Remember, these are only the places I managed to get to, representing not a splash in the ocean, a fart in a hot tub, a mullet in a trailer park, a...you get the idea. Consult your Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Lets Go, Fodors, Local Shaman for dozens of other options. Sometimes, I wish I had.
Copacabana
La Cupula - Attached to the hotel with awesome views of the lake and town, the menu is tasty, cheap and includes a cool selection of music. Worth the five steps from your hotel room, or the hike up from the main street. Calle Michel Perez 1-3, http://www.hotelcupula.com
La Orille- On the main drag, recommended by the Lonely Planet, so I tried it, and had a delicious falafel. All would be well, except that night, I turned green and shat my intestines out. Coincidence? On Ave 6 de Agosto, towards the water.
Mankha Uta - flagged by the touts outside, it turned out pretty well, with guides, tons of DVD's and a super cheap tourist menu on offer. It's also cozy, and there was this weird magician roaming between the tables for entertainment. Ave 6 de Agosto.
La Paz
Cafe La Terraza - The folks at Gravity Assist assembled their own, brilliant guide to La Paz. This was on their list, and served the freshest sandwich I've had in South America. Great coffee too, and wireless internet. The Prado, next to, urgh, Burger King.
Vienna - I walked into this place and thought the maitre'd would beat the crap out of me. Super posh, polished, upscale, and yet there isn't a main dish over $10US. Champagne tastes on a beer budget. 1905 Calle Federico Zuazo.
Alexanders - Another Starbucks alternative, except the coffee tastes great, the service is good and it won't cost the GDP of Bolivia for a Grande Latte.
Yussef - Possibly the best baba ghanoush I've yet to absorb into my tastebuds. Although the atmosphere was somewhat non-existant, the platter I ordered (falafel, humus, pies, sheesh! kebab) was outrageously delicious. At the top of the gringo strip of Calle Sagarnaga.
Uyuni
Minuteman Pizza - Chances are you'll only be in Uyuni for a day or two, and if you eat anywhere other than Minuteman Pizza you'll be doing your gut a great disservice. The best pizza in South America so far, the home-made sundried tomatoes slay and owner/chef Chris is just the nicest guy in town. Great breakfast (with real toast) too. Ave Ferroviaria # 0.
Copacabana
La Cupula - Great rooms with great views, the Hostal also has a DVD-stocked lounge, fantastic restaurant, brilliant hammocks to chill and an all-ages clientele. Highly recommended. Calle Michel Perez 1-3, http://www.hotelcupula.com
La Paz
Arthys- First Olly recommends this place, although its not in any guidebooks. Then I find a chewed up business card on a corkboard in Copacabana, on which some traveler wrote: Good value, great choice. So I rock up at night, freaked out by La Paz, and they don't have any rooms! So why are they here? Because Rueben and Mauricio are just the sweetest guys you could ever hope to meet. Rueben personally walked me to another hotel, showing me around, a genuine, enthusiastic host who speaks great English. When personality truimphs. Ave Montes 693, Email Rueben at arthyshouse@hotmail.com
Hotel Torino - Despite its prison decor and well, prison-cell ambiance, Torrino is central, safe and has a good reputation with the locals. It's also cheap, and right next door and Internet Cafe, albeit one that charges three times more than any others in the city. Calle Cocabaya 457.
Arcabucero Hostal Inn - Although Torrini, with its rock hard pillows and prison cell charm eventually won me over, I checked out a few other places, and this one certainly looked the best. Cable TV, modern bathrooms, nice courtyard, decent location too. Calle Viluyo 307, arcabucero-bolivia@hotmail.com
Uyuni
Hotel Kory Wasy - Basic basic, with a shower that spits water over the toilet. I was looking through someone's Lonely Planet a few days later, and it described Kory Wasy as stylish. I think people at the Lonely Planet have been smoking crack. Still it was cheap. Ave Potosi 350.
Copacabana
Transturin - Offering tours to the Isla de Sol on their first class catamarans, or shuttle trips to La Paz, this family run company ihas built their own cultural island complex that competes with just about any museum you'll come across. If you want to up the style stakes, look no further. http://www.transturin.com
Nemo's Bar - packed with travelers and featuring jazz and live music nightly, Nemo's is warm and cozy with cards and games and some of the best performers I've seen in a long time
Waksys - Although it remained pot-empty every time I went there, it had the potential to be the best vibe. Especially when Jose, the friendly owner, let me DJ on my iPod. Pity everyone was at Nemo's, but the walls, covered in scribbles and Bob Marley/Che Guevara images speak of plenty of good times. Just before you exit the door to the loo, on the right it reads: Esrock was here, with his iPod! Just down the road from the main bus square.
La Paz
Mongo's - I had heard about this place in Cusco, and expected something a little more extreme than what I found, which was busy bar/restaurant, house music, a series of interlocking rooms. It gets busy, and then feet shuffle, and then people dance. A good mixture of locals and gringos though, which is always special. Took a cab there, it was somewhere in Sopocachi, but I could be wrong, or drunk.
Ramjam - Considering I was being shown the nightlife by some lovely locals, know that Ramjam was just cooking at 2am. The music ranged from house and acid jazz to disco and hip-hop, lots of ladies, lots of drunk boys, no real dance floor but that didn't stop anyone. Apparently the food is good too. Grab yourself a delicious beef sandwich at Hongos around the corner when you're done. Calle Presbitero Medina
Uyuni
Inkawasi - There are dozens of Salar Tour operators in Uyuni, and your success generally depends on your driver, your jeep, and your group. The biggest operator, Colque, has "serious compaints" according to the Lonely Planet, but if your jeep breaks down or your driver is wasted, it doesn't matter who you're with. Our guy was always in control, my group was friendly and fortunately we had two people who could speak Spanish (the drivers don't speak English). Our group was also bundled from several companies.All in all, we had a great time. Rosa: Tel: 6932423
Kaktus - a pub, travelers, beer, music.
