The Backyard

Take a spectacular sunset, throw in a sexy clientele, live music on the beach, finely mixed cocktails, and a reliable party-food menu, and you have The Backyard: one of the Pacific Coast’s better spots for a beach fiesta. The kitchen makes a surprisingly good approximation of New York–style pizza for this far south of the Mason-Dixon. The music is upbeat and danceable, from reggae to DJ sets, while the attire is Costa Rica casual—meaning swimsuits and flip-flops are okay.