The Best Nightlife in La Paz: Our Favorite Bars & Clubs

April 21, 2016 Pirwa

Pirwa La Paz opened in its new location this week, and since two of the establishments in our new neighborhood happen to be among the biggest hotspots in La Paz, we thought we’d go over our favorite bars and clubs for those of you looking to see the city’s nightlife. Relax after a long trek with some creative cocktails or dance the night away in celebration of surviving biking down Death Road at these top bars and clubs.

FORUM

Forum nightclub has been the place to go for more than a decade. In fact, we’d venture to say that you’ll find it on every top 10 list about La Paz night life. There, you’ll find many more locals than foreigners, so it’s the perfect spot to practice dancing to Latin music. It’s fills up quickly on Fridays and Saturdays, so we recommend you get in before 11pm- afterwards, it can be difficult. There’s an “upscale casual” dress code and a cover charge of 40Bs (US$6) which includes drink coupons. When you leave in the AM, you’ll be thankful that our new hostel in La Paz is located just half a block away.

Where: Calle Victor Sanjines 2908 in Sopocachi zone- 2 blocks from Plaza España and, more importantly, just half a block from Pirwa La Paz!

La Costilla de Adan Bar & Restaurant

This unique bar is owned by a passionate antiquities collector who has packed its two stories to the rafters with over 19,000 antiques from around Bolivia: radios, books, film poster, dolls and more line the walls and ceilings. Personally, we’re partial to the mannequin heads collection, modeling the hottest hat fashions from years long past. While admiring the historical bric-a-brac, make sure to try the Leche de Negro, made with quince liqueur, brandy liqueur and coca, alongside some baked apples.

Where: Calle Armaza 2974 in Sopocachi zone- 3 blocks from Pirwa La Paz

Mongo’s

We had to list at least one backpackers’ hole. Luckily, Mongos has been dancing the night away since the ‘90s, and is such an institution that it’s popular with locals as well as foreigners. There is a dining area serving a mix of international food, a bar section, and a large dance floor where you can enjoy Latin music as well as whatever’s popular on the international clubbing scene (pop, house, R&B). Some nights there are live bands, while on other nights DJs lord over the crowd.

Where: Calle Hermanos Manchego 2444, La Paz, Bolivia

Diesel Nacional

Diesel Nacional Bar offers stylish décor, a quirky menu served all night long, and delicious cocktails. Don’t let the formidable tall wire entrance fool you: past it, you’ll find an industrial interior marked by the recycled parts of vehicles, planes and trains but warmed by a cozy fireplace that is entirely welcome on cold Bolivian nights.

Where: Av. 20 de Octubre 2271, La Paz, Bolivia

Ttkos

For those of us who love bars with a laid-back, cave-like ambience, the basement-located Ttkos offers a wide range of live music according to the night’s theme. This could be something like classic rock, Latin alternative music, Ska, DJs, or even watching documentaries. Locals pack the house on Reggae Tuesday in order to dance to the tunes of well-known Bolivian bands. Try the house drink, Tutuma, which is a cocktail made with papaya, singani and varied secret ingredients; it’s served in a wooden bowl.