Bar La Playa in San Pedro
Live sports events in English like the recent NHL and NBA playoffs, fill four big TV screens at Bar La Playa, San Pedro’s newest bar and restaurant. Other sports events on the big screens are NFL, English Premiership and Champions League.
As a result, La Playa, which opened in May of 2009, has quickly become the east side’s top sports bar. A sign outside lists games schedule for the day. "And with Sky TV, we can show just about any event that customers want," says Steve, who with Nick (also from the U. K.) runs La Playa.
Daily drinks specials go hand in glove with sports; so does beer. Every day, a liter of beer goes for Q20, a small one for Q10.La Playa is also one of the few bars in town serving cubezetas, or buckets of six regular beers, for Q50.
The expansive lawn stretches down to the water, and at times you almost feel as if you’re at a picnic. Inside, the long bar gets a near-constant cool breeze through a door facing the lake.
Budget Breakfast
With a "bottomless pot" of coffee for Q10, or a pot of tea (PG Tips and Earl Grey, among others), La Playa makes a fine spot for breakfast while watching English-language CNN or Fox News from 8 AM-10 AM. It's economical, too: a three-egg omelet costs only Q15. Breakfast burritos make another big meal for those on a small budget.
British Fare
Decidedly British fare distinguishes dining at La Playa. The English Steak and Onion Sandwich with a spicy English mustard on home-made bread or baguette made me think of country-fried steak from the southwestern USA and Texas (the garlic and mustard gave it an edge, though). Another British sandwich, the Roast Chicken with Sage Stuffing is topped onion and gravy. Hamburgers, toasties and different sandwiches round out the lunch menu.
For dinner, you'll find Pollo Milanese, Azteca Soup, fresh fish and other Guatemalan specialties, plus curry and various vegetarian dishes. If drinking more than eating, build your own nachos, scarf down some chicken wings.
Poker, Wi-Fi
La Playa hosts a Poker Tournament every Friday at 2 PM. Wi-Fi is available indoors and out. More improvements are on the way, including a pool table and darts. Plans are underway to utilize the spacious lawn for cultural happenings such as to showcase the work of local weavers and artisans. Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ already takes place there monthly.
The bar and lawn are available for private bookings. La Playa also rents out the four rooms on the second floor, which is a convenient location for a short- or long-term stay.
With plenty of space, a pleasant setting and a courteous and prompt staff, Bar La Playa, the last bar before the Santiago dock, s a welcome addition to the San Pedro scene. It’s a fun place for people-watching as the parade winds past to and from the dock and the lakeside path that leads all the way into the zona viva.