Uruguay Shopping and nightlife
Shopping in Uruguay
Popular purchases include leather goods, woollen clothing, ceramics, jewellery made with locally mined amethyst and traditional mate gourds with bombillas (metal drinking straws). Uruguayan wine, particularly Tannat, dulce de leche and alfajores also make popular gifts.
Montevideo has shopping centres, boutiques and street markets. Avenida 18 de Julio is the principal central shopping street, while craft shops can be found in Ciudad Vieja and around Plaza Cagancha. The Sunday market at Tristán Narvaja sells antiques, books, clothing, food and assorted second-hand goods. Punta del Este has designer shops and a craft market at Plaza Artigas.
Street shops generally open Monday to Friday from around 09:00 to 19:00 and on Saturday mornings; some smaller businesses close at lunchtime. Shopping centres and larger supermarkets usually open daily and remain open into the evening. Fixed prices are usual in shops, although some bargaining may be possible at flea markets.
Nightlife in Uruguay
Montevideo has Uruguay's most varied nightlife, with bars, pubs, live-music venues, theatres, tango clubs and dance clubs. Cordón, Parque Rodó, Pocitos and Punta Carretas are among the principal areas for an evening out. Visitors can also attend a milonga, where locals gather to dance tango, or watch a candombe performance featuring the Afro-Uruguayan tradition of massed drumming and dancing.
Punta del Este has fashionable bars, beach clubs, casinos and nightclubs, particularly during the summer season from December to February. Nightlife elsewhere is quieter, although coastal resorts become livelier during summer. Uruguayans tend to dine late, and bars and clubs may not become busy until after midnight.
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