La Costilla de Adan
La Costilla de Adan hides on Calle Belisario Salinas in Sopocachi, a narrow doorway opening into a dim, intimate space that holds maybe 50 people at capacity. The walls are covered with rock posters, local art, and years of accumulated character. Candles on the tables provide most of the lighting. The bar is small, the menu is simple (beer, singani, basic cocktails), and the prices are among the cheapest in the neighborhood. What draws people is the atmosphere: this is where La Paz's bohemian crowd gathers. Artists, poets, musicians, and university students come to drink cheaply, talk intensely, and occasionally listen to live acoustic sets from whoever brings a guitar. The name translates to 'Adam's Rib,' and the bar has been a Sopocachi institution for years, surviving on word of mouth and repeat customers rather than social media presence.
What to Expect
You'll push through a narrow doorway into a room that's dark, smoky (people still smoke here), and warm despite La Paz's cold. Candles flicker on small tables. Rock music plays from a speaker behind the bar. The crowd is deep in conversation, and the energy is intellectual rather than party-oriented. It feels like stepping into someone's living room, if that someone had excellent taste in music and very cheap beer.
Intimate, smoky, and intellectual. A bar where ideas matter more than your outfit.
Rock, folk, blues, and occasional live acoustic performances. The playlist is curated by whoever is bartending.
Anything. This is the least pretentious bar in Sopocachi. Worn jeans, band t-shirts, and paint-stained jackets are the unofficial uniform.
Solo travelers, couples, and small groups who prefer conversation and atmosphere over loud music and dancing. Ideal for people who want to meet Bolivian artists and students.
Cash only (Bolivianos). No card machine. Bring small bills.
Price Range
Beer 10-15 BOB, singani shots 10-15 BOB, cocktails 20-35 BOB, no cover
Beer ~$1.45-2.17 USD / ~1.30-2 EUR, cocktails ~$2.90-5.07 USD / ~2.65-4.65 EUR
Hours
Thu-Sat 8 PM to 2 AM, occasionally open Wed
Insider Tip
Come early on Saturday to get a table; there are only about ten. The singani sour is their version of a pisco sour and costs half what you'd pay elsewhere. If someone brings a guitar, stay. The impromptu sessions are the best thing about this place.
Full Review
The entrance on Calle Belisario Salinas is easy to walk past. There's no prominent sign, no bouncer, and no indication from outside that this is one of Sopocachi's most loved bars. Inside, the space is genuinely small. The bar takes up one wall, with room for maybe six people to sit or stand along it. The rest of the room holds small tables and mismatched chairs, no two alike.
Drinks are simple and dirt cheap. A Pacena beer costs 10 BOB, which is about $1.45 USD. The singani selection is decent for a bar this size, and the house singani sour is the closest thing to a specialty cocktail. Don't expect craft anything here. This is a bar where you drink what Bolivia produces and enjoy the company.
The crowd is what makes La Costilla de Adan special. On a given night you might sit next to a painter who's showing work at a gallery down the street, a university student writing a thesis on Bolivian labor movements, or a musician who's about to pull out a charango and play for the room. Conversations start easily because the space forces proximity, and the bohemian atmosphere encourages openness.
Live music happens organically. There's no formal schedule. Someone brings a guitar, people gather, and a performance takes shape. These moments are the bar's best feature, unpredictable and genuine. The smoke is thick on busy nights (ventilation is minimal), which is either part of the charm or a dealbreaker depending on your tolerance.
Compared to the neighborhood's other bars, this is the most intimate and least commercial option. Diesel Nacional has more energy and a larger crowd. Hallwright's has better beer and an international crowd. La Costilla de Adan has soul.
The Neighborhood
La Costilla de Adan sits on Calle Belisario Salinas, a short walk from the main Calle 20 de Octubre strip. Diesel Nacional is about three minutes away on foot. The surrounding blocks have a few small restaurants and street food vendors that stay open past midnight, useful since the bar doesn't serve food beyond basic snacks.
Getting There
Walk from anywhere on Calle 20 de Octubre in Sopocachi in under five minutes. From the tourist area near Calle Sagarnaga, a radio taxi costs 15-20 BOB. The bar's exact location isn't obvious from the street; look for the narrow doorway on Belisario Salinas near the intersection with Calle 20 de Octubre.
Address
Calle Belisario Salinas, Sopocachi, La Paz
Other Venues in Sopocachi
Diesel Nacional
Popular Sopocachi bar on Calle 20 de Octubre known for its rock and alternative music playlist, industrial-themed decor, and a young professional crowd that fills the space on weekend nights.
Hallwright's
British-style pub in Sopocachi with craft beers, pub food, and a relaxed atmosphere that draws expats, backpackers, and English-speaking locals. One of the few places in La Paz where you'll hear English spoken regularly.
Lorca
Intimate cocktail lounge named after the Spanish poet, serving creative mixed drinks in a refined setting with exposed brick walls and soft jazz in the background. A step up from the neighborhood's casual bars.
Mongo's Rock Bottom
Late-night bar and live music venue popular with backpackers and younger Bolivians. The dance floor fills up after midnight on weekends with a mix of rock, reggaeton, and cumbia.
Etno Cafe
Cultural cafe and live music venue hosting traditional Andean performances, poetry readings, and folk music nights. A quieter alternative to the louder bars, with a menu of Bolivian dishes and coca-based cocktails.