Must-see nightlife in Colombia

  • Azahar Café

    Bogotá

    Possibly the finest shrine to coffee in Colombia, the recently amplified Azahar exudes taste, expertise and an undying passion for the country’s second…

  • Zaperoco

    Cali

    If you only visit one salsa bar in Cali, make sure it's Zaperoco. Here the veteran DJ spins salsa con golpe (salsa with punch) from old vinyl while…

  • El Mono Bandido

    Bogotá

    Having commandeered a Quinta Camacho mansion and flipped it into one of Bogotá's most cinematic pubs, El Mono Bandido has atmosphere in spades. Enjoy…

  • Cervecería Gigante

    Bogotá

    American nanobrewer Will Catlett has created what feels like an underground brewer's lair at Bogotá's top craft-beer destination, a simple, unsigned place…

  • Cine Tonalá

    Bogotá

    Bogotá's only independent cinema champions Latin and Colombian films and international cult classics, but this Mexico City import refuses to be…

  • Alquímico

    Cartagena

    Anyone remotely hip ultimately gravitates to this Old Town bar with a pharmaceutical theme. Occupying a gorgeous colonial building, the bar is spread over…

  • Salon Malaga

    Medellín

    A Medellín institution, Salon Malaga is more than just a bar, it's a cultural experience. With walls decked out in black-and-white images of long-dead…

  • Fonda La Floresta

    Armenia

    Set up like a traditional Antioquian village and with antiques hanging from the ceiling and party lights everywhere, this popular bar draws a mixed crowd…

  • Cafe Quindio

    Armenia

    No connoisseur of caffeine should miss a visit to this temple to the coffee bean, dotted with baby coffee plants and serving highland coffee from the…

  • Café Jesús Martín

    Salento

    Expert baristas at this cafe serve top-quality espresso, drips and filtered brews from beans roasted and prepared in the owner's factory. It's got a…

  • Rincón Clásico

    Pereira

    Music lovers of all ages descend on this diminutive corner bar to drink and sing along to tango, bolero and other classics from the elderly owner's…

  • Cafe Macanas

    Around Medellín

    Grab a cup of fantastic locally grown coffee and a pastry, and head out the back to the flower-filled patio right next to the church at this exceptional…

  • Vintrash

    Bucaramanga

    Among vintage oil barrels, hanging bicycles and a wisp of street cred, this bar sucks in the indie cool kids and those drawn to them for great music and…

  • Pergamino

    Medellín

    It's worth the effort to wait in line for a drink at this popular cafe, which serves the best coffee in Medellín. There is a full range of hot and cold…

  • El Barista

    Pereira

    This bright and inviting cafe decked out with pine furniture prepares the best coffee in town (COP$3000 to COP$6500) using a variety of different methods…

  • Togoima Café Ancestral

    Popayán

    One of the best cafes in town, preparing a wide variety of hot and cold beverages using high-quality beans from around the country. There are so many…

  • Café Havana

    Cartagena

    Havana has it all: live salsa from horn-blowing Cubans, strong drinks, a gorgeous horseshoe-shaped bar surrounded by brilliant eccentrics, wood-paneled…

  • Dos Carreras

    Bogotá

    Run by a Spanish–Colombian couple, this warmly lit bar offers a diverse selection of some of the best locally brewed craft beer, including three by the…

  • Son Havana

    Medellín

    The bar of choice for serious son, la timba and la charanga fans, this popular Cuban-themed place just off La 70 has a great tropical vibe. The small…

  • Cervecería Libre

    Medellín

    Started by four friends with a passion for beer, this microbrewery still brews small batches, with four of its own beers on tap at any one time – their…

  • El Rincón de Heberth

    Cali

    In a shopfront in a strip mall, this local institution of a salsa bar attracts a lively caleño crowd who come for the great music and laid-back vibe. Most…

  • New York

    Popayán

    On the outskirts of town, this vibrant neighborhood salsa place is as authentic as it gets. Take a seat in one of the vintage booths beneath the hundreds…

  • Café Los Gallos

    Villa de Leyva

    Los Gallos serves the finest joe in town, a smooth, sophisticated brew that you can spike with something sweet from the cake display, like the apple-and…

  • 3 Cordilleras

    Medellín

    Cerveza connoisseurs shouldn't miss out on an entertaining brewery tour at 3 Cordilleras, going strong for a decade now. The tour culminates in a flight…

  • Trilogia Bar

    Medellín

    For a dynamic night out, head to this friendly club in Barrio Colombia, where bands perform Colombian crossover music from a revolving stage while tipsy…

  • Calle 9 + 1

    Medellín

    Set around a covered courtyard, this hip alternative hangout has DJs spinning anything from independent electronic music to salsa and house to an arty…

  • Topa Tolondra

    Cali

    Popular with locals and travelers alike, this large salsa bar near Loma de la Cruz is always buzzing. The tables are pushed right up against the walls,…

  • Cervecería Maestre

    Medellín

    This friendly brewpub joined the Medellín scene in 2017. Beers include contributions from the local Madre Monte, Sierra Blanca, Libre, 4 Sur and other…

  • Prenderia

    Manizales

    Wonderfully relaxed bar where talented local musicians play to an older, laid-back crowd. Try the lethal carajillo – strong espresso spiked with rum – and…

  • Café Jesús Martín

    Armenia

    Just like the main branch in Salento, this little cafe serves cups of outstanding locally grown coffee. There are good cakes, too.

  • Bistro El Bandido

    Bogotá

    Step back in time at this popular high-end bar and brasserie hidden behind residential shrubbery in Nogal. DJ's spin oldies (think Big Band, Elvis)…

  • Chelarte

    Bogotá

    Chelarte – a portmanteau word combining Mexican slang for beer ('chela') and 'artesanal' – helped pioneer craft beer in Bogotá when brewer Camilo Rojas…

  • Tierra Santa Cerveza Artesanal

    Bogotá

    One of Bogotá's newest beer destinations, the folks at downtown's famed Chantonner Delikatessen opened this second location in Quinta Camacho in late 2017…

  • Amor Perfecto

    Bogotá

    Pick your single-origin regional Colombian specialty bean, select your method of preparation (Chemex, Siphon, AeroPress or French press), and let the…

  • Taller de Té

    Bogotá

    This adorable cafe is unique in Bogotá for serious tea. Owner Laura sources more than 70 teas and infusions from plantations around the world and blends…

  • Bogotá Beer Company

    Bogotá

    This upscale pub-style beer chain was once the only game in town for brew-lovers. While it's gone fully corporate now (AB InBev purchased it in 2015), it…

  • El Bembe

    Bogotá

    Cuba and Colombia share a loose cultural alliance, especially when it comes to music, as this little piece of tropicalia ably demonstrates. Head up the…

  • A Seis Manos

    Bogotá

    This cool, contemporary cultural venue and bar lures the artistically inclined, who mingle at communal tables in the industrial, warehouse-like space…

  • Village Café

    Bogotá

    A long-standing Chapinero LGBT staple serving good cocktails (Cop$22,000 to COP$30,000) alongside healthy doses of alternative rock and electronica at…

  • El Recreo de Adàn

    Bogotá

    In the north, El Recreo de Adàn is a classic chill lounge with karaoke and board games.

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