La Paz Nightlife
Many of the city's top restaurants can be discovered around the Plaza Isabel La Catolica and visitors will find traditional menus dominated by meat. Bolivian specialities include Picante de pollo, which is comprised of southern fried chicken, hot peppers, fried potatoes and rice, and Lomo montado (steak, fried eggs, rice and fried banana).
Bolivian beer is highly recommended and is more varied and subtle than in other parts of Latin America. Try to remember the altitude factor, which has caught out many a hardened drinker.
One of the fanciest places to dine is Utama on the top floor of Plaza Hotel. It has served the likes of Fidel Castro in its time but is still by western standards, remarkably cheap, with sizable local and international dishes available. It also offers fantastic views over the city.
Madero on Av 20 de Octubre is a fine place to go if it's top class Bolivian cuisine you are after. The restaurant's cosy, old interior is offset by the wonderful views overlooking the Plaza Avaroa.
Another good place for local fare is Angelo Colonial on Calle Linares, which is also decently priced. Dinner is this old mansion is a wonderful experience and the antiques are well worth a good look at.
Seafood lovers should check out Contigo Peru, on the second floor of Edificio Alameda on the Prado. The ceviche is a particular speciality.
Those on the lookout for a cheap but sizable lunch should try 100% Natural on Calle Sagarnaga. Very popular with backpackers, it offers fantastic veggie burgers and enormous sandwiches.
There are plenty of down-to-earth bars to try where travellers will be welcome to enjoy a drink, although it is best to watch yourself in the seedier parts of town.
If you want to do things in style, try the Lounge on Calle Presbitero Medina. It has a good mix of locals and foreigners and has decent DJs, cocktails and couches. Live music can also be enjoyed during the week.
One of the most popular spots for tourists when it comes to clubs is Mongo's on Manchego. Renowned for its wild goings on, this place also attracts many locals, keen to see what the latest backpacker bus has brought to town.
Ram Jam, which is close to Plaza Abaroa, is another good spot for visitors looking for a spot of dance floor action. Drinkers will be pleased to find that the place has its own micro brew.
It is difficult to find live music that is not consciously promoting itself for the tourist market, with many of the penas of days' past now attracting only foreigners. However, Boca y Sapo, on Indaburo, attracts plenty of locals as well as visitors, with traditional Andean music and lots of revelry.
For the best in modern local bands, try Equinoccio on Sánchez Lima, which is usually hosting many well-known groups, at least to the locals.
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Nightlife and Eating & Drinking
