Entertainment in Central America
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A
El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte
Though not strictly a live-music venue, this atmospheric old bar with exposed brick walls has long drawn in cheek-to-jowl crowds for live bands on most nights of the week (especially Fridays). It’s popular with university students, who arrive to flirt and drink and various combinations thereof.
reviewed
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B
Café Baviera
This European-style café has good coffee, roasted on the premises, and is a decent place for breakfast or a snack (crepes, croissants, soups and salads). The wooden walls are hung with countless photos and clippings on Xela and international themes.
reviewed
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C
Coco's Bar
reviewed
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Driftwood Café
A way’s west of the ferry dock, this ‘yachtie’ hangout has decent pub grub. Try the ‘Monkeyball, ’ made with home-crafted Kahlua and a few other secret ingredients.
reviewed
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D
Café Welchez
Although it looks like money, the Café Welchez is a relatively affordable place.
reviewed
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Ten Napel Café
This cozy coffee shop is perfect if you need a caffeine or sugar fix (or both).
reviewed
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E
I&I Reggae Bar
I&I is the island's most hip, happening spot after dark, when its healthy sound system belts out a reggae beat. Its three levels each offer a different scene, with a dance floor on one and swings hanging from the rafters on another. The top floor is the 'chill-out zone,' complete with hammocks and panoramic views. Great place for a sunset drink.
reviewed
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F
Café La 'T'
The most bohemian of nightspots in town, Café La 'T' (latte, get it?) is straight out of Chiapas, with Zapatista posters, photos of indigenous coffee workers and a distinctly lefty crowd. Free films are screened on Wednesday and Thursday, and there's live music every other Friday, usually jazz or Latin American folk music. Coffee is the specialty.
reviewed
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G
El Portal
This atmospheric old drinking den serves fine draft beer and free tapas. Che Guevara was once a patron. Sit at the long wooden bar or one of the wooden tables. Clients are mostly, but not exclusively, men. To find it, enter the Portal del Comercio arcade from 6a Av a few steps south of the Parque Central.
reviewed
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H
Beach House
Beach House 'Eat, Drink and Go Surfing.' So implores Rennie Leone, owner of this expat hangout. By day, the place rents surfboards; by night, it serves sandwiches, quesadillas and cold beers at the cozy bar or on the breezy terrace. Live calypso music plays Thursday through Saturday.
reviewed
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I
Café La Luna
La Luna is a comfortable, relaxed place to hang out and eat a cake, salad or sandwich. The hot chocolate is the specialty - the coffee is so-so. Choose any of several rooms: decor is in similar vein to Café Baviera but the music is classical instead of jazz.
reviewed
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J
Reilly's
Guatemala's only Irish bar (so far), Reilly's is sociable and relaxed, with a young international crowd. Sadly, small bottles of Guinness are more than double the cost of local beers! The Sunday evening quiz is one of Antigua's most enjoyable events.
reviewed
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K
Café El Cuartito
Xela's hippest café does a good range of snacks and juices and coffee just about any way you want it. On weekends it often has DJs spinning laid-back tracks, and there's always art on the walls by local contemporary artists.
reviewed
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L
Wish Willy's Bar & Grill
This funky place is named for a scaly tailed iguana. Located on the back side of the island, it's a great place to watch the sunset, whether you're sipping a Belikin beer or feasting on the day's BBQ special.
reviewed
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M
El Establo
This mellow watering hole attracts both foreigners and locals with its pub-style layout, three-sided, brass-topped bar, good pub food and enormous range of music spun by the German owners.
reviewed
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N
Pool & Beer
An excellent place for some drinks and a few games of pool. At the time of writing, the tables hadn't been trashed and the cues were straight.
reviewed
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O
Bar Amigos
A disarming place because of its strange resemblance to one of those massive ski lodge bars, complete with picture windows overlooking the mountainside. But this is the one, consistent place in the area to let loose. There are DJs, karaoke, all the sports from the US and a billiard room downstairs.
reviewed
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P
El Muro
A friendly little neighborhood pub with a good range of beers, some decent snacks and plenty of sofas to lounge out on.
reviewed
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Q
La Ronda
This rather tranquil and elegant spot right on the park has a good happy hour and popular Wednesday karaoke night.
reviewed
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R
Blue Town Café Bar
If fellow live music venue La Bodeguita doesn't suit you, check out this nearby youthful spot with live bands.
reviewed
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S
Café San Rafael
This tiny eatery 1½ blocks south of Parque Central sells coffee from the family finca.
reviewed
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T
El Chamán
Young scenesters gather at this popular dance club. Live music on Thursday.
reviewed
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U
La Chimenea
This is the latest hot spot for salsa and merengue dancers.
reviewed
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V
Café Sky
This is a very popular place for sunset drinks.
reviewed
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W
Cinefilia
Shows movies in a bar setting.
reviewed