Party town: one of the best ways to get to know a city on a business trip is to blow off a little steam when the meeting's over. For some, that means working out or hitting the links. For others, it means hitting the bar. Latin Trade did a little research to find out where the best nightclubs were in Latin America. We started off in the Southern Cone.

In Buenos Aires, a club resembling the Sydney Opera House is the place to be. Opera Bay has a large terrace overlooking a river with plenty of room for people to hang out and enjoy the view. Grab your dancing shoes, as there are three dance floors, each one with its own bar, pumping out house, hip-hop and other tunes. Wednesday is the best night to go. The party cranks up at 6 p.m.

For a more low-key spot, try Cafe Misterio in Montevideo's upscale Carrasco neighborhood. Founded by Roberto Behrens, famed conductor and boyfriend to Argentine actress Susana Jimenez, this 22-year-old hangout is great for blues lovers. It's great for seafood as well. Sushi and fish are popular items here. Don't forget to stroll through the historic streets when the night winds down.

On the other side of the Andes, the Aura club in Santiago blends eastern and western cultures into a high-end party hot spot. Feel the groove to lounge and house music. You can also take in jazz in this fiber-modern club. Sip on a drink and act sophisticated with no pretense.

Since 1995, Coyote Night & Fun has been Asuncion's premier place to party. This club has seen it all: fashion shows, concerts and parties with Paraguayan and international VIPs. Two dance floors pump hip-hop and alternative rhythms.

It's no secret that Rio de Janeiro is a partygoer's Mecca. Only five years old, Nuth Lounge is a bit of a local legend. Exotic, tropical decor mixes sophistication with a touch of nature at any of the three bars here. Grab a bite in the restaurant or just relax in the lounge in a large recliner. Nuth Lounge is the perfect place to chill.

Since 2000, Sao Paulo's Azucar night-club has been the place to be seen for the city's upwardly mobile professionals. As the name suggests, it's a Caribbean hangout. Get ready to dance salsa after some fine Cuban cuisine. Covering 250 square meters of the Itaim Bibi neighborhood, Azucar is right in the heart where Sao Paulo goes to party.

No trip to Mexico City is complete without a visit to The Whiskey, in the Hotel W. Choose from one of four venues inside. Pull up a chair in The Living Room, a soft, white room that's perfect for the urban minimalist. For a cozier affair, grab a drink in The Red Lounge, a smaller nook and a little more sinful. If that's too urban, relax in the Cocoa Bar. It's laid-back atmosphere is perfect for couples. Need some air? Just head for the balcony. It's big enough for 200 people. There are plenty of DJs on hand from Wednesday through Saturday spinning lounge music until late into the night.

In Guadalajara, Simone keeps the hip in Mexico's second-largest city coming back for more. Popular among the business crowd, the nightclub is perched over a restaurant with a curious name: Nude. Photos of a naked Mexican artist cover the walls. Just two blocks off the Avenida Chapultepec, in the city's famous Zona Rosa district, Simond is as chic as it gets. It's also as modern as it gets. Tubes run from the ground to the ceiling to give it a futuristic effect. Simond is brought to you by the same people who own Santo Coyote, a popular restaurant in Guadalajara.

Arguably one of the best restaurants in Monterrey, Senor Tanaka serves up Japanese and South American cuisine. Not hungry? Grab a drink. Many come here just for the atmosphere. And safety too. Security guards patrol a large, private parking lot.

Everybody knows Colombia and Venezuela are famous for their music and beautiful women. Why not visit both places and compare? Bogota's Andres Came de Res draws in high-rolling locals and tourists alike for Colombian cuisine. Andres, as it's known locally, is a festive place. It's very colorful, too. Drawings of saintly figures and graffiti cover the wails in this rustic hangout. Getting there is kind of a haul, though. It's in Chia, a community 40 minutes outside of Bogota.

In Caracas, Malabar is a must when the workday ends, especially if you're just looking to relax. A cozy and comfortable restaurant, Malabar's lounge music and open-air bar calm the flustered soul. Choose from a number of Mediterranean and French dishes prepared by world-renowned chefs, whose previous digs include El Bulli, a famous Spanish restaurant.

The Forum nightclub in La Paz is not only the most popular in Bolivia, it's also one of the oldest. Constantly adapting to the changes in style, fashion and music, the club has evolved many times over during the past decades to keep the A-list coming back. Today, lounge music pumps from the loudspeakers for Bolivia's finest young things to enjoy. Forum is the only nightclub in the Bolivian capital that was built to be a nightclub. It's in the upscale Sopocachi neighborhood.

For those looking to dance the night away in Peru, Gotica is the place to be. Right on the beach, this Lima hotspot offers one of best views in the country. It's also inside one of the most popular shopping malls in Peru: Larcomar. DJs from all over the world have spun here. So dance the night way; it's open to 5:00 a.m.

Just recently open for business, Vulcano is true to its name. It's right near Quito's Pichincha volcano, and there's a cable car nearby that can take you to the top. Known for its high-tech light and sound systems (and two huge video screens), the club can hold 850 people. On the other side of the velvet ropes, the VIP section holds 150. Normally about 500 people show up. So bring only your closest friends.

Barely a year old, Next rocks Panama City. Live music from Spanish rock and reggaeton artists as well as Latin American and U.S. DJs keep the party going until late. Located along the wealthy Avenida Balboa, the two-story, two-bar nightclub is popular among all types. The music goes here till 4 a.m.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Minutes away from the Buenos Aires financial district, the Hilton Buenos Aires is in Puerto Madero, a renovated shipping port bustling with more than 40 bars and restaurants. Just a few steps from the Plata River, the hotel is near museums, a marina and a movie theater. Sea breezes greet your face the minute you step out onto the streets, making you feel as if you were on some distant shore rather than in the middle of a sprawling city. The hotel's 418 rooms provide first-class comfort as well as spectacular views of the city. It's perfect for a corporate meeting: There's an exhibition center, dance halls, boardrooms, 11 large conference rooms and a business center.

Built in 1929 in the historical El Retiro neighborhood, the Sofitel Buenos Aires is an art-lover's dream: There are galleries all around it. Traditional European design with Art Deco flair provides the ultimate business setting. According to local legend, the property's original owner, Nicolas Mihanovich, wanted to build the tallest building in Buenos Aires in order to see his ships sailing the Plata River. He also wanted the building to be the first one passengers saw on departing ships. Broadband Internet is available in the hotel's 69 elegant rooms. There are also four large meeting rooms that come with business-center facilities.

--Andres F. Velasquez</p> <pre> BEST HOTELS SOUTHERN CONE Hilton Buenos Aires (Argentina) 9.44 Sofitel Buenos Aires (Argentina)

9.24 The Ritz Carlton, Santiago (Chile) 9.20 Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center (Chile)

9.20 InterContinental Buenos Aires (Argentina)

9.16 Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center (Argentina) 9.15 Caesar Park Buenos Aires (Argentina) 8.98 Alvear Palace Hotel (Argentina)

8.95 Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires (Argentina)

8.93 Santiago Marriott Hotel (Chile)

8.62 </pre> <p>TURF AND SURF

Things are hopping in the streets near the Plata River in Buenos Aires these days. There are many bars and restaurants to choose from, but one 17-year-old establishment, Clo Clo, has been especially busy. Popular for its poultry, fish and meat, Clo Clo is best known for pastas made by Chef Raul Alvarez. Try the stuffed mushrooms covered with Gruyere cheese and cream, and don't miss the calamari served with potatoes and a homemade tartar sauce. For a main course, try the cannelloni in meat sauce and cheese. Also recommended is the risotto azafranado, an exquisite seafood dish. Choose from Argentine or international wines to accompany your meal and for dessert, enjoy some of South America's famous dulce de leche. There's also chocolate cake cooked with tequila and an apple cake. Service is quick and attentive, and the ambiance is pleasant. Fine dining here comes at a reasonable price: The most expensive plate is US$10.

In the heart of the Recoleta neighborhood, in the Hotel Alvear Palace, is La Bourgogne, one of the Argentine capital--and the region's--most elegant, recognized worldwide and the only Latin American restaurant in the Relais Gourmand association. French Chef Jean Paul Bontoux focuses his talent especially on fish. The menu includes fresh sevruga caviar, the most expensive of the lot at US$190. You'll also find garlicky escargot (unfortunately dependent on the season), and waiters bring around gazpacho made from yellow tomatoes with toasted bread and goat cheese. Grilled salmon a la creme is the recommended main course. There's also an excellent steak flambe with cognac pepper sauce, as well as a beaujolais menu with a variety of meats, desserts and drinks for a reasonable price. The Chocolate Volcano dessert is a must, but order early--it takes 20 minutes to prepare.

Fishing gear from the days of yore hang from the wall, providing the backdrop for fine seafood dining at Santiago's Aqui esta Coco. Start off with one of Chile's famous pisco sours. There are 25 appetizers from which to choose. Chilled dishes include oysters, shellfish and crab. Hot appetizers include razor clams covered in Parmesan cheese or a cream sauce or a grilled crab pie with bread crumbs au gratin. For the main course, you can't go wrong with the mixto de otono, a combo of trout and salmon cooked in a light mustard sauce. Also try merluza barcelonesa, a hake fillet prepared in a white wine reduction with butter and topped with olives, tomatoes and served with thinly-sliced fried, round-cut potatoes.

For dessert, we recommend the torta milhojas, a flaky, finely-layered pastry filled with manjar caramel sauce. Aqui esta Coco is located in the upscale Providencia area of Santiago. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

--Olga Otero, Carlos Adese

BEST RESTAURANTS SOUTHERN CONE

Clo Clo (Buenos Aires)                 9.56
La Bourgogne (Buenos Aires)            9.50
Aqui Esta Coco (Santiago)              9.33
El Aljibe (Buenos Aires)               9.30
Cabana Las Lilas (Buenos Aires)        9.11
Novecento (Buenos Aires)               9.06
Coco Loco (Santiago)                   8.97
La Estancia (Buenos Aires)             8.75
Happenings (Santiago)                  8.74
La Caballeriza (Buenos Aires)          8.71