Despite not being particularly famous for its nightlife, Brasilia has some hangouts that save visitors from night-time boredom. Please observe that smoking in the dancefloor is not allowed - all clubs have an smoking area, so people can smoke (or just get some fresh air) without leaving the club.

Beirute - CLS 109 Bloco A (near 108 Sul metro station), +55 61 3244-1717. Opens daily, until 2am. One of the oldest and most traditional bars in town, serves reasonably priced beer and Arab food, and attracts a mixed crowd of students, journalists, gay people and intellectuals. Is also one of the best places to pick up flyers and find out the best parties to go.

Clube do Choro - Setor de Divulgação Cultural (Near the Convention Center) +55 61 3327-0494, fax +55 61 3425-1448). Considered by many to be one of the best places for instrumental music in Brazil, this club is also a school of choro, a genuinely Brazilian instrumental popular music style, usually played with a flute, guitar and cavaquinho (a small chordophone with four strings). Located near the TV tower, it has weekly presentations of national choro artists. Call in advance to check availability, as tickets are limited and often sold out days before the shows.

Gate's Pub - CLS 403 Bloco B (near 102 Sul metro station). +55 61 3225-4576/3322-9301. This pub-cum-club has a dartboard and is one of the few places to offer a week-round choice of nights, ranging from Brazilian music to alternative electronic stuff. Opens Mo/We 9pm, Tu/Thu/Sat/Sun 10 pm. Fri 11pm. Admission R$ 5 - R$ 18 (there are usually discounts before 11 pm).

Manara - CRLN 706/7 Bl. E Lj. 60 - Asa Norte. +55 61 3273-3192. Cheap beer, narguile (hookah) and Lebanese food. Mo/Th 11h-0h; Fr/Sa 11h-2h. Currently closed due to the owner's death.

Pôr-do-Sol - CLN 408 BL C, s/n lj 24 - Asa Norte. +55 61 3274-8861. Favorite bar of University of Brasília students. It is always crowded, so it is a great place to see different people. The beer doesn't get any cheaper elsewhere. You have to get it on the counter, though. You can see the youth of Brasília over here, drinking beer and talking about anything. Some consider the whole 408 quadra as a sort of "alcoholic set-up", due to the many bars.

UK Brasil Pub - SCLS 411 BL B Lj. 28 - Asa Sul. +55 61 3346-5214. Live music with local bands, mostly covers of famous bands. Doesn't accept credit cards. There's a separate room where you can smoke. Tu-Sa from 18h.

Landscape Pub - SHIN CA 7 ,Bloco F-1 - loja 33 - Lago Norte. +55 61 3468-4678. This pub has two floors: the dancefloor and a dancefloor-lounge upstairs, and a external area when you can smoke, chat and meet new people. It's a reduct of the underground scene of Brasilia (there you can hear Beatles, Strokes and some new DJs).

Chiquita Bacana - 209 Sul ,bloco A - loja 37 - Asa Sul (near 108 Sul metro station) +55 61 3242-1212. It's a nice bar in Brasilia. It's not a cheap one (one Stella Artois Long Neck costs R$5), but they have a good decoration and a good variety of booze and snacks. They have narguiles to rent too.

Água Doce Cachaçaria - CLS 412, Bl A Lj 3 - Asa Sul (near 112 Sul metro station) +55 61 3345-7169. Specialized in cachaça, the Brazilian destilled beverage made of sugar cane. Opens Tuesday to Sunday until 2 AM.

Bonnaparte - SHS Quadra 02 Bloco J, S/N - Setor Hoteleiro Sul - Brasília - DF - Brasil - 70322-901 The bar is in principle like a canteen with 3-4 TV sets. Keep away from this place, especially if you are on a budget trip. They dont informe you about the entrance fee before you leave. It will cost you 36 reais for a single beer

Although the city's music scene is no longer as vibrant as it was in the 80s - when it bred some of the greatest pop/rock talents of recent generations with bands like Capital Inicial and Legião Urbana - live shows of local bands are frequent. Daily listings in Portuguese can be found at the local newspapers or the Correioweb and Candango websites.