Non Tourist Nightclubs in Cartagena

bartolo_colon says on Jan 30, 2008, 00:34:

Frankly, the best nightclubs are the tourist clubs and you will find many Cartageneros, and Colombian tourists with money at clubs in Getsamani and Centro . There are thousands of places to drink and dance in the barrios, I would highly suggest not going by yourself, hook up with a local and they will be more than happy to take you to the slum they live in., if that is what you are looking for. CTG outside of the tourist areas can be fucking rough man, and down right dangerous at night. Most "real people" in Cartagena cant afford to go out all that often, 3 in 5 live on less than $2 a day. Head to barrio San Pedro, Amberes or barrio Nelson Mandela, the open sewers, rotting garbage and dust adds to the ambiance of the corner store that serves as the local nightclub, tastfully furnished with white plastic chairs and tattered Aguila umbrellas. The dress code is casual, no shoes, no shirt, totally filthy shorts, distended belly, the dark hollow eyes of hunger, thats how the party people roll, in the "real" CTG.

Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

suizo says on Jan 30, 2008, 01:15:

Well put, bartolo_colon!

However, I know there is one bigger dance club right across Centro Comercial la Castellana...can't remember the name...green lighting outside...they play mostly dancehall and reggeatton...I'm sure you won't find a lot of tourists there! And as bartolo_colon says, the clubs in the tourist area (Joy Slava, Babar, Cafe del mar) have mostly colombians visiting...also depends what season and if you have a number of cruise ships in town. The four times I was in Cartagena I only met colombianos and colombianas in the "tourist" clubs...oh, one panamanian girl though;-) Also, don't forget...the majority of tourists in CTG are still the colombians themselves.

tomtom33 says on Jan 30, 2008, 02:19:

I dated a girl from Poco Rojo for 2 years. They dance in the dirt streets to the tune of some asshole's speakers four doors down. The music blasts until 4:00 am every morning. And they don't enter or leave the barrio after 9:00 pm.

There are some clubs 6 or 7 blocks away that are on paved streets. But I have no desire to go to any of them. If you would like to see those clubs, head out the Avenida. About 8 blocks short of the Plaza del Toros you take a left. When you hit the dirt road, you are in Poco Rojo. Disfrute.

robi666 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:18:

Yes, just on the back from Plaza de Toros, there are some "mataderos"... do you know what that means?
For a little movement, got to the bars nearby la bomba de l'Amparo. Rocky Kee and co. are right there. Take care.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

tomtom33 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:24:

Never heard of mataderos.

robi666 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:28:

Ok, matadero is the place where they kill the cows for beef. slaughterhouse in english?
In Cartagena they call "matadero" a bar where you can dance but it has rooms upstairs. Very cheap ones.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

tomtom33 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:52:

Gee, and what does one do in those rooms?

robi666 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:56:

Well, that's why it is called a "matadero"...

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

tomtom33 says on Jan 30, 2008, 03:58:

Why would you want to slaughter beef in a room upstairs? Or is that where you go in for the kill?

robi666 says on Jan 30, 2008, 04:14:

The big club in front of La Santillana is "El Burladero" if I'm not wrong.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

El Polo says on Jan 30, 2008, 06:03:

Robi is right, anything around la bomba del emparo, the bars or the nightclubs. Tribala, tu escandalo to name a few.. Last time I was in CTG, tribala was the most popular, (mid 20's to mid 30's age group). after the clubs are closed, most people inside these clubs head down the street to any one of the estanco close by. In my opinion the tourist clubs are fun, but these spots are just as fun. There are some real pretty women in these non tourist spot. sheeezzzz

cali373 says on Jan 30, 2008, 07:23:

bartolo_colon, thanks for the advice, I did not think it was that bad, I was asking because in other cities like Cali or Bogota I went to some great places outsied the touristy areas. I have no desire to hang out in Boca Grande, its like being in Miami.

Unless I hook up with a local, I will just stick to the centro and getsenami.

Smile if you are a thinker!

El Polo says on Jan 30, 2008, 07:28:

jeje well in that case Bartolo's assesment is 100% accurate.

cali373 says on Jan 30, 2008, 07:38:

What is "la bomba del emparo" is it a barrio or a centro commerical?

Smile if you are a thinker!

pedro says on Jan 30, 2008, 07:48:

La bomba del amparo is a landmark.

El Escandalo should be fine for a tourist. La Cerveceria (bar but with dancable music) should also be fine (tell the taxi driver "La Cerveceria de la Avenida" as there are several around the city.

There are a few other nightclubs scattered in the blocks near CC La Castellana. Sahara is one.

que nota!

El Polo says on Jan 30, 2008, 07:52:

technically it's a "gas station", which serves more as refrence point that anything. Lots of local bars, fast food joints, estancos, discos, bus stations and malls in the surrounding area. just hop in a cab ask them whats a good disco by "la bomba", then ask the price.

tomtom33 says on Jan 30, 2008, 08:16:

You might want to be careful in Getsemani between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. The rule is to cab in and out during those hours.

bartolo_colon says on Jan 30, 2008, 12:08:

Surprisingly good advice Cali, especially these last three posts. And toms rule of thumb about cabbing after 9-6 is a very good idea, Getsemani, can be sketchy. Does anyone know the name of the club Suizo mentioned? I have been there several times, but cant remember the name either.

Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

El Polo says on Jan 30, 2008, 12:21:

In the estancos late at night, many people come to show off there trick out cars, I saw some pretty hot cars, but things got a little out of hand after the ron started kicking in so we left ("Fireworks"). It really depends on what your into and what you want to do for that night. Most importantly it is what YOU make out of it, when ever im in CTG, I sleep about 6 hrs a night, TOPS. next day im out and about by 11:00 am the latest, even if I go to sleep at 5 in the morning.

cali373 says on Mar 3, 2008, 15:39:

Tu escandalo was actually pretty good. I did not think it was more dangerous.

Smile if you are a thinker!

manINred says on Mar 3, 2008, 17:51:

"CTG outside of the tourist areas can be fucking rough man, and down right dangerous at night...the open sewers, rotting garbage and dust adds to the ambiance of the corner store that serves as the local nightclub..."

Haha, getting off the beaten path in Colombia can be quite enticing! In fact the nastiest smelling anything I ever passed in my life was in Cartagena, it was like a lake-river full of garbage. So nasty. Not to mention the deformed dogs... ugh

bickerss says on Mar 3, 2008, 21:43:

find Mr Babillas - where the tourists go (although I would hardly call it swamped). Head don the street and look in each bar there _ I doubt you will see hardly any foreigners.

jonas says on Mar 4, 2008, 13:38:

some Italians simply blend in really well ;-)

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

morphus says on Mar 5, 2008, 05:01:

Non Tourist Nightclubs in Cartagena? You get to watch couples holding hands and dancing all night :)