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Outdoorsy Vallarta switches gears after dark and rocks into the wee hours. When the beachgoers and sightseers have been showered and fed, Vallarta kicks up its heels and puts the baby to bed. Happy hour in martini lounges sets the stage for an evening that might include a show, live music, or just hobnobbing under the stars at
Outdoorsy Vallarta switches gears after dark and rocks into the wee hours. When the beachgoers and sightseers have been showered and fed, Vallarta kicks up its heels and puts the baby to bed. Happy hour in martini lounges sets the stage for an evening that might includ
Outdoorsy Vallarta switches gears after dark and rocks into the wee hours. When the beachgoers and sightseers have been
Outdoorsy Vallarta switches gears after dark and rocks into the wee hours. When the beachgoers and sightseers have been showered and fed, Vallarta kicks up its heels and puts the baby to bed. Happy hour in martini lounges sets the stage for an evening that might include a show, live music, or just hobnobbing under the stars at a rooftop bar.
Many hotels have Mexican fiesta dinner shows, which can be lavish affairs with buffet dinners, folk dances, and even fireworks. Tour groups and individuals—mainly middle-age and older Americans and Canadians—make up the audience at the Saturday-night buffet dinner show at Playa Los Arcos and other hotels. Vaqueros (cowboys) do rope tricks and dancers perform Mexican regional or pseudo-Aztec dances. The late-late crowd gets down after midnight at dance clubs, some of which stay open until 6 am.
The scene mellows as you head north and south of Puerto Vallarta. In Punta Mita (aka Punta de Mita), Bucerías, Sayulita, and San Francisco (aka San Pancho), local restaurants provide live music; the owners usually scare up someone good once or twice a week in high season. Along the Costalegre, tranquility reigns. Most people head here for relaxation, and nightlife generally takes the form of stargazing, drink in hand. If you're visiting June through October (low season), attend live performances whenever offered, as they are few and far between.
Although there's definitely crossover, many Mexicans favor the upscale bars and clubs of the Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta hotels, while foreigners tend to like the Mexican flavor of places downtown and on the south side (the Zona Romántica), where dress is decidedly more casual.
Talent at this karaoke spot varies; it's open Monday through Saturday (except during low season, when the schedule is less consistent) after 9 pm. Come practice your standard Beatles tunes or hip-hop before your next official recording session.
La Vaquita is arguably the hippest of all the El Centro clubs. A mostly young crowd packs the place every weekend, dancing to the rhythms of house, techno, Latin, pop, and rock music. The location is outstanding, with great ocean views. Here it's customary to enjoy your favorite drink in a litro, a 1-liter Styrofoam glass, with a straw.
If you were to choose just one of the malecón nightclubs, Mandala may be a good choice. It's the most stylish club in the whole El Centro area, and throws some of the best parties. The music is mostly electronic, with lots of house and techno. The cover varies according to the night of the week and the season of the year, but it's in line with the rest of the nightclubs along the malecón.
This gay, adults-only beach club located right on Los Muertos Beach is one of the best party spots in the Zona Romántica. Featuring a gorgeous infinity pool, restaurant, bar, several Jacuzzis, and stunning views of the Banderas Bay, Mantamar has it all. A flying pool and private areas showcase how extravagant this place can get. It closes early in the evening, but it's a great place to start the fiesta.
Mr. Flamingo is an LGTBQ+ tiki bar with a long history in Puerto Vallarta. Widely popular among locals and tourists alike, it's a nice open-air bar perfect for a night-starting drink, but many people also come here to spend the whole night as it has great music and a large dancing floor.
Serving a good mix of drinks and bar snacks, Nivel Zero also has live rock music daily. Themed parties happen often and young crowds find it a local favorite.
Keeping with the glamorous style of Café des Artistes, this small but classy bar is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or martini before heading to the theater or to a nightclub. P'yote Lounge is a celebration of the Huichol, the Indigenous people of the Jalisco/Nayarit region, and is named after the psychotropic cactus central to the Huichol vision of the world.
Players is the best sports bar in the Zona Romántica for tourists and expats alike to gather together to watch football, basketball, and even hockey games.
"Reinas" means "queens" in Spanish, and this place is about making everybody feel like a queen. It's owned by a Dutch entrepreneur who found in Puerto Vallarta his home and an LGBTQ+ scene that was looking for a bar like this one. Come here to have a drink and make some friends, before going somewhere else for a dance.
A great place for sunbathing and enjoying great gourmet food with tasteful lounge music playing in the background, Sapphire is not as spectacular (nor as crowded) as the other big beach club in the area, Mantamar. Here, the swimming pool is smaller, but more intimate, and customers have access to free Wi-Fi, lounge chairs, umbrellas, a bottle of water upon arrival, and Oshibori towels.
What's called simply "Frog's" by the locals is a good old-fashioned free-for-all for the young and the restless. There are black lights on the walls, barstools shaped like thong-clad women's butts, and a giant-screen TV above the dance floor. Expect foam parties, ladies'-night Friday, or, in the high season, beach parties with bikini contests and other shenanigans.
With 20 years of history in Puerto Vallarta, the Palm is a household name in PV's gay scene. The drag queen shows have no equivalent in the area, but music shows are also of high quality. They're closed during the summer.
This unpretentious place filled a bar void in Nuevo Vallarta. Large TV screens show every major sporting event, and the second floor has a pool table. The bar fills with young locals, especially on Thursday when there is live music (mostly rock). A variety of chicken wings and other snacks are available, along with a wide array of beers, both national and international.
Ready to party? Head here for DJ-spun techno, Latin, reggae, and hip-hop. The adventurous can dance in the cage. It attracts a mixed crowd of mainly young locals and travelers, though after midnight the median age plunges. It's open until 6 am when things are hopping. The restaurant fills with cruise-ship passengers early in the evening.
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