Whether you want to dance, drink, talk, sing, listen, or watch, you will find your kind of place in the D.F. Clubs offer salsa, rock, house, electronic pop, and everything in between—but there are also laid-back bars, theaters, cinemas, and wild cantinas. The options, like the city, are almost limitless.
Cover charges are a necessary evil of the capital’s night life. At discotecas (dance clubs), called antros in the D.F., they range 30-200 pesos for men. Women are often admitted free before a certain hour (usually 11pm or midnight) or at half-price. After this time you will still have to buy drinks—rarely will you be lucky enough to find a barra libre (open bar). If drink prices are not listed, ask to avoid exorbitant gringo prices. Bebidas nacionales (Mexican-made drinks, from Kahlúa to sangría) are considerably cheaper than imported ones.
The hours, prices, and popularity of entertainment establishments sometimes change faster than even an annually updated book can track. In the summer of 2001, night owls were stopped in their tracks by mysterious green signs, reading “Clausurado” (shut down), placed over the doors of dozens of the city’s bars and clubs. The seals explained that the city government had closed the establishments indefinitely, “for violations of the regulatory statutes in effect.” Some establishments re-opened within a few weeks, but the future of most is still unclear. The Zona Rosa, the Centro Histórico, and the city’s gay nightlife were the hardest hit.
Women venturing out alone will likely be approached by men offering drinks, dances, and much more. In light of Mexico City’s sometimes staggering crime statistics, both men and women should go out in groups.
Although the centro was once known for being quiet after sundown, the emerging nightlife now offers great spots for both tourists and locals. M: Zócalo (Line 2), Bellas Artes (Lines 2 and 8), Allende ...more
The plaza is at the intersection of Lázaro Cárdenas (Eje Central) and República de Honduras, north of the Alameda. M: Bellas Artes (Lines 2, 8), walk 3 well-lit blocks away from the Palacio de Bellas ...more
Mexico City’s residents fill the inexpensive bars scattered around the monument’s flood-lit dome. The dark streets are not particularly safe—it’s best to visit these places in groups. Bar Milan ...more
Home to some of the republic’s fanciest discos and highest cover charges, the Zona Rosa can feel like the center of the universe on weekends. Clubs come and go, but a few commercial chains have had ...more
Next to the Zona Rosa, this tranquil residential neighborhood has become a great destination for relaxed nightlife and a growing number of gay clubs and bars. There’s no single nightlife cluster, so ...more
Lining Insurgentes near the World Trade Center skyscraper are a bunch of themed nightlife hot spots. The area has quick turnover, and those that stick around are not the most authentic in the capital ...more
The upscale bars along Insurgentes and Revolución cater to an executive crowd, who often arrive in business suits and heels. Cover charges here are low or nonexistent. Although there are no real dance ...more
Plaza Hidalgo, Coyoacán’s historic heart, is the place to be. The biggest crowds form on weekends, drawn to free performances by comedians, mimes, and musicians. The colonial buildings nearby often ...more
The capital presents a full range of social and cultural activities for gays and lesbians, and an active, fledgling gay rights movement has made its presence known. General tolerance of homosexuality ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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