www.CostaRicaTicas.com

You may have noticed all the construction going on for quite a while. This latest version hs REMOVED the "RAIL" I venture to say that most members have experienced the thrill of having a beer or something to eat at the rail while watching the chicas go by. It appears that it will be closed in with a couple of retail stores. Boy there is no end to the lengths they will go to make the place "unmongerable" (my word)

ya, but you will be able to activate you Claro account there

... but they have the best mango juice in San Jose...

I can remember staying at the Presidente when they were building the rail and having the jackhammer wake me up every morning at 8am. I believe it took about a year to complete it. But Presidente management dosn't make an extra income from the rail except for maybe selling a cup of coffee to some cheap monger.

I've posted about the Presidente ad nauseum and it seems there are no lengths that they will not go to to Phuck up a place that a few years ago was my favorite place to stay in San Jose.

Well, good luck to them - I'd love to really know what their occupancy is since they instituted their many "changes"

The Presidente does not need the mongers to survive. They have a great hotel in a super location. They are other people in the world besides the monger. The retail space is a very good business move. The rents on Central Avenue are some of the highest in Costa Rica. The money they make from that space will be far greater than what they were making from the restaurant. Also no labor costs or expenses to run a restaurant. Just sit back and collect the rent. Like it or not its a great business move.

A little lost. Hasn't the restaurant been closed for a year or so now?

The News café was my very first real-time introduction to CRT. Traveling to CR on my first trip with no wingman and a pocket full of coins I knew if I wanted to meet someone that could lead me to green pasture it would be sitting somewhere in the News café. And this was truth spoken that first morning when I plated up my eggs and fresh fruit and found a seat on the infamous rail…

The café was busy but had a vibe that was hard to describe other than maybe a sense of euphoric exhaustion from the tables that were filled with guys downloading previous nights escapades and comparing what was, could have been, or should be. Sure there were the locals that were mixed among the brotherhood that if they knew what “was” didn’t have much care except for the fresh food offerings that were abundant and price within reason.

Here I was, at the center of the storm, a whirlwind of activity, ladies marching up and down that avenue, how could anyone eat a hot meal for every bite there would be a visual of want in heals and skin tight (or were they painted) jeans walking the walk while heads would follow… I knew that I had made the right choice to be at the right place, and it was here at the Hotel Presidente News Café that morning sitting on the rail that I had the great fortune to meet a few guys that only three words opened the door for what has now been many of years of friendship and miles traveled.

The tables were all full except for my table against the rail with a couple of open seats. I had just sat down and began to digest all that was there and a couple of guys asked if they could take a seat. I was all too happy to have the company and besides both of these guys looked harmless with their happy go strides and smiles from ear to ear… Now reflecting back most of the guys in that place always had a big tanker of a smile…. After a brief minute of silence I recited those words of wisdom… Are You CRT? …

As it came to be, the guys that I met that very first morning sitting at my table were a couple of our most senior members Witling, AdminOne, and later Vegas Bob joined in. I could think of no better wingmen to have on a maiden journey into what land of pleasure that brings all of us to have the smiles and memories of good times and great lasting friendships…

The fellowship continues and is now inspired by other destinations and meeting points. My last trip to CR was spent at the Sportsman Lodge and while there was no rail to be seen there was a kindred spirit that surrounds that location that reminded me of some of the pleasures of past. Maybe a post trip report is in order but the movie has already been made (Think Hangover ).

RIP News Café … and Pura Vida to us ALL!

JB

For a minute I thought the OP was going to tell us they were converting it to a Vegan restaurant.

You know, one of those places that everyone that eats there has really skanky breath.

yes same as what Johnnie Black said.

the cafe and rail was my first day in CR in 2004

good memories.

Fiedler

Good luck to them. Never enjoyed a place where everyone working there has a big stick up their ass.

I know I'm probably alone on this but I liked the spot the best some 11-12 years ago when I first started eating there and it was not really a monger spot.

I used to always go to CR by myself and, while at the News Cafe, always met up with a wingman or someone to hang out with. My first afternoon there, I met a guy who showed me the ropes in Jaco and some great spots in San Jose as well. That was 6 years ago and we still keep in touch. Too bad about the rail; it brings back great memories.