Entertainment in The Southwest
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A
Salfari
This little gem of a pub has friendly service, a loyal local crowd, and lively games of poker and cacho usually going on. Try their tasty but potent homemade fruit liqueurs.
reviewed
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Mitos
Mitos is a spacious basement spot a 15-minute walk from the centre. It really fills up around 1am and plays well-loved local and international hits.
reviewed
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B
Extreme Fun Pub
This relaxed spot is a very enticing place for a tea or coffee, a meal or sociable cocktail – try a Sexy Llama Bitch (B$20). It has salt floors, friendly service, a book exchange and beautiful salar photos. It’s also a good place to learn the classic Bolivian dice games or engage in an extreme challenge drink competition: who will chug down 10 drinks in the shortest time possible.
reviewed
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C
Joy Ride Café
Probably the Best Bar in Town, ’ or so the promotion will have you believe, this wildly popular gringo-tastic cafe, restaurant and bar has everything, from dawn espressos to midnight vodkas, nightly movies to weekend dancing on tables. It’s spacious, friendly, well-run and the food is great too.
reviewed
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D
Espresso Café Bar
Just behind the cathedral, this wins the ‘best coffee in town’ award. It’s an attractive, traditional-looking place with pleasant staff. It also serves good juices. A word of advice – don’t order a ‘large’ espresso unless caffeine is more of a compulsion than a pleasure.
reviewed
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E
Bar Huari
Not much seems to have changed in this traditional bar since the 1930s – locals still while away their evenings playing games and drinking beer in its series of high-ceilinged rooms. There are cheap almuerzos (B$10) and dinner mainstays.
reviewed
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F
Café Teatro Caretas
A bohemian, all-ages cultural center, presenting live music, theater, chess lessons and art exhibitions. There is something happening most nights and the cover is minimal. Drinks and snacks are served and late-night burger stands wait outside.
reviewed
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G
La Casona Pub
The atmospheric La Casona Pub is tucked away in the historic 1775 home of the royal envoy sent to administer the mint. It’s a memorable, friendly watering hole with pub grub. On Friday it stages live music performances.
reviewed
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H
Brazilian Coffee Bar
This Brazilian chain spot does a weird mixture of coffee, sushi and alcohol. The sushi reminds you why the Brazilian’s aren’t famed for it, but the coffee and booze are passable. It claims to be open 24 hours.
reviewed
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I
Pub the Alpaca
A worthwhile option, this Swedish- and Bolivian-run pub is an intimate recently renovated spot set up in a front room. The good-mood feel is helped with good mixed drinks. If the door is locked, just knock or ring the bell.
reviewed
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J
Marka
This tucked-away bar set back off Calle Ecuador next to La Republika is a fine, relaxed spot to enjoy low-key music, friendly service, and good mixed drinks. There's live music - jazz and blues - every now and then.
reviewed
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K
La Republika
This comfortable café-bar is part of the Volunteer Bolivia set-up. It's a friendly spot, firmly on the gringo circuit, and offers a book exchange, Mexican dishes, and a leafy courtyard with regular live music.
reviewed
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El Prado
There's plenty of drinking action along El Prado, where Top Chopp is a typical Bolivian beerhall. Calle España is also fertile territory, with an ever-changing parade of appealing, bohemian café-bars.
reviewed
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L
Ecla
A very welcoming bar in the Recoleta district with a good vibe and live music on Friday nights. They also do decent food. They sometimes put on club nights at the Club Social, just off Plaza Colón.
reviewed
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M
Prikafé
This cozy corner spot is an intimate, candlelit place popular with romancing couples. It’s better for drinks – coffee, wine, cocktails – than the tasty but calorie-laden food.
reviewed
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N
Cerebritos
A grungy, likable bar with cable drums for tables and loud rock and hip-hop music. The house special is a mixed platter of colorful shooters; local students down them as cacho forfeits.
reviewed
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O
Lujo’s Discoteca y Karaoke
A popular dancing spot is Lujo’s Discoteca y Karaoke, which, when the clientele don’t take the music into their own hands, plays salsa and pop.
reviewed
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P
Teatro Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho
Teatro Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, is an opulent old opera house. The tourist office and the Casa de la Cultura both distribute a monthly calendar of events.
reviewed
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Q
Centro Cultural los Masis
The Centro Cultural los Masis hosts concerts and other cultural events. It also has a small museum of local musical instruments and offers Quechua classes.
reviewed
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R
Palais Concert Cinema
Housed in an opulent baroque-style colonial-era concert hall, this no-name cinema screens first-run films nightly for B$12 and is the gathering spot for local youngsters.
reviewed
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S
Globo’s
A real fun palace for children is Globo’s. Balloons, ice creams, juices and kid-friendly meals – it’s got the lot.
reviewed
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Juice Stops
A couple of no-name juice stops blend delicious and refreshing juices and milkshakes from such things as carrots and papayas (B$2.50).
reviewed
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T
Coliseo Deportivo
Entertaining basketball, futsal (five-a-side soccer) and volleyball games are played at the Coliseo Deportivo.
reviewed
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U
Alexander's Café Pub
This is a favorite with romancing Bolivians; moody and low-lit, it does beer, coffee and a range of decent mixed drinks until late.
reviewed
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V
Co Café Arte
A relaxed cafe with wooden tables and repro art on the walls. The cordial owner does decent coffee, juices and a few snacks.
reviewed
