First Timer's Guide to Medellín Nightlife
You've heard the stories. The legendary clubs, the stunning women, the nights that blur into mornings. But nobody told you what to actually expect. This is everything we wish someone had told us before our first night out in Medellín.
The Neighborhoods
Medellín's nightlife isn't concentrated in one area—it's scattered across distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Knowing where you're going matters more than knowing where you're from.
El Poblado
Tourist Central • Parque Lleras Area
The gringo district. Parque Lleras is ground zero—a square packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants surrounded by working girls, promoters, and tourists who think they discovered Colombia. Prices are inflated, but it's safe, walkable, and convenient. Most strip clubs in this area cater to tourists, which means English menus and higher prices. Good for your first night when you don't know the lay of the land.
Laureles
Local Vibes • La 70 & La 33
Where the Paisas actually party. Less tourist markup, more authentic experience. La 70 is the main strip—bars, clubs, street food, and a crowd that's 80% Colombian. La 33 nearby has some of the city's best strip clubs, including La Isla. You'll need an Uber to get here from Poblado, but the 15-minute ride is worth it. Prices are fair, the vibe is real, and you won't feel like you're at a theme park.
Centro
The Deep End • Not for Beginners
Downtown. Gritty, raw, and definitely not where you should wander alone at 2 AM on your first trip. There are gems here—old-school venues with character and prices from 2010—but you need local knowledge or a trusted guide. The crowd is working-class Colombian, the English is minimal, and the safety calculus is different. Come back after you've got a few trips under your belt.
Provenza
Upscale Poblado • Rooftops & Lounges
The bougie end of Poblado. Rooftop bars, craft cocktails, and women who look like they walked out of a modeling agency (because some of them did). No strip clubs here—this is where you go for a classy night out or to pregame before heading to La 33. Expensive but pretty. Good for impressing a date, less good for the content on this site.
What to Expect at Strip Clubs
Colombian strip clubs operate differently than what you might be used to in the US or Europe. The model is simpler, the interactions are more direct, and the line between entertainment and negotiation is thinner. Here's the breakdown.
Cover Charges
Most clubs charge 20,000–50,000 COP ($5–12 USD) at the door. This usually includes your first drink. Some upscale venues push 80,000–100,000 COP on weekends, but that's the ceiling. If someone's asking for more, you're either at the wrong place or getting scammed.
Drink Prices
Beer runs 15,000–25,000 COP. Aguardiente (the local firewater) is similar. Cocktails and whiskey start at 30,000 and climb from there. The girl drinks—when a dancer asks you to buy her a drink—are marked up 2-3x. This is how the house and the girls make money between dances. You can say no, but expect the attention to drift elsewhere if you do.
VIP Rooms
This is where things get negotiable. VIP room time typically starts at 100,000–200,000 COP for 15–30 minutes. What happens in there depends on the club, the girl, and what you agree upon. Some clubs are strictly no-touch. Others... less so. The house takes a cut, the girl keeps the rest. Always confirm the price, the time, and the expectations before you go back. Surprises are expensive.
Etiquette
Don't grab without permission. Don't haggle aggressively—this isn't a market. Tip the stage dancers (5,000–10,000 COP is fine). If a girl sits with you, you're expected to buy her a drink within 10 minutes or she'll move on. The staff expects tips too. Treat everyone with baseline respect and you'll have a good time.
Salideras (Taking a Girl Out)
Many clubs allow you to take a dancer out of the club for the night. This requires paying a "salida" fee to the house (100,000–300,000 COP typically), plus whatever you negotiate with the girl directly. Not all dancers do salideras, and not all clubs allow them. Ask the girl first, then clear it with management. Never assume.
Safety Tips
Medellín is safer than its reputation suggests, but it's not Disneyland. The nightlife scene has its risks, and tourists are targets. A few basic precautions will keep you out of 99% of bad situations.
Use Uber or InDriver. Always.
Don't hail taxis on the street, especially at night. The apps are cheap, trackable, and the drivers are rated. A 20-minute ride costs $3-5. There's no reason to take the risk.
Watch Your Drinks Like They're Your Wallet
Scopolamine (burundanga) is real. It's a drug that makes you compliant while you empty your bank account and forget the whole thing. Never leave your drink unattended. Don't accept drinks from strangers. If a girl you just met hands you an open drink, politely decline and order a fresh one.
Don't Flash Cash
That fat stack of pesos you just withdrew? Keep it in your front pocket or a money belt. Pay for things discretely. Don't fan your bills when tipping. You're not impressing anyone—you're advertising.
Leave the Bling at Home
Expensive watches, gold chains, flashy jewelry—all of it stays in the hotel safe. You want to look like you belong, not like you're asking to be robbed. Dress casual but clean.
Trust Your Gut
If a situation feels off, it probably is. If a girl is too insistent, if the price seems too good, if you're being steered somewhere you didn't plan to go—pump the brakes. It's okay to say no and walk away.
Have a Buddy System
Going out alone is fine, but having at least one person who knows where you are is smart. Share your location with a friend. Check in periodically. If you're going to a VIP room, let someone know which club you're at.
Keep Copies of Your Documents
Photo of your passport on your phone. Backup credit card at the hotel. Know your hotel's address and phone number by heart. If things go sideways, you want to be able to recover quickly.
Don't Get Blackout Drunk
This should be obvious, but apparently it isn't. You're in a foreign country with a language barrier and unfamiliar territory. Pace yourself. The clubs will be there tomorrow night too.
⚠️ The Street Scene Warning
She approached you at 2 AM. She's stunning. She's into you immediately. This is how tourists wake up with no wallet, no phone, and no memory. Scopolamine-assisted robbery is common and documented by every travel advisory.
Read the full warning →Money Matters
One of the biggest shocks for first-timers is how affordable everything is—until it isn't. Colombia is cheap, but the nightlife industry knows how to extract money from tourists. Here's how to budget realistically.
| Item | COP | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Club cover (weeknight) | 20,000–40,000 | $5–10 |
| Club cover (weekend) | 40,000–80,000 | $10–20 |
| Beer | 15,000–25,000 | $4–6 |
| Cocktail | 30,000–50,000 | $7–12 |
| Girl drink | 40,000–80,000 | $10–20 |
| Lap dance | 50,000–100,000 | $12–25 |
| VIP room (15-30 min) | 100,000–300,000 | $25–75 |
| Salida fee (house) | 150,000–300,000 | $35–75 |
| Uber (Poblado to La 33) | 15,000–25,000 | $4–6 |
| Tips (staff, per night) | 20,000–50,000 | $5–12 |
Typical Night Budget
A conservative night out—cover, 4-5 drinks, some tips, Uber both ways—runs about $40-60 USD. Add a VIP room and you're at $80-120. Going all out with a salida, bottle service, and VIP? You can easily hit $200-300. Know your budget before you leave the hotel.
Cash vs. Card
Bring cash. Most clubs accept cards, but you'll get better rates and more negotiating power with pesos. ATMs are everywhere—use ones inside banks or malls, not street ATMs. Withdraw 500,000–1,000,000 COP at a time to minimize transaction fees.
Negotiating
Prices for VIP rooms and salideras are almost always negotiable, especially on slow nights. Be respectful but firm. If a price seems too high, it probably is. Walk away—there are other clubs and other dancers. Just don't haggle over drinks or cover charges. Those prices are fixed and you'll just look cheap.
Tipping Culture
Tip the bathroom attendant (2,000–5,000 COP). Tip the stage dancers (5,000–10,000 COP). Tip your server if they've been attentive. Good tippers get better service, better tables, and first dibs on the best dancers. It's an investment, not a charity.
Our Top Picks for Beginners
Not all clubs are created equal, especially for first-timers. You want somewhere safe, foreigner-friendly, with good talent and fair prices. These three venues check all the boxes and won't leave you wondering if you made a mistake.
La Isla Club
Laureles • La 33
The gold standard for first-timers. Clean, well-managed, and consistently stacked with beautiful women. The staff speaks enough English to help you navigate, prices are transparent, and the vibe is upscale without being pretentious. Start here.
Read full reviewFase Dos
Laureles • La 33
Right next to La Isla with similar quality at slightly lower prices. A bit more intimate atmosphere, equally stunning lineup. Many regulars alternate between the two depending on the night. Excellent second option.
Read full reviewAnfitrión
El Poblado
If you're staying in El Poblado and don't want to trek to La 33, this is your best bet. Clean, professional, and geared toward international visitors. Pricier than Laureles options but convenient if location matters.
Read full reviewReady to see the full rankings?
Now that you know the basics, check out our complete ranking of every strip club in Medellín—with honest scores and detailed reviews.
View the full rankings