Preview: A 'Surf Bar' with some serious Costa Rican style
A 'Surf Bar' with some serious Costa Rican style
By Jack Hunter
Special to The Post and Courier
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Surf Bar
JACK HUNTER
STAFF
Surf Bar
Surf Bar
Address: 103 West Cooper St., Folly Beach.
Phone: 588-2009.
Parking: Can be tough on Folly during a summer weekend. But if you don't mind walking, there's always a spot.
Events: Occasional live music.
Smoking: The entire bar is nonsmoking.
Service: Good and friendly.
Ambience: Folly Beach meets Costa Rica.
Bathrooms: Gender specific and clean.
Happy Hour: 4 to 7 p.m., weekdays.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
Beverage prices: $3 domestic. $4 imports. $4.25 well brand.
Along with being the self-described "Edge of America," Folly Beach could also be described as "Beachtown, USA," where folks from every economic bracket, social tier and cultural background converge on the city every summer for some all-American fun.
Unlike some other beaches, it doesn't necessarily cost a fortune or involve much planning to have a good time in the restaurants and bars on Folly. And part of its charm is the sum of its choices; many of which are quite eclectic.
A good example would be Surf Bar, one of Folly's newest bars. Surf Bar is the kind of place one might expect to encounter on an American beach, or the Costa Rican shore.
One local Web site dedicated to all things eclectic (www.onlyincharleston.com) heralded Charleston's newest Costa Rican connection: "For a taste of Costa Rica right here at home, head out to Folly Beach and try out Surf Bar. ... You will truly experience authentic Costa Rican flavor (plantains and all), while the design of the restaurant and outdoor patio mirror Tico construction down to the rough hewn column supports."
Curiously, Surf Bar could be described as both quaint and lively, as it is small in size but large in character. Slightly off the beaten path of Folly's main strip, Center Street, Surf Bar features both indoor and outdoor seating with huge wooden tables, and is an ideal place for people-watching. The decor is as eclectic as the Costa Rican restaurant itself, where everything from license plates to white Christmas lights add to the bar's uniqueness.
It should be noted that in light of the many smoking ban controversies in the Lowcountry, Surf Bar has always been nonsmoking as a matter of choice.
The appeal of a nonsmoking environment, both indoors and on Surf Bar's outdoor patio, is an undeniable factor in the bar's popularity, as is the house specialty, "Guaro," a Costa Rican liquor.
This summer, catch a wave and ride it to Surf Bar for a taste of Costa Rica and a healthy dose of Folly fun.
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