In this guide
For a night out in Villarrica, the year-round plan is dinner and drinks at a restobar such as Pan y Circo on Ruta 8, or at one of the 50-plus food outlets on Boulevard Vicente Mario. The really big nights come with the festivals: Festival de la Raza in October, Carnaval Guaireño in February and San Juan in June. Here is where to go, when, and how to get back safely.
Where to eat and drink on a Friday or Saturday
Pan y Circo. A restaurant with a bar on Boulevard Iturbe near Comuneros, on Ruta 8, with room for more than 150 people (Infonegocios, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). The bar menu covers aperitifs, tropical drinks, classics and frozen cocktails; food runs from pizza, burgers and sharing boards to grilled cuts, which are the weekend favourite. It opens Monday to Saturday 11:00 to midnight and Sunday only 11:00 to 15:00 (Pan y Circo on Instagram (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: for a group on a Saturday, message them on Instagram to book a table. It is closed on Sunday nights.
Boulevard Vicente Mario. The city's food strip, with more than 50 outlets ranging from burgers and Chinese food to gourmet dishes (Infonegocios (opens in a new tab)). Handy when everyone in the group wants something different before heading on.
- Tip: check Instagram for which places have a bar or music that day; many are more about food than drinks.
Keep the scale in mind: local business people say Villarrica does not yet have Asunción's range of options (Infonegocios (opens in a new tab)), so have a plan B nearby.
October: Festival de la Raza
The most anticipated party of the year, spread over several nights. In the 42nd edition (2025) the Pre-Festival ran on 10 and 11 October, the Dance Night was on Saturday 11 in front of the Teatro Municipal, the Musa del Ybytyruzú pageant on the 17th, and the main Noche Gigante on Friday 24 October at Club Cerro Corá, free for the first time (Hoy, 2025 (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Non-perishable food was collected at the gate for low-income families.
- Tip: bring a packet of non-perishable food and arrive early for the Noche Gigante. Dates change every year, so follow the municipality's social media from late September.
February: Carnaval Guaireño
Villarrica's carnival takes place at the Sambódromo Rey Eduardo Vezzetti. In 2026 it ran over four nights, 20, 21, 27 and 28 February, with groups such as Overa, Emperador, Fussion Dance and Retro (Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Ticket prices were:
Night (2026) · General · Stand · Preferred
Fri 20 and 27 · G. 10,000 · G. 30,000 · G. 50,000
Sat 21 · G. 10,000 · G. 40,000 · G. 80,000
Sat 28 (closing) · G. 20,000 · G. 60,000 · G. 120,000
- Tip: Fridays are cheaper than the closing Saturday.
June: San Juan at the old train station
The San Juan festival is held on the grounds of the old railway station in barrio Estación (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). In 2025 it started at 18:00 with more than 100 stalls of traditional food such as chipa guasu, mbejú, pastel mandi'o and sopa paraguaya, folk games like pelota tata and toro candil, and live acts from 20:45; entry was free (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: arrive before 20:00 to eat without queues, then stay for the music. Bring a jacket: it is midwinter.
Getting back and what to bring
- If you drive: Paraguay has zero tolerance for drink-driving, and from 0.400 mg/l in breath it is a criminal offence referred to prosecutors (ABC Color, 2021 (opens in a new tab)). Pick a driver who stays sober.
- Coming from Asunción: Villarrica is 172 km away via route PY08 (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). On carnival or festival nights, book a bed rather than driving back in the small hours.
- Paying: 7 in 10 electronic payments in Paraguay are now made by QR (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Still carry cash for general-admission tickets and food stalls.
- ID: always carry it; you may be asked for it at the door or at a checkpoint.
FAQ
Where are the bars in Villarrica, Paraguay?
For dinner and drinks, Pan y Circo on Boulevard Iturbe (Ruta 8) opens Monday to Saturday until midnight. Boulevard Vicente Mario has more than 50 food outlets.
When is the Festival de la Raza in Villarrica?
It runs over several nights in October. In 2025 the main Noche Gigante was on Friday 24 October at Club Cerro Corá, with free entry.
How much are Carnaval Guaireño tickets?
In 2026 general admission cost G. 10,000 (G. 20,000 on closing night) and preferred seats G. 50,000 to G. 120,000 depending on the night.
Are there nightclubs in Villarrica?
The choice is smaller than in Asunción and changes often. The busiest nights are during Carnaval Guaireño, San Juan and the Festival de la Raza; for clubs, check venues' social media that week.
