Islita Drinks La Playa
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Posted by the owner · reviewed before publishing · times are Costa Rica local
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A beachside cocktail bar in Puntarenas with a nice aesthetic and a menu leaning on homemade, distinctly Costa Rican flavors — the hot sauce and local touches earn fans. Reviews on the drinks themselves are uneven, with some finding them heavy on ice and light on liquor, so it's the setting and the atmosphere that most reliably deliver.
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C. 29 Av 04, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Carmen, 6011, Costa Rica
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The place had a nice atmosphere, a pretty aesthetic, and a great variety of items on the menu. Unfortunately, the final product I received wasn't the best. I ordered a spicy tamarind, a Cuba Libre, and an Aperol (I didn't take a picture since I ordered it last). They had good presentation, but unfortunately, the flavor wasn't what I expected. The Cuba Libre just tasted like Coke with ice, no alcohol at all. The spicy tamarind wasn't too bad, but you couldn't taste the alcohol; it was more like tamarind juice with a bit of acidity. The edges of the Aperol also had some chamoy spilled outside the salt ring, as if by accident. I don't know. I also noticed there was more ice than actual product. The Aperol wasn't bad at all, but like the others, you couldn't taste the alcohol, and there was a lot of ice. (To clarify, I don't ask for the whole bottle, but I was with some friends who can't tolerate alcohol, and they were the same.) They complained about not tasting it in one drink, and they ordered other drinks, some of which had almost no flavor, while others had a very faint taste. The thing is, it seems they should contain liquor since they're cocktails, right? I ordered them to go, but they were given to me as if they were for consumption. It's very disappointing to want to go out and have things rushed because of the rush or a high volume of orders, instead of the desired service. I know it's a good place in many ways, but I would suggest they improve the ordering process and the overall service. Aside from that, everything was fine: clean place, pleasant atmosphere, average prices depending on what you order, music a little loud but nothing out of place, a few minor issues with the card reader, but everything was okay.
It's really delicious, with a unique, homemade, and very Costa Rican flavor. The hot sauce 🌶️ is also very tasty and has a moderate heat. Highly recommended!!!
Terrible service and awful customer service... The order was poorly prepared, they gave it to us as a takeaway when it was meant to be eaten in, and it was cold... First and last time 🤦🏻🙅🏻
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