Arequipa's drinking culture is mellow by Peruvian standards. The cafe scene is strong — the south Peruvian coffee industry has had a quiet renaissance over the past decade — and there are good specialty coffee bars around the Plaza de Armas. Pisco is the spirit to drink, and the classic Arequipa cocktail is the chilcano de pisco (pisco, ginger beer, lime). For something more local, ask for chicha de jora, the fermented corn beer that has been brewed in the region since pre-Columbian times.
The nightlife concentrates on Calle San Francisco, immediately north of the plaza, and the side streets running east — Calle Santa Catalina and Calle Zela are the densest. Live música criolla turns up at half a dozen restaurants on weekend evenings.