Belize City
The main bar at the Radisson is friendly and sociable, with a pleasant outdoor deck.
Must-see nightlife in Central America
Central Valley & Highlands
Divey sports bar known for offering boozy promotions on a regular basis.
Ambergris Caye
This otherwise innocuous sports bar has made a name for itself by hosting the weekly 'Chicken Drop' (6pm Thursday). Sort of like bingo with chickens, it…
Playa Tamarindo
An old standby for snacks and drinks, this surf camp offers filling breakfasts, famously huge (and aptly named) nachos and cold beers. Note the emphasis…
Playas del Coco
This is a pretty snazzy nightspot for a beer-drinking fishing port, but it suffers from an identity crisis – with a food menu that spans the globe, plus…
Cahuita
The service can be a bit slow here, but if you're looking for stiff drinks and a good dance floor, you've come to the right place. Food options include…
Belmopan
This Latin-themed dance club has Belmopan's liveliest nightlife most nights of the week. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday are dance nights, Thursday and…
Caye Caulker
If the heat is getting too much, pick up an iced coffee or iced tea at this friendly coffee shop and take a stool on the breezy balcony overlooking the…
Mal País & Santa Teresa
There are only four words you need to know: Thursday night reggae party. Come to this enormous concrete hangar – dive bar and dance club in one – to party…
Playa Sámara
If you'd like to settle in for an evening of beers with the locals, check out Bar Olas on the north end of the beach. This archetypal seafront dive makes…
San Pedro La Laguna
Some nights are more alegres than others at this long-running upstairs pub at the corner up from the Pana dock, but it remains a watering hole for San…
Ambergris Caye
A little out of the way, this bar inside the hotel of the same name is a popular place to eat pizza and watch sports on the big screen. Wednesday is…
Ambergris Caye
Feels like a beach bar, but it's actually on the roadside a block back from the water. It's a welcoming place that is difficult to fly past without…
León & Northwestern Nicaragua
The most popular disco in town isn’t in town, but on the highway to León. Great if you're looking for deafeningly loud music and a chance to rub shoulders…
Eastern El Salvador
This booming, cheesy, high-heeled and high-octane Latin pop paradise has large contingents of well-heeled students competing for attention. Drinks are…
Little Corn Island
Set back behind some houses in the Village, this dark reggae dance hall doesn't get busy until late. Most patrons just hang out around the benches and…
Playa Tamarindo
This place thinks it's a dance club, but it's really more of a tropical dive bar, with occasional live bands and DJs. And that's OK. Better in fact. Come…
Darién Province
This bar with the generous (for Sambú) hours hasn't seen a lot of gringas (or gringos for that matter) darken its doors over the years but it lives in…
Ambergris Caye
Right next to San Pedro’s church, this entertainment complex pulls a crowd once most of the bars around town have closed. There is a bar by the water and…
Bocas del Toro Town
Expat-owned, this sports bar is the closest thing you’ll find to Hooters in Bocas. Five screens are aglow at the same time and there's occasional live…
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
This unpretentious open-air local spot down by the beach, a stone's throw from the bus stop, is a great place to gaze out to sea and sip a beer after a…
Panama City
While no longer in fashion, the old location of this pub was made famous by John le Carré’s thriller The Tailor of Panama. There's occasional live music.
Caribbean Coast
Sooner or later, anyone on a big night out ends up at this rustic dance hall, half a block from Parque Central. It's a little sketchy but has plenty of…
Panama City
The lion’s den of karaoke, this older club has no cover; you just have to consume a drink and muster the courage to croon under the disco rays.
Central Valley & Highlands
Shows soccer matches and sells beer and ceviche. Later in the night, patrons stick around for the loud music and flashing lights.
Puerto Limón
Kick back with a smoothie, an empanada, a sandwich or an iced espresso at this corner cafe facing Parque Vargas and the docks.
Placencia
This rustic-looking dockside bar can get pretty lively with locals and visitors, especially at the Friday dance party.
Dangriga
At the north end of Commerce St, the Roxy is an unassuming but enduringly popular bar.
