Caracas Nightlife
Caracas and Venezuela are famed for their food and the country is widely regarded as the best place in which to enjoy a meal in South America. The country has a wide range of dishes, many of which have their influences in other Latin American regions. However, there are plenty of unique specialities to try, such as pabellón criollo, which involves shredded meat, rice, black beans and fried plantain; and foie gras, with mango or smoked salmon.
Meat eaters are in for a treat in Caracas. Two of the top places to try are La Estancia on Avenida Principal La Castellana and Aranjuez on Calle Madrid. Both are reasonably priced and serve tasty, sizeable steaks. Both are well established and popular with the locals.
Tarzilandia in Altamira is another top joint for those after local fare. A little pricier than most, this establishment serves plenty of traditional food plus some more unusual local delicacies including shrimp with tropical fruit and its famous turtle pie.
The nearby Café L'Attico is a more continental affair and is considered by some as a pub, while others view it as a fantastic place to eat cheaply. If you don't mind being surrounded by large television screens while you eat, you will enjoy the sophisticated food.
There are numerous Italian eateries in the city and Da Guido in Sabana Grande is one of the best. A famous establishment in Caracas, this family affair is enticingly priced and serves up great dishes.
Nightlife in Caracas is second to none. The locals are notoriously hedonistic and the city's night time scene builds up steadily from Tuesday onwards. Most locals hit the bars and clubs at around midnight, meaning visitors could be in for a lonely initial few hours. Night owls cannot go far wrong if they head to the Las Mercedes district, where it will be heaving come the weekend.
Auyama in Las Mercedes is a good bar in which to start. Many night hawks head here for a cocktail before hitting one of the district's numerous clubs.
Nearby can be found Weekends, where pool tables abound and the beer is always flowing.
If you want to find yourself a good locals' bar that is tourist friendly, try El León on the La Castellana roundabout. It is a hugely popular joint and has a wonderful open air terrace.
La Belle Epóque in Bello Monte is widely regarded as the top place to go dancing in the city. This large, friendly establishment is cheap and has three different rooms in which to enjoy oneself, catering to techno, rock and reggae fans alike. A rock band can often be found playing on Thursday to Saturday nights.
For a spot of culture of an evening, the best bet is to head down to the Teatro Nacional on Avenida Lacuna, where there are numerous productions of various forms going on throughout the year.
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Nightlife and Eating & Drinking
