Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [173]
Carnaval ( 309 6229; Calle 80 Sur No 50-61, Entrada La Estrella; cover COP$15,000-20,000; 10pm-6am Thu-Sat) A five-minute taxi ride past Mango’s on the highway is this massive disco. It attracts DJs from around the world. This is your late night option – no one shows up until 3am. The retractable roof opens and closes to let in a breath of fresh night air.
Club Social La Clarita (Map; 257 1223; Carrera 69 No 71-21, Robledo; cover COP$10,000; 11pm-6am Fri & Sat) This late-night disco doesn’t get going until around 2am on the weekend, and then goes till dawn. A fair whack north of the center, this is where locals come to drink and dance to Colombian crossover. Sometimes has live music and dancers.
El Blue (Map; 266 3047; Calle 10 No 40-20; cover COP$10,000) Just off Parque Lleras, this place is devoted to rock, often hosting live bands. It has a large outdoor patio and caters to a mostly laid-back crowd. Thursday is big because there’s no cover charge. One of the very few pick-up joints in Colombia, this is the place paísa girls go to meet gringo boys.
La Kasa ( 381 2663; Km1 Las Palmas; cover COP$10,000, women free) This popular split-level disco plays techno, accompanied by half a dozen electronic disco balls. Three bars will keep you well lubricated, and the fish in the two tanks built into the walls guarantee you a captive audience for your latest dance moves. One of the very best places for techno in Medellín; best for a visit on Thursday and Saturday.
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WHAT’S ON IN MEDELLÍN
www.guiaturisticademedellin.com A bilingual guide to the city. Bookstores sell hard copies for COP$9000.
www.medellin.gov.co The government website is a good source of local information.
medellin.vive.in For galleries, cinema, theater and concerts.
El Colombiano (www.elcolombiano.com.co) The broadsheet’s Thursday supplement is worth a look.
Opción Hoy (www.opcionhoy.com) Monthly publication.
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Mango’s ( 277 6123; Carrera 42 No 67A-151; cover COP$16,000) This upscale disco is tricked out in a western theme – all the waiters are dressed like cowboys. Scantily clad models and dwarfs dance for the crowds. The city’s rich and beautiful come here to show off – it’s among the most expensive nightclubs in Medellín.
Papayera (Map; 239 3400; Calle 53 No 42-55) Also known as Eslabon Perdido (the missing link), Eslabon Prendido (the tipsy link) or just ‘Es La Bon,’ this punnily-named bar is famous for its Tuesday night live salsa jams. It’s a few blocks from Parque Periodista, a seedy area where a number of edgy bars cluster.
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Entertainment
CINEMA
In addition to Medellín’s many mainstream cinemas, check out the Museo de Antioquia (Map; 251 3636; www.museodeantioquia.org; Carrera 52 No 52-43), which shows free films most Tuesdays at 4pm. For classic English-language films, check out the Centro Colombo Americano (Map; 513 4444; www.colomboworld.com; Carrera 45 No 53-24; admission COP$5000).
THEATER
Medellín has the liveliest theater scene outside of Bogotá. There are a dozen or so theaters doing work that ranges from classical to the experimental. For event listings see www.medellinenescena.org.
Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe (Map; 239 7500; Carrera 40 No 51-24) This is Medellín’s major mainstream theater.
Casa del Teatro Medellín (Map; 254 0397; www.casadelteatrodemedellin.com; Calle 59 No 50A-25) Hosts different local theater groups year-round. The theater library has a large collection specializing in Colombian theater.
Teatro Metropolitano (Map; 232 4597; www.teatrometropolitano.com; Calle 41 No 57-30) Inaugurated in 1987, Medellín’s largest and most modern theater hosts concerts, opera and ballet