Trendy on the water and other Lima, Peru Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Cala

Cala is a beautiful and hip restaurant and lounge located on the water in Barranco. It has two levels: The upstairs is a restaurant with incredible, yet slightly pricey, food (Try the Mero). The downstairs is a lounge/bar with the highlight being a long balcony that is literally above the ocean. Excellent setting.

The crowd is trendy and a little more stuck up than what you would find out some other more down-to-earth hangouts in Lima, but worth the trouble at the very least for the view. The music tends to be somehwhat Techno but bearable. Tends to get very crowded Thursday through Saturday so its good to get there before 11.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: More upscal than most places in Lima so dress accordingly. Jeans are probably not a problem.
Directions: Barranco. On the water.

Nightlife Spot: Bier House

Bier House is a very cool bar that has everything you would want in a bar:

1. Good music (mix of hip-hop, 80s, salsa, Latin pop)
2. Dance floor
3. Tables for hanging out with friends
4. Relatively cheap
5. Fun atmosphere
6. Open late
7. Down-to-earth crowd

It is located just off the main Pizza Calle street and should be easy to find if you ask anyone. It picks up on Thursday and tends to get real crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. S/10 cover with free drink.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Pretty lax.
Directions: Located right next to Pizza Calle.

Nightlife Spot: Aura

Aura is the quintessential club in Lima. It is located in Larcomar right next to Pardo's chicken, and generally does not get going until after 2:00 AM, but stays crowded until way after 5:00 AM on the weekends. Aura is very big with two levels and a large outside area. The music is usually solid with current hits and some techno.

The cover is steep (S/40) and you are bound to get some superficial attidtude, but it is a good late not option when you don't want the party to end.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Dress to impress. They can get a little NY-style at the door and be somewhat selective as to who gets in.
Directions: Larcomar

Nightlife Spot: El Dragon

El Dragon is a very fun hangout in Barranco. The atmosphere is always upbeat, there is a large dance floor (mostly hip-hop, spanish pop, salsa), enough space (although it tends to get crowded on weekends), and very friendly waitresses. This place usually gets going later than other places (1:00 AM) and there is a S/15 cover that comes with a free drink.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Pretty Lax
Directions: Barranco, a few blocks from the main plaza

Nightlife Spot: Bobos

This is hands down my favorite bar in Lima. Like so many other places in this city, it has everything you would want out of a bar: Good music, dance floor, comfortable sofas, good drinks, etc. However, the difference between this bar and others is that it is a little more upscale, but certainly not over the top. Plus, if you are a fan of 80s music this is no doubt the place to go. Thursdays and Saturdays are big 80s nights.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Somewhat upscale lounge. Jeans are OK.
Directions: Manuel Bonilla and Larco.

Nightlife Spot: Cafe del Mar

This is one of the more upscale nightlife spots in Lima, and similar to Cala. The restuarant on the first level is very high quality (try the Mero with camarones) and expensive. After you finish dinner and a starting cocktail at one of the two large bars and lounge areas, head upstairs to the 2nd floor dance floor. The music is usually good here, athough they have a tendency to cut off the ends of songs which is a little frustrating. The crowd here is also a little older than in other spots, but there is usually a decent mix. Make sure you get there before 11 or have dinner reservations, otherwise you may have to cough up the S/40 sole cover to get in.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Pretty upscale. Dress appropriately.
Directions: In the Ovalo Gutierrez, next to TGI Fridays.

Nightlife Spot: Son de Cuba

The name says it all. This place is non-stop salsa every night of the week. Generally, Monday through Thursday there are salsa classes at night mixed in with dancing patrons, and on Friday and Saturday it tends to get quite crowded. The bar has two levels with plenty of space and tables. There is also live music with salsa bands on some nights. Make sure you try a Mohito!

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Very lax
Directions: Calle de Pizzas

Nightlife Spot: Huaringas

Huaringas is both a bar and restaurant, the restaurant occupying the first floor (it has another name which I can't remember) and the bar occupies the next 3. This is a solid place Wednesday through Saturday. On Wednesdays, live music is provided and usually starts around 10 or 11 PM. Thursday's is possibly the best night and usually draws a big crowd. There are tables spread over the 3 floors with just about all of them reserved. So if you are looking for space to sit, its probably a good idea to reserve something in advance. One big highlight is how good the pisco sours are here. One downside is that there is no dance floor.

The food in the restaurant downstairs is above average, and they do serve limited meals in the upper floors as well.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: More upscale. Jeans still OK.
Directions: On Bolognesi, about 6 blocks from the water.

Nightlife Spot: Punta Blanca

This is a new place that has opened up right next to Cala. It is right on the water in the Costa Verde in Barranco. Is very similar to Cala as well in terms of the crowd, music (techno), restuarant, and general atmosphere. It is, however, more spacious than Cala and everything is on one level. The patio is also signifcantly bigger. It will be interesting to see which place draws a bigger crowd since they are so similar, but for now they both seem to be doing well. Both of these places will be great places to go when it starts to get warmer in Lima around November/December.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Relatively upscale like Cala. Nice jeans OK.
Directions: Costa Verde in Barranco (Next to Cala)