Simon Dice – which translates to “Simon Says” in English, named after the popular game of the same name – is a very well known bar in Asuncion that has its own brewery inside. It is highly unusual to meet a local that doesn’t know about this bar! Located on the edge of downtown Asunción, it resides in a beautiful old building with a lots of historical architecture. The facade is still in the original old style.
The brewery started as a project in 2017 and has grown into a unique brewery-bar that opened in 2022. It’s known as a place where visitors can enjoy a wide selection of craft beers, and as being a place where everyone is welcome.
When you enter the bar, notice the little details of the architecture and also the decorations like the lamps and the specially-commissioned graffiti on the walls of the outdoor patio area. The bar itself is directly connected to the brewery – you will directly see the brewery on your left side after you enter, separated from the bar area with big glass walls so you are able to take a look inside the brewery whilst enjoying the fruits of the brewers’ hard work and dedication to their craft.
Simon Dice offers more than 20 different self-brewed craft beers, with a very diverse selection. From a lager to a pale ale, and from IPA’s to stouts, and even unfiltered and unpasteurised beers. If you like beer generally, it is highly unlikely that they will not have a beer that suits your favourite taste! Several of the beers are based on a style originating from various countries and cities from all over the world, such as their German ’Kolsch’, or their strong Belgium Double ‘fray’. A must-try if you are able to handle a typical strong Belgium beer!
Simon Dice keeps winning awards and prizes
Since the start of brewing operations in 2017, Simon Dice has won a wide range of national and international competitions, medals and prizes for different beers. Winners include the ‘Virtu’, a variation of the German Keller beer, and the ‘Irish Red Ale’, a classic Irish beer. Other winners include their “Keller”, “Lupuloide neipa” and “Medusa IPA”.
How to make the right choice between all those beer options? In this bar you can ask to try samples. The bar staff will listen to your wishes for the taste of the beers you prefer, and will serve you small examples of the ones they recommend as a good match so you are able to try some different beers before you order a whole one. You can then choose between a half pint, a pint or a pitcher that you can share with your friends. Prices starts from Gs15,000, which is approximately $2 USD.
In addition to their own brewed beer they also have gluten free or 0.0% alcohol beer, to cater to those who prefer those options who may be coming as part of a group.
Why the name “Simon Dice” was chosen
The owner, Hugo Simon Alviso, wanted to give the beers and the bar a name with a familiar identity and decided to call it ‘Simon Dice’ – which translates to “Simon Says” in English, named after the popular game of the same name which is famous all over the world.
When The Asunción Times met with Hugo, one of the first questions we asked was why he decided to open this bar and create his own beers. The answer? Because it is his passion! At university he studied to become a chemical engineer, and got trained as a brewer whilst in England.
“Like many people I have always been very interested in beers, and the brewery behind it,” he says. “I wanted to create a unique bar where people can have a different experience, where everybody is welcome, and people with all kinds of different backgrounds can meet each other and drink an exclusive beer with flavors from all over the world.”
This sentiment is reflected in Simon Dice’s motto: “Buenos cervezas, buenos amigos!” In a traditional translation to English, that’s “Good beers, good friends!”. In Paraguay, “buenos” is more like “great”!
Maybe you have read the article about Tap Garage Carmelitas, which is another bar in Asunción from the same owner and also offers a wide selection of the beers. You can also find a smaller outlet from Simon Dice in the Villa Morra Food Park.
In the near future Simon Dice will start to sell their beers in bottles, at more places – including supermarkets and bodegas!
Events at Simon Dice
During the weekdays, normally most of the customers are there to relax after a long day of work, drink an artesanal beer, order some food for dinner or watch a football match, to hang out with old friends, and make some new ones.
When you arrive early during the weekdays, there is a big chance you will still being able to see the brewery working. Even if it’s not, you can always ask the staff if you can take a look in the brewery, and they will happily show you around and explain how everything works.
At the weekends, most of the times there will be special events, such as a live music performance or a DJ.
You can choose to sit inside, outside, or at the bar. The place is big and can fit around 200 people. It is a perfect place to celebrate you birthday or organise special events, and is a popular choice for the Paraguay Digital Nomads social events.
If you want to celebrate your birthday at Simon Dice make sure you make a reservation in advance, and ask about their special promotions for special events – so you are able to drink more but pay less! Simon Dice bar can also arrange a surprise for the one that is celebrating his or her birthday – although perhaps less of a surprise now that we’ve told everyone about it!
The bar also sells beautiful boxes with six different kinds of beers. A perfect gift to give away as a present to a beer fan, or as a special treat for yourself.
Special treatment for VIP members of The Asunción Times
As a VIP member of The Asuncion Times, you get a 15% on everything, including all the beers and the food, just by showing your VIP Member card – one of many VIP Member Benefits. To receive this exclusive discount, VIP members just need to show their VIP membership card when ordering and/or making the payment.
So what does Simon actually say?!
Hugo was very clear that communication at Simon Dice is very much a two-way street! They are always open to receiving feedback and suggestions, as they continue striving to make the beers loved by as many people as possible.
Simon Says…: “Just visit the bar! You will be impressed by the high quality of the beers and the food, the beautiful building, and the atmosphere!”
For more information, follow Simon Dice on Instagram.
