Most of the nightlife worth seeking out is in the eastern neighbourhoods, particularly Las Mercedes, Altamira, and La Castellana. These are the safer districts and the ones still functioning more or less normally — galleries, bars, and restaurants that fill up on Friday and Saturday nights with a young, internationally minded crowd.
Specialty coffee has had a small revival in the centre-east, with a handful of cafés serving single-origin Venezuelan beans. Beer culture is dominated by Polar, the national brand, but a few craft breweries operate in Chacao and Altamira. Rum is the local pride — Venezuelan rum (Diplomático, Pampero, Santa Teresa) is among the finest in the world, and most decent bars carry a deep selection.