Rio de Janeiro
Perfectly positioned, this open-air bar and eatery looks out on wide Av Atlântica, with the beach in the background. Owing to its breezy location, it…
Must-see nightlife in South America
Along the Río Paraná
A great place to try the local lager is this historic corner pub. It's a huge affair, with streetside tables, a cypress-shaded terrace and an immense…
Puerto Varas
Named after a Patagonian Robin Hood who stole beef from the rich and threw barbecues for the poor, this fashionable restobar is where you'll find upper…
Rio Grande do Sul
Folks of a certain age will love this ’80s-themed bar with cassette-tape napkin holders, floppy-disc coasters and a very young 'Steven' Jobs on the TV…
Huaraz
If you’re hankering to restore life to your numb hiking legs, this is the most popular disco in town, complete with dance-floor trees and loads of nooks…
Recoleta & Barrio Norte
The Shamrock Basement is an unpretentious subterranean club known for its first-rate DJ lineups, pounding house music and diverse young crowd. Thanks to…
Santa Catarina
Though the craft beer movement has de-throned Eisenbahn as the best and most famous artisanal Brazilian beer, this long-standing brewery has stepped up…
Rosario
This enormous and hugely popular bar is a striking sight with its wall-to-wall guitar-hero decoration, good-looking bar and terrace area, and comfy padded…
Puerto Montt
Old Rolling Stone covers and other musical propaganda dot this classic, multiroomed bar lit with candles and featuring several tables and a bar rack made…
São Paulo
The São Paulo location of the now very well-established Scottish craft beer empire was their first foray outside Europe. Love or hate the brand, it's hard…
Buenos Aires
Usually full of businesspeople drinking coffee, this two-story cafe – now sporting modern touches such as glass walls and copper-covered columns – was…
South Coast
With a classic European-style feel (decorated with upholstered dining chairs, chandeliers, a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a small model of a…
Quito
At the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, red-walled Cafe Democrático is an artsy hangout serving craft beer, cocktails, coffee and a menu of sandwiches and…
Santa Catarina
Das Bier brews two traditional-style pilsens and follows those with a brown ale, weiss, pale ale, Australian pale ale and märzen, among others. Their in…
Colonia del Sacramento
Food at this touristy corner place facing the main square is mediocre and overpriced, but it still might tempt you for a beer or cocktail break, thanks to…
Cochabamba
Girls in glasses reading Pablo Neruda while sipping artisanal beer. Young guys barbecuing meat on a portable grill just outside the entrance. Live…
Arequipa
Two bars split into upstairs and downstairs (with no ground level). Both are dark, narrow and popular with locals who like to kick-start the night with a…
Puno
If you want to see how young locals get down, this is the place. Multileveled mayhem, a karaoke lounge, a dance floor that explodes to salsa, reggaetón …
Medellín
A fairly laid-back bar by Lleras standards, Octava plays good international music, has a 'ball pool' for playing around in and attracts an unpretentious…
São Paulo
São Paulo's most old-school luxury hotel, Maksoud Plaza, turned over its old piano bar to Spencer Jr, the city's most heralded mixologist, in a plea to…
Santa Cruz
A laid-back place where you can sip on bebidas extremas (extreme drinks) served in two-liter receptacles. Great snacks and sandwiches too, all served with…
Rio Grande do Sul
Du Perau started with ambitions of craft beer grandeur – it once had 55 types of Rio Grande do Sul bottles. Today, friendly Rodrigo's fun, music-themed…
The Oriente
Five blocks north of the main square, this is where Macas folks come to chill with a couple of cold ones, including Ecuadorian microbrews, if you're into…
Bogotá
One of two big Starbucks-like chains in Bogotá (Oma is the other), Juan Valdez does as reliable a job with a tinto (black coffee), cappuccino or cafe…
Quito
Proudly flying the green, white and gold, this Irish-owned bar attracts a mix of locals and foreigners who come for games of pool, table football, pub…
São Paulo
Steeped in Paulista history, Riviera was the epicenter of the intellectual counterculture for over 50 years before falling on hard times and shutting in…
Cartagena
It gets tight with an eclectic crowd of all shapes and sizes at this excellent Getsemaní spot for salsa, son and reggae. It's on the 2nd floor overlooking…
Rio de Janeiro
Hidden in a narrow lane leading off Praça XV (Quinze) de Novembro, this place is one of many popular open-sided drinking spots tucked into Rio's old…
Lima
Facing the park, this second-story cocktail bar is another outlet of this small chain started by an American pisco lover. Fabulous, inventive pisco…
São Luís
An unpretentious local watering hole that's a popular spot for knocking back cold beers and caipirinhas. It also serves up some decent home style local…
Santa Catarina
A proper English-run pub and garden pouring a wide range of pints (R$24.50 to R$47.50) from some 40 taps, including local craft and classic standbys like…
Guayaquil
This hip spot has a candlelit, lounge-like vibe that's just the right setting for a few drinks with friends. Well-mixed cocktails are on hand, plus there…
Rio de Janeiro
Cariocas have found creative ways to spend a summer evening while the economic crisis still grips the city – namely stopping by well-positioned snack bars…
Bahia
In town, Morocha is ground zero for nightlife, particularly in summer and around Carnaval. This popular local hangout and restaurant serving pizza, steaks…
Sur Chico
This seven-tap brewhouse in trendy Isla Teja brews commendable Russian Imperial Stouts, Wee Heavies, Oatmeal Stouts and American India Pale Ale, among…
Baños
One of the hottest spots in town, this large complex (in Spanish pronunciation, lep-reh-chown) has a bonfire in the back patio, dancing in the middle and…
Bogotá
El Altillo has two branches – follow the footsteps of in-the-know locals into this one, set in a hidden garden cafe in the historic neighborhood of…
Cuzco
Run by a motorcycle enthusiast, this unassuming expat-style bar overlooks the Plaza de Armas. It’s a boon for people-watching, if you can get a balcony…
Cuzco
Though it may change names, this place usually has the most up-to-the-minute electronic music collection, with trance, house and hip-hop mixed in with…
Rio de Janeiro
Artwork lines this space in Botafogo. With numerous rooms to explore (lounge, screening room, dance floors), this old mansion embodies the creative side…
