7 Best Bars in The Old City, Guatemala City

A lively young gay crowd frequents Black & White Wednesday through Sunday night, and there always seem to be drink specials on tap.

Blanco y Negro, located in the same block as the Pasaje Aycinena and the Pasaje Rubio, specializes in reggae.

Café & Bar Sabina offers Trova, a kind of folk music that originated in Cuba.

The mellow Café del Arco serves light, café-style food to a mixed clientele, nightly except Sunday.

Pasaje Aycinena, along the Pasaje Rubio, a convenient, relatively safe pedestrian zone, is the best bet for tourists. The atmosphere is "alternative," with lots of young people (including many Europeans). Among the establishments you'll find here are the venerable Cien Puertas (the oldest bar in the neighborhood), Bacabes (which features live rock music in Spanish and English), La Luna (Trova), and Capuccino (Spanish-language rock).

Pasaje Rubio, adjacent to the Pasaje Aycinena, is another popular pedestrian zone. It has a bohemian feel, with a variety of establishments for every personal and musical taste. A highlight is El Portalito, once the hangout of Guatemala's Noble Prize-winning author Miguel Ángel Asturias.

A mixed crowd dances the night away at Rouge.