Arequipa Nightlife

The bustling nightlife in Arequipa is a friendly scene where gringos and locals alike can be seen in a variety of bars, restaurants, and discothèque type clubs. Aside from the amicable atmosphere and generous happy hours, many of the bar venues are an experience in themselves, boasting colonial architecture and vaulted sillar ceilings.

Calles San Francisco and Zela are the main hot spots, while there are also a number of bars along Pasaje Catedral, the alleyway behind the Cathedral. Nearby is Las Quenas, a peña bar/restaurant on Santa Catalina featuring live Andean music every night of the week (except Sundays). Open from 9pm to midnight, the bar is a cozy place to enjoy a bite to eat and catch a special dance performance on Friday and Saturday nights.

If in search of a little more action, the Forum Rock Café on Calle San Francisco is the perfect venue for a dosage of live rock music (Thursday through Saturday). Somewhere between a bar, grill, disco, and concert hall, this spot is unique, sporting rainforest-themed décor and even “canopy walkways.” Just down the road is the heavily tourist-frequented Déjà Vu bar, a lively bar that shows English-language movies on their big screen every night at 8pm. It also has a spectacular rooftop terrace, which is a good spot for dinner (or breakfast) after a long night of partying.