Lima, Peru's Top Dance Clubs in 2009

Jonathan Street
Jonathan Street, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 30, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Latin America is known for having some of the best nightlife and dance clubs in the world, and Lima, Peru is no exception. While dancing is not my favorite pastime, I do enjoy going to clubs and listening to music. Lima is home to some fantastic clubs, with music spanning the gamut from salsa, cumbia, pachanga, to rock and roll, electronic, and lounge.

Unless you go to a traditional Peruvian bar, the chance is that you will find a wide assortment of music played throughout the night. Unlike clubs in Buenos Aires or Santiago, dance clubs in Lima generally start out the night with electronic music, followed by some 80s hits, then moving into the salsa and pachanga that is the most popular music in Lima.

Gotica: Located in the Larcomar shopping center on the cliffs of Miraflores, this is one of Lima's most popular dance clubs. The music is typically a mix, leading up to the salsa and pachanga that are popular with the locals. There is also a smaller room, which features electronic music on the weekends.

Aura: The bar where Lima's fashionable folks flock. Lima's best dance club is always packed with the good looking people. Located next door to Gotica in Larcomar, these two clubs are Lima's most popular. Aura also has a VIP room upstairs featuring electronic music nightly.

Bartini: This intimate bar might be small, but 2009 found it packed each night. Small dance floor, but always packed. Features all kinds of music and a good happy hour. Also in Larcomar.

El Dragon: Year after year, El Dragon finds itself at the top of the list. Small and dark, Dragon features live music on some nights, electronic DJs, 80s nights, salsa nights, and more. After midnight is when the party really gets going in the Barranco standby. Lima's most popular eclectic bar.

La Noche: Like El Dragon, La Noche features a mix of live music and DJs spinning salsa and other Latin rhythms in a cavernous, artistic atmosphere. Located in Barranco, just off the main square.

Published by Jonathan Street

Jonathan Street is a professional writer, Master's student, and currently teaches English Literature at Colegio Italiano Antonio Raimondi in Lima, Peru. His major passions are traveling and writing, and Jon...   View profile

  • Many of Lima's best dance clubs are located in the Miraflores entertainment center called Larcomar.
  • Barranco has some good bars and clubs, but is more casual than Miraflores and San Isidro.
  • Year after year, El Dragon is always a favorite and features a wide variety of music.
Although the nights might start out with electronic music, it will soon give way to salsa, Latin pop, and pachanga music in Lima.

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