5 reviewed party hostels · from €4.42/night · Hostelworld rated
Arequipa's nightlife punches well above its altitude. The Plaza de Armas and the streets fanning off it, particularly Calle San Francisco and the nearby Pasaje La Catedral, fill up every night of the week with backpackers, locals, and travellers passing through on the way to Colca Canyon or the coast. Bars here are cheap by any standard: a bottle of Cusqueña rarely breaks 8 soles, and pisco sours clock in at around 12 to 15. The hostel scene is solid. You'll find a good cluster of social spots within walking distance of the Plaza, mostly in the San Lázaro and Centro Histórico areas, where colonial sillar-stone architecture makes even the bar-hop feel a bit cinematic. Nights tend to start late, around 10pm, and the best clubs don't fill up until midnight. Come hungry too: the city's food scene is one of the strongest in Peru, and a decent feed before a night out is never far away.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Well-located social hostel, just 20m from the main pedestrian area crowded with the best restaurants and dance clubs. Delicious free breakfast included, with amazing homemade banana pancakes. Chill rooftop area with a laid back atmosphere turns into a vibrant place every evening, with pool tournaments, beer pong sessions and fun board games.
Viajero Arequipa Hostel in the White City’s heart is a party hotspot, buzzing with live DJs, karaoke, and beer pong on its vibrant rooftop bar. Sip Pisco Sours in the jacuzzi, steps from Plaza de Armas’ nightlife. Lively staff spark electric vibes, making it a gem for an epic, party-packed adventure in Arequipa’s festive scene.
Lonko Hostel turns into a crazy party place every weekend. Open-air terrace with pool is the best spot to bond with other backpackers. There is also a fun on-site bar and numerous pubs, restaurants, and dance clubs right down the street. After a crazy night out, enjoy free tasty breakfast served in a cheerful common room.
Flying Dog Hostel in Arequipa is a fantastic party hotspot housed in a charming 18th-century colonial house. With an on-site bar, lively activities like beer pong, and engaging games, it promises a vibrant social scene for guests to connect and enjoy an unforgettable party experience.
Econunay in Arequipa’s Vallecito is a party gem, buzzing with nightly salsa lessons and Pisco Sour workshops at its vibrant bar. The rooftop, with stunning city views, sparks lively gatherings, just a five-minute walk from Plaza de Armas’ nightlife. Friendly staff fuel vibrant vibes, making it a hotspot for an epic, party-packed adventure.
How Arequipa's nightlife zones break down
The old city centre, built from white volcanic sillar stone, is where almost everything happens for backpackers. Calle San Francisco, Pasaje Catedral, and Calle Jerusalén hold the bulk of the bars, restaurants, and hostels. The Plaza de Armas is the natural meeting point, and most of what you need is within a ten-minute walk of it.
Arequipa's oldest neighbourhood, just north of the Plaza de Armas, is a quiet residential area of cobbled lanes and whitewashed houses. It has a handful of small guesthouses and is a short walk from the Centro Histórico bar scene. The streets are atmospheric at night but less lively than the centre itself.
A residential district about 2km northwest of the centre, Yanahuara is known for its mirador (viewpoint) over the city and the Misti volcano. It has a few neighbourhood bars and restaurants, and the pace here is noticeably calmer than downtown. Taxis back to the centre take under ten minutes and cost around 8 soles.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
A long-standing backpacker favourite on Pasaje Catedral, Farren's is the easiest place in the city to meet other travellers. It gets busy from around 9pm, serves decent pub food alongside its drinks, and the crowd is a reliable mix of locals and foreigners. Expect classic rock, reasonable beer prices, and a relaxed atmosphere that can turn rowdy by midnight.
One of the most popular clubs in Arequipa, Deja Vu plays a mix of reggaeton, cumbia, and electronic music across two floors. Entry is usually free or low-cost before midnight, and drinks are reasonably priced by the city's standards. It fills up late, so don't bother arriving before 12:30am.
Less a museum, more a well-run pisco bar with an impressive cocktail menu. The staff actually explain what goes into each drink, which makes it a solid first stop on a night out. Pisco sours start at around 18 soles, and the food menu holds up well if you need a base before a bigger night.
A popular local craft beer bar that draws a mixed crowd of Arequipeños and travellers. The taps rotate regularly, and the wood-fired pizza oven out back produces some of the best cheap food in the area. Gets busy on weekends from around 8pm.
A small, dimly lit bar popular with backpackers looking for somewhere cheap and sociable. The playlist skips around a lot, the staff are friendly, and it's the kind of place where you end up staying two hours longer than planned. Drinks are on the cheaper end for the area.
Arequipa's go-to for anyone who wants rock and metal instead of reggaeton. Forum has live bands several nights a week, a decent selection of imported beers, and a crowd that tends to be older than the average club. The sound system is genuinely good, and the vibe is unpretentious.
A split-level bar near the Plaza de Armas with an upstairs terrace that catches a breeze on warm evenings. It draws a younger local crowd on weekends and often has DJs spinning electronic and house from around 11pm. One of the better places in the city for dancing without the full club experience.