5 Best Bars in Lima, Peru

Two blocks west of Parque Kennedy, Cocodrilo Verde features some of Peru's best musicians, plus visiting acts that play everything from jazz to salsa and bossa nova. Shows start anytime between 9 and 11 pm, depending on the night.

On the second floor of an old building across from Parque Kennedy, El Tayta has live guitar music (mostly Latin pop) performed by duos or trios.

It's easy to miss the Jazz Zone, hidden in a colonial-style shopping complex called El Suche. Head up a bright-red stairway to the dimly lit second-story lounge for performances of everything from Latin jazz to blues and flamenco, with salsa or other dance music on weekends. Shows start at 10:30.

La Noche is in a funky old house at the far end of the pedestrian street lined with bars known as El Bulevar de Barranco. The building includes a concert hall with a separate entrance (and admission fee) where local rock, Latin pop, and jazz bands perform. It's a great place for a drink even if you don't see the show.

La Posada del Ángel is decorated with a wild collection of antiques and art, including statues of angels. It's one of the few bars in Barranco suited to conversation, and guitarists perform Latin American classics from 10 pm to 2 am. The bar has two more locations just down the street at Prolongación San Martín 157 and Avenida Pedro de Osma 222.