18 Best Bars in Mexico

This snug and stylish hideout just off Avenida Amsterdam is decorated with framed butterflies and bird illustrations and offers up an enticing list of innovative cocktails—try the Old George Sour with Altos Plata tequila, cardamom, and cucumber, or any of the several fine mezcal elixirs. The tight space with just a handful of seats inside and a few more on the sidewalk can get busy on weekends, but if you can snag a table, it's a lovely place to chat with friends or mingle with new ones. It's owned by the same team behind the Roma's famous Licorería Limantour.

One of the most fashionable cocktail venues in the neighborhood, this contemporary open-air rooftop bar is perched atop the chic Hotel CondesaDF. Hang with friends beneath a white umbrella on one of the wide arm chairs or snag a table overlooking the lush foliage of Parque España. In addition to well-crafted drinks, there's a menu of tasty sushi and other Japanese-fusion snacks.

One of Guadalajara's hot spots, I Latina is where you will spot a cool, upscale local and international crowd having cocktails. Their food has long been considered the best cuisine in all of Guadalajara.

A womblike, intimate space with shelves adorned with countless bottles of mezcal, La Clandestina is one of four establishments in Roma and Condesa operated by Mezcales Milagrito, an artisanal distiller in Oaxaca (La Lavandería, El Palenquito, and Traspatio are the others). The fun here is in sampling some of the many different varieties, ideally straight up (take your time and sip slowly) so that you can taste the different complexities. There's also an extensive list of creative cocktails as well as tlayudas and other light bar snacks.

PV's original martini bar, Apaches is the landing zone for expats reconnoitering after a long day, and a warm-up for night owls. When the outside tables get jam-packed in high season, the overflow heads into the narrow bar and the adjacent, equally narrow bistro. If you're traveling alone, this is the place to make friends of all ages.

One of the most revered artisanal mezcal makers in the country, Oaxaca-based Alipus—which also runs the restaurants/bars Los Danzantes and Corazón de Maguey in Coyoacán—operates this stylish little spot in historic Tlalpan Centro. Stop by to sample the mezcal either straight up or in the extensive list of interesting cocktails, and note the well-prepared traditional Mexican food, including a number of Oaxacan specialties.

Popular among the trendy, local crowd, this three-story bar around the corner from Médano serves up some of the very best cocktails in town, handcrafted with fresh ingredients. Thirsty patrons spill out into the street on weekend evenings, but will happily clear the way for you to order a drink.

This cocktail bar is the main "late night" option in Todos Santos, staying open until a whopping 11 pm. Visited primarily by the local expat community, owner and bartender James Katona is happy to chat up new faces as he slings his signature margaritas. Decorated with quirky artifacts that are mostly gifts from regulars, The Dirty Rose is located within the unmarked building with the thatched roof (speakeasy meets tiki bar, anyone?) across from Shut Up Frank's.

Owner Os Navarro is always coming up with original recipes and inventive twists on classic cocktails from behind "the good" bar. There's limited seating here, so try to come early (or prepare to hover) to claim a spot.

Dark and a little spooky, Gin Gin is a real scene, from the skull-lined, red-lit entryway to the hookah smoke-filled bar area. Enjoy a cocktail at the bar, and watch the night unfold.

As far as posh hotel bars go, it's hard to top the Hilton Los Cabos La Biblioteca (meaning "The Library"), a fancy little bar completely dedicated to the celebration of tequila and mezcal. There's nothing raucous here, just intimate conversation over a Margarita or other agave-based cocktails. Mexican antojitos (small appetizers) and raw snacks provide the perfect complement or you can choose to pair your cocktails with an intimate five-course dinner. 

This charming martini lounge has red walls and a huge, eye-catching chandelier. Gringo-owned, it attracts a crowd of gay 20- to 40-year-old men (a mix of foreigners and Mexicans). Electronica and house music are the favorites. But, to get back to the martinis, the house makes excellent cocktails, and they're not too expensive, either. Make sure to visit the spectacular rooftop garden. 

Enjoy masterful mixology at this beachfront hot spot, where you can hear live music and enjoy creative cocktails featuring local flavors and ingredients. On Tuesday, when drinks are two for one, this is the place to be. 

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.

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.

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.

Though it's around the corner from the clubbing scene, the vibe at Vas Que Vuelas couldn't be more different. Come by to enjoy an artisanal cocktail or pour of small-batch mezcal; they've got the largest selection in town. Like the drinks, the food is also inspired by Oaxaca; order a tlayuda for a great late-night snack.