Must-see entertainment in Central America

  • National Theatre, San Jose, Costa Rica

    Teatro Nacional

    San José

    Costa Rica’s most important theater stages plays, dance, opera, classical concerts, Latin American music and other major events. The main season runs from…

  • La Bodeguita del Centro

    Guatemala City

    There's a hopping, creative local scene in Guatemala City, and this large, bohemian hangout is one of the best places to connect with it. There's live…

  • La Casa de los Mejía Godoy

    Managua

    Living legends Carlos and Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, whose folk-music explorations into the heart of Nicaraguan culture have become church hymns and…

  • Mundoloco

    San José

    Grab a craft beer and some vegetarian grub, such as stuffed mushrooms, at this cute San Pedro restaurant and bar. Then head to the spacious and…

  • Café La 'T'

    San Salvador

    The country's finest musicians appear intermittently at this down-tempo cafe set aside from the hullabaloo. Ska, jazz, blues, salsa: just turn up and try…

  • Teatro Nacional

    Panama City

    Casco Viejo’s lovely 19th-century playhouse stages ballet, concerts and plays.

  • Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica

    San José

    Costa Rica's graceful, modernist 35,000-seat national soccer stadium, constructed with funding from the Chinese government and opened in 2011, is the…

  • Tsunami Sushi

    Puerto Limón

    You can't miss this bar, with its big yellow tsunami sign and Hokusai's Great Wave painted on the side of the building. Probably the hippest spot in town,…

  • Il Baretto

    Caye Caulker

    On the leafy grounds of Oasi, this classy little bar and performance space is an ideal venue to experience some of the talented local musicians and circus…

  • Teatro Municipal

    Quetzaltenango

    Quetzaltenango's grand neoclassical theater north of the center is the main venue for plays, concerts and dance performances. An elaborate two-tiered…

  • TrovaJazz

    Guatemala City

    Jazz, blues and folk fans should look into what's happening here.

  • Ancon Guild Theater

    Panama City

    Broadway it is not, but this character-filled wooden building houses a charming 166-seat theater. Founded in 1950 by a group of Panamanian and American…

  • 500px Photo ID: 91031807 - Musicians playing in jazz band on stage

    El Sótano

    San José

    One of Chepe's most atmospheric nightspots, Sótano is named for its cellar jazz club, where people crowd in for frequent performances including intimate…

  • Theatre, Leon, Nicaragua, Central America

    Teatro Municipal José de la Cruz Mena

    León

    Check the board in front of this attractive 1885 theater to see what’s on here and around town during your visit. It’s been impressively restored, and for…

  • Ruben Dario National Theater Managua Nicaragua interior plush red velvet seats Central America

    Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío

    Managua

    One of the few Managua buildings to survive the 1972 earthquake, this 'temple to Nicaraguan art and culture' often has big-name international offerings on…

  • Musicians playing in jazz band on stage

    Jazz Café Escazú

    San José

    Now with only a single location in the suburb of Escazú, Jazz Café nonetheless continues to impress. Countless performers have taken to the stage here,…

  • Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts

    Belize City

    Operated by the Institute for Creative Arts, the revamped Bliss Centre has a fine 600-seat theater that stages a variety of events throughout the year…

  • El Lobo Estepario

    San José

    This artsy, two-story dive attracts some of the top local talent for live music gigs. The blackboard ceiling fills with messages and drawings nightly. And…

  • Lebeha

    Hopkins

    This drumming center is one of the coolest spots in Hopkins to be on any given evening from about 7pm, when local Garifuna drummer Jabbar Lambey hosts…

  • Ron Kon Rolas

    Managua

    This dark, cave-like hangout of local metalheads regularly hosts local live bands. Expect classic rock as well, especially during the Wednesday jams. DJs…

  • Teatro Nacional Manuel Bonilla

    Tegucigalpa

    Built in 1912, Honduras' national theater hosts a variety of performing arts, including plays and concerts. The theater’s interior was inspired by the…

  • Centro de Cine

    San José

    This pink Victorian mansion houses the government-run film center and its vast archive of national and international flicks. Festivals, lectures and…

  • 8ctavo Rooftop

    San José

    See and be seen at this swanky rooftop lounge, where international DJs regularly perform. If you want to show up early and dine first, this place is also…

  • Cine Magaly

    San José

    Screens the latest releases in a large renovated theater, along with independent films in English. The attached Kubrick Gastro Bar serves up delicious…

  • Cine Cafe

    Bocas del Toro Town

    Great on a rainy afternoon or evening, Cine Cafe is a chilled (quite literally) spot that offers a wide-ranging selection of movies, comfortable beanbag…

  • Olla Quemada

    León

    This hot spot with graffiti-daubed walls features a line-up of live music, indie films and Latin dance nights (from salsa to merengue) all week, and has a…

  • Centro Cultural de España

    Guatemala City

    The Spanish Cultural Center hosts an excellent range of events, including live music, film nights and art exhibitions, mostly with free admission. See the…

  • Bari

    Quetzaltenango

    One of several nightspots opposite the Teatro Municipal, Bari hosts live acoustic and Latin music every Wednesday to Sunday. Performances tend to start at…

  • Arenas Skate Park

    San José

    On Friday and Saturday nights, punk shows (Guttermouth, Voodoo Glow Skulls!) are all the rage at this skate park in Barrio Soledad.

  • Teatro Melico Salazar

    San José

    A restored 1920s theater with regular fine-arts performances, including music, theater, ballet and other forms of dance.

  • Auditorio Nacional

    San José

    A grand stage for concerts, dance, theater and plays. Affiliated with the Centro Costarricense de Ciencia y Cultura.

  • Teatro Luis Poma

    San Salvador

    Contemporary performances across all genres at San Salvador's most respected theater. Naturally, it's at the mall.

  • Pepper Disco Club

    San José

    This club is the place to see heavy metal, punk and ska bands. Its salsa dancing nights are also good.

  • Teatro Roma

    Quetzaltenango

    This palace of culture is a showcase primarily for comedy revues and plays, with the occasional dance program.

  • Multicentro Cinemark

    Panama City

    Mainstream cinema with some dubbed films and some with subtitles. Near Punta Paitilla.

  • Cinépolis Oakland Mall

    Guatemala City

    This large multiplex in one of the city's fanciest malls shows mostly Hollywood hits.

  • Sala Garbo

    San José

    Art-house and classic film screenings.

  • Athenaeum

    Panama City

    Located within the City of Knowledge, the old Clayton cinema is one of the city’s best examples of 'Bellavistina' architecture, a Hispanic neo-classical…

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