Nightlife · Quito · Ecuador
Quito nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Quito, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Quito's nightlife is concentrated in a few districts and is busiest from Thursday to Saturday. Plaza Foch in La Mariscal has bars and clubs, La Floresta has craft breweries and cocktail bars, and La Ronda offers a gentler colonial evening. The main areas are Plaza Foch, La Mariscal, La Floresta, Calle La Ronda and La Carolina and La Pradera.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- La Mariscal
- Local drink
- Canelazo
Where to go out
Plaza Foch, La Mariscal
The densest cluster of bars, salsa clubs and late-night venues, popular with students and travellers.
La Floresta
Craft breweries, wine bars and the Ocho y Medio cinema café in a quieter residential barrio.
Calle La Ronda
Small bars serving canelazo with live Andean and folk music in the Old Town.
La Carolina and La Pradera
Upscale cocktail bars and restaurants near the business hotels.
Nightlife tips
- Take a taxi or ride-hailing car door to door at night, even for short distances in La Mariscal.
- Alcohol hits harder at altitude; alternate drinks with water.
- Many bars close by about 2am, and alcohol sales can be restricted on Sundays and during elections.
Evening sights
Street · Centro Histórico
Calle La Ronda
Come in the early evening for a canelazo and empanadas de viento, then return to your hotel by taxi.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Couples
What to drink
- Canelazo — A hot drink of cinnamon-infused water and naranjilla or other fruit juice, sweetened and spiked with aguardiente sugar-cane spirit; it is also sold without alcohol.
- Colada morada and guaguas de pan — A thick, spiced purple drink of black corn flour and Andean berries, paired with sweet bread figures shaped like swaddled babies, traditionally made for the Day of the Dead on 2 November.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 9°C (48°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:27 | 10°C (50°F) | 13 |
| April | About 18:17 | 10°C (50°F) | 19 |
| July | About 18:23 | 9°C (48°F) | 4 |
| October | About 18:03 | 10°C (50°F) | 15 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Avoid peak hours with luggage; trains are crowded at commuter times.
- Bus — The Trolebús, Ecovía and Metrobús rapid-bus lines run in dedicated lanes north–south and are cheap, but very crowded and a known spot for pickpockets.
- Taxi — At night, ask your hotel or restaurant to call a taxi rather than hailing one in the street.
- Ride-hailing — Ride-hailing apps are widely used, show the fare upfront and are a convenient option after dark.
- Walking — The Old Town is best explored on foot, but streets are steep and the altitude makes walking tiring for the first days.
Late-night bites
- Empanadas de viento — Cafés on Calle La Ronda and in the Old Town, especially in the evening.
- Ecuadorian chocolate — Chocolate shops in the Old Town and La Floresta, many offering tastings.
Staying safe at night
Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common on crowded buses, in the Old Town and in La Mariscal at night; take taxis after dark and do not walk up the stairs to El Panecillo. At 2,850 metres, altitude sickness and strong sun affect many visitors, so rest on arrival and drink water.
- Emergency number
- 911
Where to stay for nightlife
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
La Mariscal
Mariscal Sucre, usually just called La Mariscal, is the traditional backpacker district, with tour agencies, language schools, international restaurants and the bar cluster around Plaza Foch on Calle Reina Victoria. It is convenient for buses and taxis to both the Old Town and the north, but its streets need care at night.
- Good
- Cheap hostels and hotels; Tour agencies for day trips; Lively bars
- Watch out
- Pickpocketing and street crime reported at night; Noisy at weekends
- Nearby
- Plaza Foch, Parque El Ejido, Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Quito?
Plaza Foch, La Mariscal, La Floresta and Calle La Ronda. The densest cluster of bars, salsa clubs and late-night venues, popular with students and travellers.
+Which area of Quito is best for nightlife?
La Mariscal: Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city.