4 Best Nightlife in El Centro, Lima

This handsomely wood-paneled hotel bar is where the pisco sour took on its definitive final form. The man responsible, Don Eloy Cuadros, has learned his trade well: after 60 years on the job, he still whips up refreshing cocktails that are a perfect break from sightseeing in El Centro.

Run by a nonprofit cultural association, this supper-club theater showcases Peru's colorful danzas folklóricas, especially those from Puno, near Lake Titicaca. The music, costumes, and virtuosic footwork evoke the joyous frenzy of the region's Virgen de la Candelaria festival. Take a cab when you go; the theater is a bit hard to find.

Artisanal cocktails are what's on tap at this atmospheric saloon patterned after an Ica bodega (winery).The classic pisco sours are formidable, but even better are the ginger-ale-based chilcanos and the citrus-and-berry-laced frutales. The expert mixologists are happy to make recommendations.