The marimba is the national instrument of Nicaragua and several neighbouring Central American countries — a large wooden xylophone played by two or more musicians, often accompanied by bass, guitar, and percussion. Weekend evenings in Managua regularly feature live marimba in restaurants, parks, and cultural centres, and the sound is one of the city's most distinctive and pleasant aspects.
The best places to hear live marimba are the outdoor restaurants around Puerto Salvador Allende on the lakefront, the National Palace of Culture (which hosts regular cultural events), and some of the larger restaurants on the Carretera Masaya strip. The music is lively and rhythmically complex — it does not feel like tourist entertainment because it is genuinely part of local festive culture. Ask at your hotel for the current schedule; performances are often not advertised far in advance.