Co-owner Camilo Rojas has helped pioneer craft beer in Bogotá for the past six years. The independently owned craft-beer bar, located in a trendy area of town near Parque de la 93, offers nine beers on tap (eight of which come from its own brewery). It’s also a cozy spot with a great indie playlist.

This nightclub has been around for more than 35 years and attracts a crowd of salsa loyalists. With a terrace and a spacious dance floor, Galería features legendary live salsa bands, as well as performers of other Colombian beats, including Pacific and folkloric music. Start with a Cuba libre and if you’re with a large group, go straight to the rum bottle service.

Live bands and high-profile indie DJs are only part of the draw: Armando also has some of the city’s most fantastic outdoor spaces, including a rooftop with an impressive skyline view. The second floor, where you can often catch local bands, packs in raucous crowds. Go for a neat whiskey, rum, or local beer. This is one of a few places in Bogotá that is open almost every day, and regularly books great lineups of international and avant-garde bands.

This ’90s classic in the Zona T offers a wide variety of martinis with generous pours of gin. Both the outside terrace and the intimate indoor bar might transport you back a couple of decades with the black leather sofas, big mirrors, and waiters in old-school outfits.

Los Angeles inspired this taco joint/cocktail bar with a California chef and various kinds of tequilas, mezcal cocktails, and micheladas. The small Zona Rosa space features lively and colorful graffiti and blasts West Coast hip-hop. Try cocktails like the Flor de Oaxaca (refreshing and aromatic) or the Chile Rosa (spicy and strong), along with the tacos.

Located inside a historic building in the La Macarena neighborhood, next to the Santamaría bullring, El Bembé is a colorful and retro Cuban salsa bar and restaurant with live bands, yellow walls studded with photographs of salsa legends, and indoor palm trees that evoke the Caribbean. Go for one of the many mojitos (especially the one mixed with tamarind). And always make a reservation in advance — the place is very small, and the music draws a crowd. $20,000 COP cover.

Wine bars aren’t all that common in Bogotá, but Eat’s Gastro Market is a hidden gem for those aiming to try a variety of wines, tequilas, beers, and gins. Located in Rosales, one of the toniest neighborhoods in the city, the bar sits inside a stone castle, which feels almost like real wine cave — one with more than 680 drinking options.

The craft-beer scene is gaining steam in Bogotá, and El Mono Bandido, in the Quinta Camacho neighborhood, attracts both newcomers and aficionados. With its red-brick walls, industrial lighting, and a few outdoor tables among the trees, it’s a lively space for trying a variety of artisanal beers. Some of the selections are brewed in-house, while others hail from outside craft breweries. There are additional locations now in Parque de la 93 and Chapinero.

This bohemian blues, rock, and jazz bar and burger joint is located inside of a colonial two-story house in the arty La Macarena area. A good spot for a more relaxing night with classic bourbon or tequila cocktails. Try the Foxy Lady — rum, gin, kiwi, mint, and lemon — or if you want something strong and bourbon-based, the namesake Smoking Molly. Hungry? The burger is a fine bet. The bar hosts local bands regularly, and the occasional standup comedy open mic.

La Piel Roja, a restaurant on weekdays, turns into a throwback disco bar late at night, and on the weekends features DJs from all over Colombia. They will play everything from salsa to merengue to tropical to ’80s plancha (Latin American romantic ballads). Get some local beers or traditional spirits like aguardiente or rum, along with some picada (grilled beef, potato, and chorizo). There’s usually a $15,000 COP cover.

This is a classic salsa bar that has been around for almost four decades in historic La Candelaria. The two-story house is a great place for dancing, not just to salsa beats but also reggae, fusion, and more experimental Caribbean rhythms. The place gets packed with an eclectic crowd that includes college students and young professionals. Loosen up with some Havana Club or Bacardi, or with Colombia’s local spirit, aguardiente. The cocktail menu is a new attraction, featuring classics and some modern inventions. On the weekends, the cover is around $10,000 COP.