20 Best Bars in The Highlands, Guatemala

Vegetarian restaurant Asados Puente holds happy hour every night from 8 to 10 pm.

Grab a cup of coffee or a drink on the second-floor outdoor balcony of Balcón del Enríquez, in the Pasaje Enríquez building on Parque Centro América.

Blue Angel Video Café serves up fruit and veggie drinks while you log in via Wi-Fi on your laptop.

Enjoy live music each Thursday evening at the mellow Brooklyn Bar.

Casa Babylon attracts foreign students and Guatemalans alike. They have an extensive mixed drink list.

The dimly lighted Chapiteau Disco plays mostly rock, Wednesday through Saturday.

The Circus Bar is a popular spot for locals and travelers alike, and has live Latin music most nights.

Catering to the university crowd, El Duende is the place to go dancing on weekends.

Nurse a glass of wine and listen to live music or a poetry reading at El Viñedo Tuesday through Saturday.

Take your pick, depending on the night of the week, at Kokoloko's, and dance to salsa, reggae, or world music. Happy hour is from 7 to 9 every night.

La Fonda del Ché has trova, a genre of protest music popular in Latin America, Tuesday through Saturday night.

For a taste of Xela's bohemian scene, head to the oh-so-funky La Luna. Though they don't serve alcohol, the extensive hot-drink menu is enough to satisfy any espresso addict or chocophile.

La Mansión Marilyn offers live music with a lot of Marilyn Monroe decor in the background Tuesday through Sunday.

Dance the night away, Latin style, at La Parranda.

Up above the fray of Calle Santander, La Terraza has an open-air, casual elegance perfect for early-evening cocktails. They also have a good menu focusing on continental favorites like rabbit and fondue Bourguignonne.

Dance to a variety of music at Pala Life Klishé. Tuesday is reggae night; Friday means disco.

The Pana Rock Café has live music many nights, and wins Panajachel's loudest-bar award.

Right off the central square, Salón Tecún is a small pub inside the Pasaje Enríquez building on Parque Centro América that is popular with students.

Solomon's Porchá screens films several nights a week.

You can enjoy good Mexican food at the aptly named Sunset Café. There's live music almost every night.