Must-see nightlife in Peru

  • Museo del Pisco

    Cuzco

    When you've had your fill of colonial religious art, investigate this pisco museum, where the wonders of the national drink are extolled, exalted and – of…

  • La Alternativa

    Tarapoto

    Like drinking in a medieval pharmacy or maybe a Tarantino film, a night out here hearkens back to a time when alcohol was literally medicine (like, for…

  • Los 13 Buhos

    Huaraz

    Halfway up some monstrous Andean pass with a 15kg pack on your back, it's not uncommon to start dreaming of 13 Buhos with its Luchos craft beer, pool…

  • Museo del Pisco

    Lima

    The 'educational' aspect of this wonderful bar might get you in the door, but it's the congenial atmosphere and outstanding original cocktails that will…

  • Dada

    Lima

    This chic mansion with themed rooms and a gorgeous patio is Barranco's newest hot spot. You know those locales that are described not as a place but a…

  • El Tragsu

    Trujillo

    This popular place south of the center is one of the best pubs in Peru, with a classic themed front room complete with elf decorations and an elegant…

  • Limbus

    Cuzco

    Billed as the best view in Cuzco, it's all that (even after climbing to the top of San Blas). Don't worry, if you come during peak hours you'll have…

  • Usha-Usha

    Cajamarca

    For an intimate local experience, head to this hole-in-the-wall dive bar run by eccentric local musician Jaime Valera, who has managed to cultivate a heap…

  • La Reina

    Northern Highlands

    An artsy spot to lubricate your mind very cheaply on exotic fruit drinks and Amazonian liqueurs by the shot (S1.50) or the jar (from S18). The 11 options…

  • Chelawasi Public House

    Arequipa

    Arequipa's first craft-beer bar is a modern but unpretentious pub in the village-like San Lázaro area. The burgers, wings and hand-cut fries are excellent…

  • Red Cervecera

    Lima

    An all-encompassing stop for beer connoisseurs and amateurs alike. A well-stocked store at the entrance provides all the ingredients and equipment you’ll…

  • Yaku

    Ayacucho

    First things first: enthusiastically run Yaku is not just a bar with a lovely balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas: it's a live-music venue, it's a…

  • Cervecería Valle Sagrado

    Urubamba

    Located 7km outside of town toward Urubamba, this affable American-style brewery serves its own award-winning brews, including the highly quaffable Inti…

  • Café Bar Museo

    Trujillo

    This locals’ favorite shouldn’t be a secret. The tall, wood-paneled walls covered in artsy posters and the classic marble-top bar feel like a cross…

  • Misk'i

    South Coast

    The best place to begin your evening in Paracas, this chilled-out resto-bar has great wood-fired pizzas (S14-S52), salads and Mexican dishes (mains S16…

  • Discoteca Witite

    Puerto Maldonado

    Well, we preferred Witite with the gaudy clapboard but the smartened-up version is still the classic place to party, jungle-style – a party that goes on…

  • Arandú Bar

    Iquitos

    The liveliest of several thumping Malecón bars, full of funky art, great for people-watching and always churning out loud rock-and-roll classics.

  • Musmuqui

    Iquitos

    Locally popular lively bar with two floors and an extensive range of aphrodisiac cocktails concocted from wondrous Amazon plants.

  • Trapiche

    Central Highlands

    Fun, popular and serves a range of cocktails, including some aphrodisiac specials. There's also a branch in Tingo María.

  • Barra 55

    Lima

    Specializing in gin, this intimate bar is tucked along one of Barranco’s liveliest streets. It's both a chill after-office hangout and a warm-up to a wild…

  • Ama

    Trujillo

    We're not big fans of partying in shopping malls. but this smart place in the Centro Comercial Real Plaza is Trujillo's most-happening disco, with a…

  • Fruzion

    South Coast

    A bright little modern cafe with a sunny terrace specializing in mixed juices and shakes (S12 to S20) served in massive fish-bowl-like glasses. There's a…

  • Magno

    Chiclayo

    Look no further than this happening entertainment complex for a one-stop night out where locals stagger between three bars and two clubs without having to…

  • Tio Enrique

    Huaraz

    In an energy-sapping mountain town like Huaraz, this cozy Swiss-themed drinking hole with a long bar and communal pine tables is just what the doctor…

  • Juanito’s

    Lima

    This worn-in wood-clad bar – it was a leftist hangout in the 1960s – is one of the mellowest haunts in Barranco. Decorated with a lifetime’s worth of…

  • Museo del Pisco

    Arequipa

    The name says 'museum,' but the designer slabs of stone and glass, plus the menu of more than 100 pisco (Peruvian grape brandy) varieties, says cocktail…

  • Bravo Restobar

    Lima

    Amid a backlit bar and stone-and-wood interiors, Bravo’s able bartenders stir up an encyclopedic cocktail menu (try the aguaymanto sour, made with pisco…

  • Jungle Bar Bily

    North Coast

    Travelers gravitate to this quasi-Polynesian-themed bar due to location (across from the pier), good music (U2, REM) and a popular cheap ceviche (S20),…

  • Wawqui

    Trujillo

    Right on the corner of the Plaza de Armas, this atmospheric bar in a colonial mansion is hands down the center's best place to drink. It has high cane…

  • Nuevo Mundo Draft Bar

    Lima

    Nuevo Mundo was one of the first craft breweries to come out of Lima, and it's now a major player on the pub scene, with a wide range of national craft…

  • Mundo Nuevo

    Cuzco

    With eye-popping views of the Cathedral, this upstairs bar has a dozen Peruvian microbrews on draft. You could do far worse than watch the sunset on the…

  • Cholo's Bar

    Cuzco

    Walk through a bumpy inner courtyard to reach this mellow no-frills bar with 15 Peruvian artisan beers on tap – the Intipunku IPA is a sure bet for…

  • Stonewasi Taberna

    Tarapoto

    Pretenders come and go, but this local institution is still the place to see and be seen in Tarapoto. Recycled sewing tables street-side are chock-full of…

  • Tiesto Café Bar

    Northern Highlands

    Celendín has sprouted a bit of trendy nightlife with this slick little bar, best visited for its multicolored cocktails including the ubiquitous pisco…

  • Déjà Vu

    Arequipa

    This eternally popular haunt has a rooftop terrace overlooking the Iglesia de San Francisco, a long list of crazy cocktails and a lethal happy hour every…

  • Huaringas

    Lima

    A popular Miraflores bar and lounge located inside the Las Brujas de Cachiche restaurant, Huaringas serves a vast array of cocktails, including a well…

  • Imperio Club

    Arequipa

    Arequipa's only central gay club is also its best, with a slick bar and mixed-ages fun crowd that makes it unintimidating to go alone or with company…

  • El Bandido

    South Coast

    A strange sight in Peru, this cowboy-themed bar seems to fit perfectly with Moquegua’s rough-and-tumble frontier attitude. It's the best place in town to…

  • Casona Forum

    Arequipa

    A seven-in-one excuse for a good night out in a sillar (white volcanic rock) building incorporating a pub (Retro), pool club (Zero), sofa bar (Chill Out),…

  • Chango

    Cuzco

    Humming to a techno beat, this happening club with live DJs is the latest of Cuzco's all-night party places. There's also rock, reggae and salsa on…

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