Quito Entertainment

  1. Ananké

    This cozy little bar-cum-pizzeria sits perched on the hillside in Guápulo. It has a wee terrace (complete with fireplace) and several good nooks for making out.

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  2. Ballet Folklórico Nacional Jacchigua

    This folkloric ballet is as touristy as it is spectacular and is presented daily at the Teatro Demetrio Agilera at the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. It's quite a show. Contact any travel agency or upper-end hotel for tickets or buy them at the door or online.

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  3. Café Libro

    Live music, contemporary dance, tango, jazz and other performances draw an artsy and intellectual crowd to this cozy, bohemian venue. Excellent.

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  4. Café Toledo

    Small, mellow place for live music.

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  5. Casa Babylon

    Casa Babylon is a totally nontouristy place to catch a rock or punk show, usually by local bands.

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  6. Cinemark

    The most recent Hollywood blockbusters are shown at Cinemark , a multiscreen, state-of-the-art cinema. Also check out Multicines.

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  7. El Pobre Diablo

    El Pobre Diablo makes for a great escape from the Mariscal scene. It's a friendly, laid-back place with live jazz (check which nights), wooden tables, a great vibe and a solid cocktail menu. There's also a restaurant serving delectable dishes such as pork chops in a cilantro sauce, vegetable lasagna and shrimp in coconut sauce.

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  8. Ghoz Bar

    English pubs have long been the rave in Quito, and most serve food - Ghoz is a popular one

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  9. Humanizarte

    This excellent theater and dance group presents Andean dance performances. Call or check the website for other performances.

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  10. King's Cross

    English pubs have long been the rave in Quito, and most serve food - King's Cross is a popular one

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  12. La Bodeguita de Cuba

    This Cuban restaurant features excellent live Cuban music on Thursday nights. Get there early.

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  13. La Casa de la Peña

    The setting alone, inside an ancient building in the old town, makes this intimate peña a great place to hear Ecuadorian folk music.

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  14. La Reina Victoria

    If there's one watering hole that's forever and faithfully nurtured the thirsty souls of foreign travelers (since 1982, anyway), it's the Reina Victoria. With a fireplace, dartboard, bumper pool, great food and excellent pub ambience, it's hard to beat this home away from home.

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  15. Mayo 68

    Hitting the dance floor in a salsoteca (salsa club) is a must in Quito. However, it might pay to try a few classes before strutting your stuff at Mayo 68 - this popular salsa club is smaller (and some say better) than most, and attracts hardcore salsa types!

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  16. Mirador de Guápulo

    This cozy cafe-bar sits on the side of a cliff overlooking Guápulo. The ambience is chilled, the views are unbeatable, and the snacks - mostly Ecuadorian specialities - are tasty. There's live music (and a cover charge) most nights.

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  17. Multicines

    The most recent Hollywood blockbusters are shown at Multicines, a multiscreen, state-of-the-art cinema. Also check out Cinemark.

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  18. Mumbai

    Quito's only martini bar, Mumbai draws a hip, moneyed crowd with its stylish, modern atmosphere.

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  19. Naranjilla Mecánica

    One room is covered entirely in red fur and outside, grass abuts the carpet beneath a VIP hammock. Cool art adorns the walls and an ultra hip crowd sips blood-red cocktails to house and techno. In other words, it doesn't get much hipper than this.

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  20. No Bar

    This Mariscal institution keeps 'em coming with its four small, dark dance floors, chaotic bar (always with dancing on top) and plenty of beer-bonging and spraying of Pilsner. It's completely mobbed on weekends: expect high-energy dance pop and loads of bad pick-up lines.

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  21. Ñucanchi Peña

    Popular with students and families, this peña is one of the best places to catch a folklórica show.

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  23. Ocho y Medio

    This Floresta film house shows great art films (often in English) and has occasional dance, theater and live music. There's a small café attached.

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  24. Papillon

    On Reina Victoria, around Santa María and Pinta, there are several wildly popular bars with packed weekend dance-floors. The area is flooded with bar-hoppers, taxis and hotdog vendors, but it's a dangerous area after dark, so don't wander far from the club entrances. Inside you're fine. Papillon, blasting out a broad mix of international dance music.

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  25. Patatu's Bar

    English pubs have long been the rave in Quito, and most serve food - Patatu's is a popular one and is great fun.

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  26. Patio de Comedías

    Presents plays and performances Thursday through Sunday nights, usually at .

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  27. Seseribó

    Bust out your dancin' shoes and hang on to that rhythm-stick for a night at Seseribó, Quito's best salsoteca . The music is tops, the atmosphere is superb, and the dancing is outta sight. The devoted salseros (salsa dancers)turn up on Thursdays, which makes it a great night to go. Admission includes drinks.

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