Quito
Live music, poetry readings, discussions, contemporary dance, tango, jazz and other performances draw an arts-loving crowd to this long-running venue…
Must-see entertainment in South America
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Pikano is the island's biggest event space, isolated on the road to Anakena about 3km from the airport. This multifaceted venue is very popular on…
Arequipa
This clean-cut gourmet burger bar has one thing in common with the namesake festival: live music (mostly jazz, rock and funk), played here most evenings…
Montevideo
For art-house flicks, this film club charges a modest membership (UR$470 per month, plus UR$230 one-time sign-up fee), allowing unlimited viewing at its…
Buenos Aires
This beautiful art nouveau theater, just off pedestrianized Calle Florida, used to be a red-light cabaret venue. The glitzy show here is based on the…
São Paulo
Excellent classical-music venue in a refurbished 1925, neoclassical train station Estação Júlio Prestes. A suspended adjustable ceiling ensures maximum…
Rosario
This tango center has info on performances and classes around town, often offers fun, very cheap evening lessons, and stages various events. Regular 9pm…
Bogotá
Despite this graffiti-covered disco space undergoing an unfortunate name change (from the far-superior Boogaloop), its mantra perseveres: a shelter for…
Belo Horizonte
Locals pack into this intimate Santa Tereza bar for live performances celebrating the legacy of the Clube da Esquina, Belo Horizonte's groundbreaking…
Buenos Aires
This old classic in the San Cristóbal neighborhood (take a taxi) often has big crowds. It attracts an older, well-dressed, mostly local clientele – avoid…
Bogotá
Name-dropped first – for years now – by salsa-seekers across town, the Canto is a double-level disco a short walk from La Candelaria. Wednesday is big…
Centro de Extensión Artística y Cultural
Santiago
The Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile and Ballet Nacional Chileno are two high-profile companies based at this excellent theater run under the auspices of the…
Cali
Popular with an older crowd, this well-worn but well-loved Cali institution has live bands that play salsa and Colombian crossover. Seating is in small,…
Rio de Janeiro
An attractive concert venue inside a photogenic colonial building that stages live choro and other Brazilian sounds on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday …
La Paz
While tourists head to Peña Huari, locals flock to nearby Peña Jamuy, which is bigger, brighter and a lot more fun. This two-story Andean-themed venue…
Salvador
The popular show that used to be staged at the Solar do Unhão, featuring 18 dancers, musicians and capoeiristas, now happens here after dinner at O…
Rosario
This noble old theater is known for excellent acoustics. Performances are regular and range from folk and classical concerts to opera. Guided visits run…
Quito
One of the city’s most illustrious and important theaters, the Teatro Bolívar stages dance performances, concerts and plays. The wonderful art deco…
Recoleta & Barrio Norte
Notorious is one of Buenos Aires’ premier jazz venues, with a restaurant-cafe (overlooking a verdant garden) hosting live shows nearly every night. Check…
Cineclub Municipal Hugo del Carril
Córdoba
For a great night (or day) at the movies, pop into this municipal film house, which screens everything from art flicks to Latin American award winners and…
Buenos Aires
Part of the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), this exceptional cultural center has a program of concerts, theater, and dance performances, plus language…
Teatro Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho
Sucre
This opulent old opera house today hosts a wide range of live performances – the tourist office and the Casa de la Cultura both distribute a monthly…
Salta & the Andean Northwest
An untouristy parrilla, locally popular for its Friday and Saturday night live folklórico (folk music); there's also a Sunday lunchtime session. The food…
Cali
The best supported of Cali's two major football teams, America normally plays home games at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in central Cali. It's a cool…
Fortaleza
Fortaleza’s Castelão stadium, 9km south of the center, was completely renovated to seat 67,000 fans for the 2014 World Cup. The city's two top clubs,…
Curitiba
This 43,000-capacity football stadium is the home of Clube Atlético Paranaense and is Latin America's only retractable roof stadium. Tours (R$20) run…
Rosario
This warehouse-like industrial space is run by the Giros local social movement and sees plenty of live acts as well as classes, activities, a cheap daily…
Quito
Built in 1878, this stately, beautifully restored building in the lively Plaza del Teatro hosts Quito’s best theater, dance and music productions…
Teatro Municipal Alberto Saavedra Pérez
La Paz
The municipal theater has an ambitious program of folkloric shows, folk-music concerts and foreign theatrical presentations. It’s a great old restored…
Medellín
Now tango's major stage in Medellín, this steak restaurant is decorated like a typical Buenos Aires tango dive. Make reservations in advance for the live…
North Coast & Lowlands
This former museum is now an arthouse cinema and performance hall with daily film screenings (at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm). Some films are only in Spanish, while…
Medellín
This is Medellín's major mainstream theater. There are free dance classes here on Saturdays and yoga on Tuesday and Thursday mornings – bring your own mat…
Santiago
One of Latin America's most established jazz venues (Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock are just two of the greats to have played here), this venerable…
Rio de Janeiro
Run by the same folks behind the Beco das Garrafas next door, Bottles is a shoebox-sized club that features a line-up of bossa nova and samba performers…
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Nancy Manutomatoma is the island’s first female choreographer and her recommended show at the Kanahau restaurant spans hoko warrior dances, kai kai string…
Salta
This brick and adobe haunt is a good choice for peña music. The singers all wear traditional garb and a crew of dancers entertain as well. You'll need to…
Buenos Aires
An intimate theater venue offering contemporary dance, films and plays enthusiastically attended by a local bohemian crowd. There’s a good cafe-restaurant…
São Paulo
Inaugurated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the home stadium of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista sits well-outside central São Paulo but is…
Paraty
This cavernous yet cozy bar with checkerboard tile floors and massive stone columns has great drinks and live music nightly, including MPB (Musica Popular…
Buenos Aires
One of Argentina's top five fútbol (soccer) clubs plays here at Estadio Pedro Bidegain. Pope Francis is a fan.
