Bar La 45
Bar La 45 operates on a corner in Barrio Antioquia with the same formula that's served the neighborhood for years: cold beer, aguardiente, and a sound system playing the hits. The bar is named for its location and keeps things honest: no pretention, no menus, no cocktails. You order beer or aguardiente, sit at a table, and join the social rhythm of the neighborhood. On weekends, the energy picks up as regulars arrive after work and the volume on the speakers goes up. It's strip-lighting and plastic chairs, and it works.
What to Expect
A bare-bones corner bar that functions as a community gathering point. The appeal is entirely social. Come to connect, not to consume.
Corner-bar authentic. Medellín's real rhythm.
Vallenato, reggaeton, and Colombian pop
Casual.
Visitors exploring Barrio Antioquia with a knowledgeable guide.
Cash only
Price Range
Beer COP 3,000-6,000, aguardiente COP 3,000
≈ €0.67-1 / $0.72-1
Hours
Daily from afternoon to late night
Insider Tip
The corner location means you can watch the neighborhood pass by. Aguardiente tastes better when shared. Buy the table a round.
Full Review
Bar La 45 claims a corner spot that gives it a natural vantage point over the street. The setup is stripped to essentials: a counter, a fridge full of beer, a bottle of aguardiente, and plastic furniture arranged for groups. Strip lighting illuminates the space with zero concern for ambiance. The corner position means you get a cross-breeze and a front-row seat to neighborhood life passing by.
The crowd is regulars who've been drinking here for years. Conversation flows in paisa Spanish, fast and colloquial. Aguardiente moves around tables in shots, usually accompanied by sliced lime. The energy picks up on weekends when the workweek ends and the sound system gets louder. Nobody comes here for the drinks; they come for the company.
Within Barrio Antioquia, Bar La 45 fills the same role as La Piscina and El Oasis. These aren't competing businesses so much as neighborhood fixtures that serve slightly different clusters of the community. The corner location gives La 45 a more open, street-facing feel compared to the others.
Buying a round for the table remains the universal currency. Aguardiente is the expected spirit. The corner setup makes this a good spot for watching the neighborhood's rhythm without the enclosed feeling of the indoor bars.
The Neighborhood
Bar La 45 sits on a corner in Barrio Antioquia's residential grid, named for its street location. Like the neighborhood's other bars, it functions primarily as a social institution for the local community rather than a commercial nightlife venue.
Getting There
Same access as other Barrio Antioquia venues: taxi from El Poblado for COP 12,000-18,000, or Metro to Industriales followed by a short ride. A knowledgeable local guide is strongly recommended.
Where to stay in Medellin
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Barrio Antioquia
La Piscina
Open-air bar in the zona rosa section of Barrio Antioquia. Basic setup with loud reggaeton, cheap beer, and a purely local crowd. Cash only.
El Oasis
Larger venue in the tolerance zone with a dance floor and DJ booth. Straightforward drinks service and a late-night crowd that arrives after 11 PM.
Discoteca El Paraíso
One of the bigger dance venues in the zona. Reggaeton and vallenato on rotation, with a working-class local crowd and very low drink prices.
Bar El Recuerdo
Small corner bar in the tolerance zone with a jukebox playing old vallenatos and rancheras. Regulars sit at the counter drinking aguardiente by the shot.
Las Muñecas
Street-facing bar with colored lights and a basic sound system. One of the more visible spots in the zona, open from early evening with rock-bottom beer prices.
Discoteca La Rumba
Dance venue deeper in the tolerance zone playing reggaeton and champeta. Small dance floor, loud speakers, and a late-night crowd that arrives after 11 PM.