La Paleta
La Paleta occupies a prime spot on the Cerro Santa Ana staircase, roughly 80 steps up from the base, with an open-air terrace that offers views over the Guayas River and the low-rise neighborhoods stretching toward the estuary. The bar is simple by design: plastic tables and chairs arranged along the narrow walkway, a small counter where beers and basic drinks are served, and a speaker playing music that competes with the bars above and below. Capacity is around 30 seated guests, though people spill into the staircase area on busy nights. The menu is limited to beer (mostly Pilsener and Club, served ice-cold from a cooler), basic cocktails, and a few spirit options. What La Paleta sells is the view and the atmosphere, not culinary ambition. On a Friday or Saturday night, the terrace fills by 9 PM with a mix of locals and tourists who claim tables and settle in for a few hours of drinking and conversation while watching the river traffic and the city lights below. The bar has been operating in this spot for years and is a reliable part of the Las Penas experience.
Where to stay near La Paleta
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
Climbing 80 steps in Guayaquil's heat to reach a small terrace with plastic chairs and cold beer. Once you sit down and the river view opens up, the effort makes sense. The atmosphere is casual to the point of simplicity. People talk, drink slowly, and watch the city below. Music from the speaker blends with sounds from neighboring bars.
Open-air, casual, and scenic. The view does the heavy lifting while the beer provides the excuse to stay.
Salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, and Latin pop from a single speaker. The music is background accompaniment, not the main attraction.
Completely casual. Shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt are perfectly fine. You're climbing stairs in tropical heat.
Budget travelers, couples wanting river views, and anyone looking for the authentic Las Penas staircase drinking experience.
Cash only. USD in small bills. No card terminal.
Price Range
Beer $1.50-2.50, basic cocktails $3-5, water $1, no cover
All prices in USD (Ecuador uses US dollars)
Hours
Wed-Sun 5 PM to midnight, Fri-Sat until 1 AM
Insider Tip
Arrive before 8 PM on weekends to secure a table with the best river view. The beer is cheapest at this bar compared to spots higher up the staircase. Bring cash in small bills as change can be scarce. The sunset from this terrace is genuinely impressive; time your arrival accordingly.
Full Review
La Paleta is not a bar you visit for its drinks, its decor, or its music. You visit for the terrace and the view. On a clear evening, sitting 80 steps above the Malecon with a cold Pilsener and the Guayas River stretching below, the simplicity of the setup becomes its strength.
The climb to reach the bar is part of the experience. The first 80 steps of Cerro Santa Ana wind past colorful colonial buildings, small shops, and competing bars calling out to passersby. La Paleta's tables appear on a small landing where the staircase widens, and the terrace takes advantage of a natural viewpoint. From here, you can see the river, the Malecon promenade, and the city fading into the haze to the south.
The bar itself is minimal. A counter, a cooler full of beer, a few bottles of spirits, and a stack of plastic cups. The drinks are served cold and cheap. A Pilsener costs $2 or less. Cocktails are basic mixed drinks made with whatever's behind the counter. This is not a craft cocktail destination. It's a place where the simplicity of the service matches the simplicity of the pleasure: sitting outside with a drink and a view.
The crowd on weekends is genuinely mixed. Young Guayaquileno couples share tables with backpackers taking a break from the climb. Local families stop on their way up or down. Small groups of friends settle in for the evening with buckets of beer. Conversations between strangers happen easily because the shared experience of the staircase creates a natural connection.
The main limitations are practical. There's no bathroom at the bar; you need to use facilities at other spots on the staircase. The chairs are plastic and not particularly comfortable for long sessions. When rain comes, which happens with little warning in Guayaquil, there's minimal cover. And the 80-step climb, while not extreme, is enough to make you sweat in the coastal humidity.
Despite these constraints, La Paleta delivers something that air-conditioned bars cannot. The open-air setting, the view, and the human traffic of the staircase create an atmosphere that's more alive than any enclosed venue. It's the Las Penas experience distilled to its simplest form.
The Neighborhood
Positioned on the Cerro Santa Ana staircase, roughly 80 steps up from the base. Other bars sit above and below on the same staircase. The Malecon 2000 promenade is at the bottom of the climb.
Getting There
Uber to the Malecon 2000 northern entrance, then walk to the base of Cerro Santa Ana and climb approximately 80 steps. The bar is on a visible landing along the staircase.
Other Venues in Las Penas-Malecon
Arthur's Cafe
Long-standing Las Penas bar at the base of the staircase. Craft cocktails and a bohemian crowd make it a solid starting point for the area.
Diva Nicotina Guayaquil
The Guayaquil branch of this Ecuadorian nightclub chain. Electronic and reggaeton nights draw a young crowd to the Malecon area.
La Taberna
A no-frills drinking spot halfway up the Las Penas staircase. Cheap beers, plastic chairs, and a local crowd that gets lively on weekends.
Rayuela Lounge
Cocktail lounge near the Malecon with a more upscale atmosphere. Good drink menu and a calmer alternative to the louder bars along the staircase.