303 Best Bars in Mexico

One of the best, and certainly the most famous, of the city's remaining pulquerías, La Duelistas is most first-timers' bar of choice for sampling fermented agave sap. Always busy, Las Duelistas is a psychedelic trip of a place. Try a sampler of the day's curados (pulques flavored with pureed fruits and vegetables). Just keep in mind that it's cash-only.

The oldest gay bar in Cancún has been operating for more than 15 years. Doors open at 10 pm, but don't expect things to get underway until midnight. 

This noisy, friendly roadhouse always attracts those looking to down a shot of tequila, sip cold beer, and mingle with old or new friends. The menu features good, dependable, and mostly American fare. From October to June they host live music, ranging in style from pop to blues to country.

The sports bar Latitude 31 has a great view of the harbor and a host of TVs showing American sports.

Drop by this cozy lounge with a pleasant terrace to sample some of the best craft cocktails in town, along with an extensive list of fine mezcals. There's a good selection of food as well.

The Lighthouse, a pleasant place overlooking the harbor, appeals to a more sophisticated crowd. You can dance to live music between 7 and 10 on weekends.

Popular with tourists, this cocktail lounge is known for having friendly bartenders and tasty drinks. Food is available as well so it's a great place to spend an evening.

Limerick is a big, boisterous Irish bar, complete with a dartboard and pool table, and attracts a young crowd.

At the W Hotel, Living Room is a lounge-style bar packed with intriguing design touches and creative cocktails. Living Room has a more happening ambience than your average hotel bar, thanks to resident DJs that spin regularly in the evenings.

The idea behind this hip, three-level "concept store" near Playa la Ropa is rather broad: it's a coffee shop, bar, restaurant, art gallery, surf boutique, gourmet shop, furniture store, lounge, occasional nightclub, and condo-sales platform. Zihua's young and beautiful congregate here to hear international DJs, sip cappuccinos, or just see and be seen on the rooftop terrace.

One of San Miguel's original restaurant-bars geared to travelers looking for music, drinks, and dancing, Mama Mia still delivers. Within various salons a block from the main plaza—including a video bar, restaurant, and several other spaces—the bar hosts jazz, flamenco, rock, Latin (salsa), and classical guitar musicians throughout the week. There's karaoke, too, and soccer, American football, and other sporting events on a big-screen TV.

Mambocafe in Mazatlán's Gran Plaza mall is modeled after Caribbean-style clubs—it's heavy on the tropical vibe and large, live groups that pump out the best in modern and traditional Latin music. Free salsa lessons happen Thursday through Saturday at 7 pm. There's no cover Monday, and ladies enter free Thursday and Sunday; other times expect to pay around $6.

The biggest, loudest, and most expensive party spot on Calle 12, trendy Mandala is divided into a street-level bar, a rooftop terrace, and a dance club. Each has its own DJ spinning anything from house and hip-hop to disco and techno.

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 Balinese-style party place is a buzzing beach retreat by day and a more upscale nightclub after dark. Both have bikini contests, DJs, pool parties, and bottle service. Don't forget your swimsuit and beach-appropriate shoes. Expect to pay a $20 cover.

Mango Deck is "spring break" personified, from the costumed employees pouring shots directly into partygoers' mouths to the "booty shaking" competitions held on a stage in the sand (and livestreamed to their website). It's unquestionably Cabo's most popular beachfront venue, whose music you can hear blasting from every direction. As it's also a restaurant, children are inexplicably allowed and occasionally present, but we strongly recommend limiting your party to consenting adults only.

Popular among the young and those who don't want to put too much distance between the water's edge and their next margarita is Manny's Beach Club. Recorded music blares constantly in this local landmark.

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.

Over a decade after opening its doors on the gay-friendly end of Calle República de Cuba, El Marra (as this chaotic little slip of a place is affectionately known) remains as wild, crowded, and joyful as ever. Open to everyone, the crowd here skews young, queer, and ready to dance.

A pleasant atmosphere, flowing beer, and live music are what make this bar one of Mérida's best-kept secrets (you might want to pass on the food). Grab a spot in the beer garden where you can listen to live reggae, rock, or jazz. A rather worn billiard table and occasional entertainment—such as belly dancers and fire spinners—draw a decent crowd.

This traditional Irish pub in Cancun's downtown is a favorite of locals who come for the great variety of national and international beers and stay for the live music. It's open every day until 3 am.

With more than 30 varieties of mezcal from different regions of the country, this cantina is the perfect place to discover Mexico's second most popular agave-based drink (tequila is first). Come for the cocktails, but stay for the live music and friendly vibes.

"Mezcal for everything bad ... and also for everything good" is one of La Miserable's punchy catch phrases. You can order 1 oz. or 2 oz. pours of nearly every varietal under the sun, all from artisan distilleries from different states of Mexico. The house cocktails mix an espadín with fresh fruit juices, and both domestic and craft beers are available, too. Open until 2 am six nights a week, this is one of the most reliable late-night haunts in La Paz.

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. 

Zona Rosa's prime hangout for bearish gay guys and their admirers actually draws a pretty varied crowd. It acts as a generally more mature alternative to the more raucous crowds you'll find in many of the bars around the corner on Calle Amberes. It's open only Thursday through Saturday night.

This marina-facing hole-in-the-wall turns into a powerhouse party destination, filled to the brim with tourists and locals alike. Expect a loud but well-curated playlist of music and a hopping dance floor.