Lima has some good nightlife, but there are also things to keep in mind. In many of the bars and clubs you go to, there might be some locals who will try to rip you off. Just avoid them if you can. One of the most popular things to do in Lima is go to a peña, which is a bar that has Creole music with Spanish and folk influences as well. Whether there is live dancing, live entertainment, or just a cd playing music, it is sure to keep you entertained. The nice thing about the bars in Lima is that the drinks are always inexpensive. If you get some of the local drinks it is even cheaper. The bars will generally open around 9 or 10 pm and stay open until early the next morning. There aren't a great deal of large discos or clubs, but there are some. Mainly locals go to those spots though, and you won't find many tourists there. That normally wouldn't be that big of a problem, but that can ostracise you and you could become a target later on as you are leaving. If you just want to relax and have a nice night, you can sit outside at a cafe and enjoy some drinks with friends. You can often get information about where the latest cool spots are and where the best parties will be in local publications that are handed out at hotels. These are printed in both Spanish and English for the convenience of tourists.

Some of the cool places to hang out in Lima after dark are located in the districts of Miraflores and Barranco.  In Miraflores, there are some great cafes, salsa clubs, and "video bars" in the Calle de las pizzas next to Parque Kennedy.  Besides discotheques, Barranco also has some awesome live music places such as "La Noche" on Avenida Bolognesi - they have a new band playing pretty much every night.