Entertainment in Managua
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A
El Chamán
Young scenesters gather at this popular dance club. Live music on Thursday.
reviewed
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B
Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío
One of the few buildings to survive the 1972 earthquake, groovy Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío has big-name, international offerings on the main stage, but try to catch some experimental jazz or performance art in the smaller Sala Experimental Pilar Aguirre, which usually has a lower cover and more interesting work. Shows and schedules are listed in the paper.
reviewed
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C
Pírata
Pírata has live music on Friday, tasteful Cuban music most other days, expensive cocktails, an outdoor bar and an elaborate pirate theme that includes booths inside a Spanish galleon and fountains with fake treasure and real turtles. It's upscale; the US$30 signature boca (appetizer) is lobster baked in a pineapple with cheese, served with white wine.
reviewed
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D
Zona Hippo's
Wanna go where everybody knows your name? Globalization has arrived and it's called Hippo's Grill & Tavern, with nine different burgers, next door to affiliated Woody's Sports Bar, with 15 different types of hot wings. Both have Caesar salads, plenty of 'flair,' nonthreatening rock music and very full bars. There's another outlet by the Santo Domingo mall.
reviewed
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E
La Casa de los Mejía Godoy
Living legends Carlos and Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, whose folk music explorations into the heart of Nicaraguan culture have become church hymns and revolutionary standards since they first started laying down riffs in the 1960s, have their own intimate venue. Here you can watch them and similarly inclined friends play. Make reservations.
reviewed
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F
Ruta Maya
Look around for flyers with monthly listings of the happenings at this thatch-roofed venue, which range from Bee Gees cover bands to Caribbean palo de mayo to son nicaragüense (traditional Nicaraguan folk music). Traditional Nicaraguan food is served buffet style at lunch.
reviewed
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Bar-Restaurant Los Ídolos
A small, dark, and impossibly hip restaurant, fronted with the aforementioned idols and packed to the wide and sparkly brim with mariachi musicians on their tequila break, this is the rock upon which Bello Horizonte's party scene was built. The pizza's good, too.
reviewed
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G
Shannon Bar
The classic bar in this area, this Irish pub is an expat gathering spot and one of the only places in town where you can get a cold Guinness tallboy, Old Holburn rolling tobacco, and big plate of bocadillo Irlandes, aka bangers 'n' mash.
reviewed
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Hipa Hipa
Not just a club, but the club, with a dress code, Euro styling, imported DJs and 'a better class of people' (between 18 and 22), as one pudgy scenester suavely put it.
reviewed
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H
El Quetzal
El Quetzal has had one of the city's largest and liveliest dance floors for years. Salsa, merengue and cumbia are in heavy rotation at this cavernous club.
reviewed
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Island Taste
On weekends the Caribbean crowd packs the floor to soca (defined by fast beats and calypso-like undertones) and reggae grooves at this spot on Carr Norte.
reviewed
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I
Bar La Curva
There's live music on weekends at this open-air bar, with its mellow globe lights and tropical ambience, just oozing a laid-back vibe.
reviewed
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J
Bar Barba Roja
Proving you don't need a garage to play garage rock, bands come from all over Nicaragua to show what they can do with three chords.
reviewed
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K
Bar La Cavanga
Take a taxi out to this 1950s-era gem, which stages live folk and jazz shows in the sketchy neighborhood near the old cathedral.
reviewed
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L
Tsunami
This big, conversational, outdoor sports-type bar gets a good meat-markety crowd, with several similar watering holes nearby.
reviewed
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Pacu's
This mellow bar and disco has a restaurant and pulls in a youthful crowd some nights. Gays and lesbians are welcome.
reviewed
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M
Campestre el Bosque Discoteca Las Palmeras
Party like the locals at this shady spot with a pool and live (think folksy Nica) music after 20:00.
reviewed
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N
XS
XS draws 20-something clubheads, eager to dance away their worries in this sleek mirrored space.
reviewed
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La Academia de Danza
At the UCA, often has performances, and also teaches classes if you'll be in town for a while.
reviewed
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Somos
Gay and lesbian, but straight friendly, this gay disco has live shows and sometimes a cover.
reviewed
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O
Metrocentro Cinemark
At the bigger, better mall, an even plusher six screens, playing blockbuster movies.
reviewed
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P
Alianza Francesa
Free unusual movies, usually in French, on Wednesday and Saturday.
reviewed
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