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The Best Bars in Montevideo, Uruguay

There are so many excellent choices for bars in Montevideo, Uruguay
There are so many excellent choices for bars in Montevideo, Uruguay | © Daniel Ferreira Leites / Alamy Stock Photo

Montevideo, like many Latin American cities, has a vibrant nightlife that is noisily alive with Latin music and tango dancing. The city’s bars range from century-old taverns, to trendy modern cocktail bars. Many are also restaurants, serving excellent Uruguayan and international cuisine, so you could spend a whole evening in one place. We recommend, however, that you explore as many of Montevideo’s bars as possible, and to help you do this we’ve compiled a useful guide to the best that the Uruguayan capital has to offer.

El Pony Pisador

El Pony Pisador is a fixed point in the nightlife of the Uruguayan people and of tourists. It is located in the old town and is all in one bar, restaurant and disco. You will find there live music as well as pop, Latin music and cumbia for dancing. It is the perfect place to have a pleasant after work beer with colleagues, or a tasty dinner with friends, and to party afterwards and meet new and open-minded people.

Barba Roja

Barba Roja is situated very close to the World Trade Center Montevideo. It offers traditional and very delicious South American dishes, but also Mexican, Italian and American food. The very special thing about this bar is that it has its own beer brewery, where about 12 types of beers are produced. But it is not just beer lovers who will get their money’s worth, so will music lovers. Live bands from the region will regularly sweeten evenings and the fun factor is present at the karaoke nights. Don’t miss this special entertaining experience

Café Bar Tabaré

In 1919 the Café Bar Tabaré was founded by Alfredo Gonzalez as a little grocery, which expanded and became a restaurant for neighbors and locals and a bar for fishermen. After the Second World War came a lot of changes. In 1993 it reopened as a pub and restaurant, but kept with a lot of original furniture. They offer weekly stand up comedy evenings and varied music concerts. In 2009 Tabaré celebrated its 90th birthday, and was honored as one of the 10 best bars in the entire world.

Bar Andorra

Legend relates that Bar Andorra was founded in honor of a boxer of the district Barrio Sur, whose name was Miguelito Triunfo. He lived his life with the principle to unite with neighbours of the region and of other places, and this philosophy is still adhered to by Bar Andorra. It is a place of get-togethers, with excellent DJs and bands and lots of locals. If you want to get involved into the true Uruguayan nightlife, this is the place to be.

Intramuros Underbar

A very special location, a cellar vault made of stone, is the location of Intramuros Underbar. Its magical atmosphere comes from a space itself, which is more than 150 years old and situated close to the Plaza Independencia in the city center. This bar is one of those rare places where you can enjoy creative theatre productions whilst you enjoy a drink. A welcome change are the regularly held concerts of every genre of music – their spectrum reaches from jazz and blues to reggae, electronic and rock. Another hot tip: come to see the art exhibitions at this bar.

La Giraldita

La Giraldita is located in a calm street, and is ideal for sitting outside and enjoying the South American sun. It is an old fashioned bar with dark wooden furniture and a lot of posters on the wall. These fittings create a very special atmosphere, as do the heightened interior and the garden. Additionally, there is the possibility to eat substantial meals of typical Uruguayan dishes mixed with Asian and Mediterranean accents. For sure, this is a place to stay and enjoy time with family and friends.

La Hacienda

This bar is a real insider tip. La Hacienda is located in the district of Pocitos, in an environment where bars and restaurants are treated like hot spots, and beach lovers have their chance to relax.The bar’s rustic furnishing of a mixture of wood and tiles invites you to chill out for a long time. La Hacienda is a place visited especially by young Uruguayans, for get-togethers, exchanges of ideas, cultural exchange or just pleasant stays, all while having a tasty drink.

Living

It is one of those places you will not miss. The bar’s entrance is incredibly creatively painted, so you cannot pass Living without getting curious and taking a step into it. This bar is ideal for relaxed evenings with friends, to calm down after an exciting day, and listen to local live musicians. Guests can sample different types of vodkas, whiskeys and rums, or drink beer and wine. Here, old and young are moving together and just living every moment.

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About the author

Ricarda was born and raised in Vienna and developed her passion for travelling while traveling regularly with her family as a child. After school she went to the Caribbean and South America to experience another way of life and broaden her horizons. Her keen interest in art and culture has taken her around the world, and she thinks that 'travelling enriches our life the most’. Her interests in art and culture are also a big part in her daily life, as she is a literature and music enthusiast and an avid photographer. Ricarda is currently studying Comparative Literature in Vienna.

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