some of my most recent favorite places that serve chiliguaro in the San Jose area, in no particular order:

Jardín de Lolita

The Jardín de Lolita is like a garden of little restaurants with great outdoor seating and the chiliguaro at the bar is pretty good! It has Tajín on the rim, which is a spicy substitute to a salt rim. The bar also serves a delicious cas cocktail 2X1!

Antología

Antología is a funky step back in time. They serve typical food, but the décor is what makes the place stand out. They have an old Chevy truck and a Cadillac which doubles as the dj booth. The chiliguaro is just ok, but the vibe is fun.

Área City

Área City is my favorite dive bar in San Jose. They play 80s music on the weekends and the crowd is young and emo. It’s right next door to Bahamas, which makes chiliguaro that is sold in supermarkets! The chiliguaro is alright, no salt rim but filled to the brim.

El Más Diverso

El Más Diverso is my favorite gay bar, and it’s in my neighborhood! But the best part is the different flavors of chiliguaro. The traditional chiliguaro is great, but they also have passionfruit, mango, and other flavors. My favorite is the passionfruit because it’s bittersweet. The food is just ok but the staff is lovely and they have weekly live shows.

Santa Margarita

Santa Margarita is a new restaurant in Santa Ana, near Highway 17, and while they specialize in margaritas, obviously, their chiliguaro is high on my list. The presentation is the best, with salt on the rim AND Tajín!

Honorable mentions: Taco Taco - by far the best chiliguaro in the country (disclaimer: the owner, Shannon Smith, is a good friend of mine, but the chiliguaro is legitimately delicious), Bahamas, next door to Área City (they actually make chiliguaro to sell in supermarkets and it’s really good!), and República has a pub chain vibe, craft beer and good food (solid chiliguaro).

You can make chiliguaro at home! Here’s a good recipe, but you can make it however you like!