Several existing sites have a directory of all the bars and clubs, however for our Medellín nightlife directory, we’re building a list from personal experience and recommendations by Colombian friends.
Latin Hosts has also selected the top spots based on feedback from their visitors and members host. The nightlife section of their Visitor guide is a good rundown.
As a rule of thumb, when it comes to nightlife in Medellín, the farther away from Parque Lleras you venture, the less likely you’ll be sharing the bar or club with other foreigners.
All venues are within Medellín city limits unless otherwise noted.
Sample Week
New to town and want to start partying in Medellín right away, regardless of the night?
Options are limited early in the week, however here are a few suggestions to help you find Medellín’s party people:
- Sunday – El Social, Bogotá Beer Company
- Monday – Dancefree (group salsa lessons)
- Tuesday – El Eslabon Prendido (live salsa)
- Wednesday – Envy Rooftop Bar
- Thursday – Babylon (crossover, ladies night) or Bendito Seas (crossover, ladies night)
- Friday – Dulce Jesus Mio (crossover) or Kukaramakara (crossover, live cover band)
- Saturday – Sixttina (electronic, reggaeton) Son Havana (live salsa)
Crossover Discotecas (Dance Clubs)
The majority of the discotecas en Medellín play crossover music, which means you’ll hear a mix of different genres throughout the night, including salsa, reggaeton, merengue, vallenato, cumbia, bachata, popular rock and electronica.
* Editor’s Choice
| Style | Barrio | Name | Cost | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewery | Sabaneta | Apóstol Brewery | $$ | Every Thursday evening, the Apóstol Brewery hosts a beer tasting and brewery tour that's open to the public. |  |
| Brewery | Barrio Colombia | 3 Cordilleras Brewery | $$ | Every Thursday night, 3 Cordilleras brewery hosts a happy hour with a very generous drink special. The atmosphere is the closest thing to an American style happy hour you'll find in the city. |  |
| Brewery | Barrio Colombia | Cerveceria Libre * | $$ | Small neighborhood brewpub. They brew their own beer in a back room, and also sell beer by the bottle and on draft by Bogotá Beer Company, 3 Cordilleras and Apóstol. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | Envy Rooftop Bar | $$$ | Exclusive rooftop bar known for its pool parties and celebrity spottings. |  |
| Crossover | Las Palmas | Dulce Jesus Mio * | $$$ | Large discoteca in form of a mock Antioquian pueblo, with staff in costume, and song and dance performances. Get there before 10pm to get a good table, and bring a girl, or risk not getting in. |  |
| Crossover | Barrio Colombia | Tutaina Tuturuma | $$ | Tutaina Tuturuma opened its doors in October 2008, and in the process, brought a taste of the typical pueblo atmosphere to Barrio Colombia. The walls are plastered with random, kitschy stuff making for an atmosphere that's uniquely paisa. |  |
| Crossover | Poblado | Sixttina Discoteca | $$$ | Sixttina's space follows the semi-circular shape of the building, putting the focus directly on the DJ booth, or live performers. Attracts beautiful women, and a wealthier clientele, but foreigners have already invaded. |  |
| Crossover | Poblado | Sinko Bar | $$ | Looking as though it could've been ripped right out of the suburbs of Washington, DC, Sinko Bar attracts the after work crowd. Occupying a 3rd floor space in Rio Sur, reserve ahead of time if you want a table on the outdoor balcony for happy hour. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | El Pub de Octavia * | $$ | Casual but fun bar with DJs, and a little space to dance. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | Bendito Seas | $$ | Bendito Seas offers a popular Thursday night Ladies Night. Smaller than Babylon, but still quite fun, Bendito Seas tends to attract a younger crowd. The interior decor is super paisa. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | Bogota Beer Company * | $$ | BBC is an English-style pub perfect for going out with friends after work, or to get some beers and grub while watching the local soccer. |  |
| Crossover | Poblado | Delaire Sky Lounge * | $$$ | Super chill rooftop lounge with a nice city view, perfect for happy hour drinks. Terrific pizzas. High prices, especially for cocktails. No dancing, but it's connected to Sixttina discoteca. |  |
| Crossover | Envigado | La Tienda * | $$ | La Tienda is a smaller version of Dulce Jesus Mio, offering the pueblo-style atmosphere, with multiple locations throughout the city, including Envigado, Sabaneta, La 70, and La Strada mall. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | B-Lounge | $$$ | Wednesday nights are Ladies Night at B-Lounge, making it one of the few happening places mid-week. Expect to see a lot of foreign guys from the nearby hostels. |  |
| Crossover | Itagüí | Mango’s Discoteca | $$$ | Mango's was once one of Medellin's top discotecas, known for its male and female go-go dancers, and midget performers. Featuring a Western-theme, it has downsized to a smaller space in recent years. |  |
| Crossover | Parque Lleras | La Ruana de Juana | $$ | Large discoteca located right on Calle 10, a few blocks from Parque Lleras. Decorated in the paisa style (with lots of random crap hanging everywhere). |  |
| Crossover | Barrio Colombia | Amarna Unica | $$ | Amarna is an Egyptian-themed discoteca from the outside facade through to the interior decor, and staff dressed in costume. Get there before midnight to catch bellydancing performances on the bar. |  |
| Crossover | Poblado | Mixology Molecular Bar | $$$ | Mixology Molecular Bar offers a interesting and novel line of cocktails developed by a Peruvian mixologist. It's located on the 7th floor of Rio Sur Mall. |  |
| Live music / Crossover | Poblado | Kukaramakara Club | $$$ | The highlight of this club is a live cover band playing rock, Latin, and reggaeton favorites, with a DJ between sets. Takes a little while for the crowd to warm up and start dancing. Attracts an upscale crowd. |  |
| Live music / Crossover | Barrio Colombia | Trilogia Bar * | $$ | Trilogia Bar is an old favorite, featuring a live cover band playing rock and Latin covers on a rotating stage. In between sets, a DJ spins crossover music, and everyone gets up to dance. Great atmosphere. |  |
| Reggaeton | Las Palmas | Dejavu | $$$ | Reggaeton club on Las Palmas highway. It was featured in Dalmata's "Dile A Tu Amiga" video. |  |
| Rock | Parque Lleras | La Octava Bar | $ | La Octava is a cheap, friendly rock bar open 365 days a year. Popular with a younger, college age crowd. Great caipirinhas and beer selection. |  |
| Rock | Parque Lleras | Dalí Rock Bar and Cafe | $$ | Bar and cafe featuring a mix of classic rock, from the Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd, and more modern rock, such as Linkin Park and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A comfortable vibe, and TV's also make it a good place to catch sports events. |  |
| Rock & Electronica | Parque Lleras | Blue | $ | Blue is a mainstay for both foreigners and the paisas who want to party with them (aka "gringo hunters"). |  |
| Salsa | La 70 | Son Havana * | $ | Currently Dave's favorite salsa bar in the city, with live bands on the weekends. |  |
| Salsa | Centro | El Eslabon Prendido | $ | Located downtown, a half block from Parque Periodista, El Eslabon Prendido is Medellin's best known salsa bar. Tuesday nights feature a live salsa band, drawing a mix of foreigners and Colombians to dance the night away. |  |
| Salsa | La 70 | El Tibiri | $ | Small, hot, basement-level salsa bar that draws excellent dancers. | |
| Salsa and Bachata | Poblado | Dancefree | $ | Dancefree offers private and group salsa and bachata classes to everyone, from beginners to experts. They also organize social dance nights, parties, and special events. |  |
| Tango | Barrio Antioquia | Patio del Tango * | $$$ | Patio del Tango is an old school, Argentine-style parilla (restaurant) featuring live tango music and professional dance performances on the weekends. Step inside and find out why Medellin is known as tango's 2nd city. |  |
| Theater | Belen | Teatro Universidad de Medellin | $$$ | The University of Medellin's Theater seats 1,700 people, making it one of the largest in the city. The theater hosts a variety of events, including concerts, dance performances, comedy shows, and theatrical productions. |  |
| Theater | Centro | Teatro Pablo Tabon | $$ | ||
| Theater | Centro | Teatro Metropolitano de Medellin | $$ | Medellin's Metropolitan theater is one of the largest in the city, and features a program of classical and popular music, ballet, and contemporary and folkloric dance. | |
| Theater | Centro | Teatro Lido * | Free | Teatro Lido is a government-supported theater offering free access to its full schedule of events, which runs weekly, every Wednesday through Sunday. |  |
| Theater | Centro | Teatro Matacandelas | $$ | This medium-sized, downtown theater features a mix of musical and theatrical performances. |  |
