10 Best Bars in Mexico

In addition to its famous beach scene, Blue Chairs, at the south end of Los Muertos Beach, has the popular Blue Sunset Rooftop Bar, which is the perfect place to watch the sunset. It has daily late-afternoon and evening entertainment, and is open to the public between 3 and 11 pm; after that, it's hotel guests only.

Closed off for pedestrians and lined with bars, this street is basically one long pub crawl, spanning several blocks and all kinds of different establishments. You’ll be approached with menus by the hype people for various bars as you walk; feel free to take a quick look and move on to the next option if a place doesn't interest you (they're used to it). La Terraza and Bukowski's Bar are particularly good for people-watching and drinks, although you're better off looking elsewhere for dining.

Don Pato serves craft beer in a lively setting, right in the middle of Sayulita. They also serve great food including burgers, enchiladas, and burritos. 

The vibe at this beachfront palapa bar is laid-back throughout the day. It's open early morning till late at night, and is an easy place to get a meal and do some great snorkeling at the same time. The meals are uncomplicated Mexican fare, but you can't beat the view of the ocean and downtown.

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.

To mingle with locals and hear great music for free, head to the Parque de las Palapas. Every Friday night at 7:30 there's live music that ranges from jazz to salsa; lots of locals show up to dance. On Sunday afternoon the Cancún Municipal Orchestra plays.

If dancing to the likes of romantic trios of the 1940s is your style, don't miss the Tuesday-night ritual at Parque de Santiago, where older folks and the occasional young lovers gather for dancing under the stars at 8:30 pm.

"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.