Mexico City Nightlife – 2024 Ultimate Guide By Local Expats

Mexico City nightlife is, in a word, awesome. We’re talking in particular about its cocktail culture, which has flourished over the past decade to produce some of the best mixology-centred hangouts in the world. 

Since we began basing ourselves out of La Condesa for part of the year, we’ve been regularly sauntering over to neighbouring Roma Norte, where some of the capital’s best bars are located. With hard work and dedication, we’ve drunk our way through hidden speakeasies, glam rooftop bars, and craft beer breweries, all in aid of pinning down the must-visit nightlife in Mexico City.

If you want fabulous views, there’s no better place than Cityzen. If you want cheap-as-chips mojitos 😉, Terraza Catedral is your best bet. If you want to learn more details, read on!

⚠️ 10 Survival Tips For Your Trip To Mexico City. We live here and know both the amazing and the ugly sides of the city. ➡️ ➡️ Get your FREE Guide here.

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Which part of Mexico is best for nightlife?

Roma Norte – This the best area overall for nightlife. Especially along Avenida Alvaro Obregon, you’ll find cocktail bars like Licorería Limantour as well as clubs like Departamento.

Zona Rosa/Juarez – An LGBT-friendly neighbourhood that’s also home to some cool drinking dens. Head to the pedestrianized Calle Génova for bars that are lively during the day as well as the night.

Condesa – A little bit more chilled, a little bit more refined, and a little bit more residential, the nightlife here tends to be more laidback. Bars are sprinkled throughout the colonia, with a concentration around Avenida Amsterdam, where you’ll find places like Baltra Bar.

Downtown – Authentic, local, and cheap; the bars around here lean towards the seedy side but have a lot of personality. If you’re not sure about exploring on your own, there’s a bar crawl tour that will guide you through the area.

BEST BARS IN MEXICO CITY

We’re kicking off our Mexico City nightlife tips with a look at some of the best bars in town, from mixology masterclasses to stylish rooftop hotspots with incredible views.

#1 Licorería Limantour – Best For Cocktails.

No bars in Mexico City deliver better cocktails than Licorería Limantour – at least, none that we’ve visited yet! We went there for just for one cocktail to see what all the fuss was about and ended up staying most of the evening exploring the menu and chatting to other couples.

Licorería Limantour’s buzzy atmosphere is partly down to its longevity. It’s been around for more than a decade now and is always to be found somewhere on the World’s 50 Best Bars list (it’s currently at number 7). Cheerful patrons spread across the split-level space and spill out onto the sidewalk.

The Margarita Al Pastor is a classic here, made with tequila blanco, Cointreau, lime juice, and a sprinkling of taco spices. Our tip is to forget the menu, park up at the bar, and ask the barman to prepare something for you based on your flavour preferences.

LOCATION: Av. Álvaro Obregón 106, in the heart of Roma Norte. There are a ton of nice cafes nearby if you need to sober up! Google location.

#2 Handshake Speakeasy – Best For A Trendy Hideout.

Currently 3rd on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, Handshake Speakeasy’s location can only be found by people in the know – or if you ask a member of staff to guide you, of course! Each new customer is greeted with a shout of “Bienvenidos,” which is a fun, welcoming touch.

As with the speakeasies of old, this bar is moodily lit to create an air of secrecy and mystique. The first time we came here, we were lucky enough to get a seat at the bar without a booking, but in general, we would recommend reservations. This is, after all, the highest-rated bar in Mexico City!

Order a miniature martini or negroni while you more thoroughly peruse the menu of signature drinks. The tropical pina colada is delicious but not quite as apt for the space as the Matcha Yuzu.

LOCATION: C. Amberes 65, Juarez, a short walk from the Glorieta de los Insurgentes plaza. Google location.

#3 Hanky Panky Cocktail Bar – One Of The Coolest Bars In Mexico City.

Full of cheeky flair, Hanky Panky has a similar hideaway style to Handshake Speakeasy, and it’s a must-visit place on your Mexico City nightlife bucket list! We won’t reveal exactly where the entrance is because finding it is part of the fun!

Another entrant on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, Hanky Panky, has a very intimate vibe and only a handful of seats. Again, we prefer perching at the bar here, but you can also reserve a table. Because of so little space, you’ll definitely need to reserve in advance to get a spot!

Sticking with the playful theme, the drinks menu is a passport to locations and sensations. Tiger Punch, for example, draws on Indian influences in its recipe of coconut milk, rum, amaretto, cardamom, clove, and many other spices and herbs that create a complex pow on the palate.

LOCATION: Turín 52, Juárez, a short walk from the Cuauhtemoc metro station. Google location.

#4 Baltra Bar – Like Drinking In Darwin’s Living Room.

As you’ve probably realised by now, some of the best nightlife Mexico City has to offer is based around cocktail culture. Baltra is yet one more CDMX bar that makes an appearance on the World’s 50 Best List, contributing to the capital’s reputation as a bit of a mixology mecca.

If you want to sit in the atmospheric, cosy lounge, make sure to book in advance. Otherwise, you’ll end up sitting outside on uncomfortable little stools set up on the streetside, which we have to say is a bit of a vibe killer.

As for the drinks, everything is super good, crafted using natural juice mixtures and sagely added spices. Margaritas and martinis are superb here, from the classic versions to spiffed-up originals.

LOCATION: Iztaccihuatl 36D, Condesa, just south of the Parque, Mexico. Google location.

#5 Supra Roma – Best For DJs and Dancing.

We visited Supra Roma on Mal’s birthday and really enjoyed the lively atmosphere. The DJ setup is excellent, so after a few cocktails, you’re guaranteed to be on your feet, dancing and experiencing Mexico City nightlife in its best form!

As a bonus, it’s up on the 14th floor, so you get nice views over the modern Mexican skyline. There is one big downside for us, though, and that’s that they allow people to smoke inside, which is a big shame.

The drinks menu is extensive, taking in cocktails, tequila, mezcal, and wine. For something unusual, try the Pompelmo con Agave, a tequila-based beverage with chilli-infused Ancho Reyes liqueur, grapefruit, and agave syrup. There’s also a food menu with snack-y stuff like calamari and tacos.

LOCATION: Av. Álvaro Obregón 151, in one of the most bustling parts of Roma Norte. Google location.

#6 Drunkendog – One Of The Best Mexico Bars For Craft Beer. 

Drunkendog is hands-down Robin’s fav bar in CDMX because he’s a big fan of their craft beer. This microbrewery makes a ton of its own ales, lagers, and bitters, as well as stocking beers from other Mexican breweries.

The funky decor reminds us a little of an American diner, with its bar counter lined by stools and glazed green tiles decorating the walls. Long high tables fill the inside, while outside, they have a decently sized patio overlooking the road.

Some of the craft beers are a little pricey, but there’s no questioning the breadth of options. Classics like a German pilsner and an IPA sit alongside more unusual brews like the Stout (Nitro) with its flavours of coffee and chocolate.

LOCATION: Av Nuevo León 4A, Condesa, just across from the Parque Espana. Google location.

#7 Toledo Rooftop – Best For Meetups With Friends.

Whatever time of day you show up, Toledo Rooftop has a great ambience with views to match. 

The afternoons tend to be more chill and relaxed, while the evenings are often busy and vibrant. On a sunny day, it’s a lovely little place to kick back with a mezcal mixer or two.

Speaking of the menu, there are a lot of options to whittle down, including sipping tequilas, classic cocktails, and wines by the glass. The food menu is equally extensive. We’d skip the tacos, which are way too expensive for a street-food-style snack, and instead go for classic junk food like the cheeseburger and the pizzas.

LOCATION: Av Chapultepec 461, Juarez, a short walk from the Bosque de Chapultepec. Google location.

#8 Bar Las Brujas – Best Hole-In-The-Wall Hangout.

Bar Las Brujas takes its name from the so-called Witches’ House where it’s located. This building gets its moniker from its peaked roof, which resembles a witch’s hat. It also allegedly once housed a famous healer.

It’s a rather perfect location for a bar that’s run and staffed entirely by women. The cosy, wood-panelled interiors are small, although there’s also more seating outside. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to suggesting cocktails to suit your tastes.

The menu regularly changes, but what seems to be consistent every time we visit is that the drinks are inspired by famous women in history and make use of traditional indigenous ingredients. 

LOCATION: Calle Rio de Janeiro 56, Roma Norte, just off the Plaza Rio de Janeiro. Google location.

#9 Cityzen – Best Views In Mexico City.

Found inside the Sofitel, Cityzen is the place to go if you want to enjoy a drink while gazing out at stunning panoramic views. Situated up on the 38th floor, there are a few Mexico City bars where you can look down on the Angel de la Independencia from quite such a height.

This place exudes casual sophistication, and the staff are as professional and attentive as we would expect from a 5-star hotel.

Drinks-wise, there’s a choice of beers, wines, and signature cocktails. Our favourite is the pretty-in-pink Montparnasse made with pink gin, sparkling rose, honey, and lime juice and garnished with a single rose petal. If you get peckish, they also have an abbreviated menu of burgers, tacos, and the like.

LOCATION: Av. Paseo de la Reforma 297, Cuauhtemoc, in the modern heart of the city. Google location.

#10 Terraza Catedral – Best Mexico City Nightlife Spot For Cheap Cocktails.

On the completely opposite end of the scale from Cityzen, Terraza Catedral is where to party in Mexico City on a budget. Located inside a hostel, it could not be further from the snooty attitudes you find in some of the more upscale hotspots in CDMX.

We are completely in love with the atmosphere. Few party places in Mexico are quite so unpretentious, the super casual vibe making it a relaxing place to hang out in the evening. Plus, you won’t find a rooftop bar with a better view of the city’s cathedral. 

What really seals the deal for Terraza Catedral is it has the cheapest cocktails in town. We paid just 110 pesos for a mojito, which works out to be 2 to 3 times cheaper than most of the other places on this list.

LOCATION: Republica de Guatemala 4, Centro Historico, behind the Catedral Metropolitana. Google location.

#11 The Midnight Monkey – Best For Jazz Music.

For anyone who loves the sultry sounds of jazz, the Midnight Monkey has the best nightlife in Mexico City. 

Exuding 1920s glamour, the combination of plush red sofas and brass-accented chairs manages to create a vibe that we would describe as both sleek but also comfy. There’s a cover charge to enter, and the prices aren’t cheap, but the music is full of soul.

The signature cocktails are elaborate and original, though not quite as good as you get at places like Licoreria Limantour or Handshake Speakeasy. Then again, the point of coming to Midnight Monkey is to enjoy the live band rather than experience true mixology mastery.

LOCATION: Plaza Río de Janeiro 54, Roma Norte, about 15 minutes from Cuauhtemoc metro station. Google location.

BEST NIGHTCLUBS IN MEXICO CITY

After a cocktail or five, you might find yourself in the mood to keep the party going. If that’s the case, there are tons of great Mexico City nightclubs that pump out the thumping beats into the early hours.

#12 Departamento – Best For Meeting World Travellers.

Spread across three floors, Departamento is designed to replicate the experience of going to a party at your friend’s apartment – if your friend has professional decks, bouncers on the door, and a fully stocked bar!

One of the best nightclubs in Mexico City if you have a passion for electro, it attracts an international crowd. Up top, you’ll find a rooftop terrace where you can grab some fresh air and chill for a bit if the other areas become a bit stifling.

For a club, the menu does a good job with its classic cocktails, though you can keep things simple with a beer or a glass of wine. There’s also a short selection of food to satisfy those booze-induced cravings.

LOCATION: Av. Álvaro Obregón 154, Roma Norte, opposite Supra Roma. Google location.

#13 Mama Rumba – Best For Latin Dance Partying In Mexico City.

The place to go Latin dancing in Mexico City, Mama Rumba, is the club we visit when we want to shake it to salsa. Many of the patrons are experienced movers, but the general attitude is one of tolerance, event to the inexperienced.

Learn how to dance salsa for free (if you don’t count the cover charge) earlier on in the evening, when you can practice your moves before the serious sashaying begins. A live band appears later to ramp up the atmosphere with their seductive beats. 

The drinks are standard fare, with refreshing mojitos and ice-cold bottled beer to refresh you in between bouts of dancing.

LOCATION: C. Queretaro 230, Roma Norte, across from the gourmet food market Mercado Roma. Google location.

#14 Fünk Club – Best For A Banging Sound System.

With a booming sound system, strobing laser lights, and an energetic crowd, Fünk easily ranks among the best dance clubs in Mexico City.

Located in a basement, it’s very much aiming to give off the vibe of an underground rave. We’ve only been a couple of times, but the DJs were solid on both occasions and seem to change regularly, so you get a slightly different flavour of electro each time. 

The cover charge is one of the most expensive in the area, and the drinks are pretty punchily priced, too, so you might want to enjoy some cocktails elsewhere first before heading below ground.

LOCATION: Av. Insurgentes Sur 377, on the border of Condesa and Roma Norte. There’s a branch of Churreria El Moro just down the street that’s open till 11pm. Google location.

#15 Bar Donceles – Best For Reliving The ‘80s.

In a former life, Bar Donceles was known as a gathering place for people who idolised The Cure as fashion icons. These days, the scene is more diverse and inclusive, though it still feels a bit more rocker than other nightlife venues in town.

There are a few different areas inside Bar Donceles, each one with a slightly different musical theme. If we don’t like the tune in one room, we just shuffle through to another! There’s usually plenty of people contributing to the ambience wherever you go.

For a Mexico City club, the menu prices are decent, though that’s partly because it’s located in the Centro Historico, rather than the more fashionable districts of Roma Norte or Zona Rosa.

LOCATION: Donceles 58, Centro Historico, a short distance from Terraza Catedral. Google location.

#16 Bombay Roma – Best For Living It Large.

Bombay Roma is the kind of place you go with friends to be seen. It’s all about style over substance, but as long as you leave your sensible side at the door, it can be a highly entertaining spot to grind the night away to the most recent hot tracks.

One of the most interestingly designed Mexico City clubs, the furniture looks like an imitation of Louis XIV, interspersed with plants. Imagine a living room that’s also a garden and a nightclub and you (sort of) get the picture.

The prices are on the high side compared with other Mexico City nightlife spots, and drinks are nothing special, but Bombay Roma is all about the vibe rather than the menu.

LOCATION: Av. Álvaro Obregon 291, Roma Norte, abutting Condesa. Google location.

#17 Phoenix Condesa – Best For A High-Energy Crowd.

One of those party places in Mexico where it’s always packed, Phoenix Condesa is a compact club with an excellent DJ and a fun clientele.

This place gets really busy, so you’ll have to splash out for a table with bottle service if you want some personal space where you can cool off for a moment without getting bounced about by the jubilant crowd.

Like most of the popular clubs in CDMX, there’s a cover charge. The prices for drinks are high, but you can save yourself some pesos by getting a beer and then settling in for an evening of dancing to the rhythmic beats.

LOCATION: Cadereyta 16, Condesa, a short distance from the Parque Espana. Google location.

#18 Club San Luis – Best Nightclubs Mexico City For Retro Fun.

Rounding out our list of the best nightclubs in Mexico City, Club San Luis is a place with a past. For decades, people have been coming to the dance floor here to show off their salsa and cumbia skills.

A live band supplies the tunes so that lovers of Latin dance can twirl across the black-and-white chequered dance floor. There’s a seedy side to the experience in the form of the ‘ficheras’ that prowl the place, but that sort of feels part and parcel of this Old World-y cabaret.

Although there’s technically no cover charge, there is a minimum consumption fee, which amounts to pretty much the same thing. It’s not cheap, but you’re paying for the experience as much as the drinks.

LOCATION: San Luis Potosí 26, Roma Sur, a short walk from the Hospital General metro station. Google location.

Mexico City Nightlife: FAQ

What’s the best place to stay in Mexico City for nightlife?

Many of the best clubs in Mexico City are in the Roma Norte area. If you stay around here, you’ll also be within walking distance of the bars around La Condesa and Zona Rosa, which both have their share of fashionable nightlife hangouts.

Does Mexico City have a good nightlife?

There are plenty of good party places in Mexico City, including several stupendously excellent cocktail bars that rank among the best in the world. As for clubs, the ones playing Latin-flavoured music to dance salsa to offer a slightly more unique going-out experience than the general run-of-the-mill electro stuff.

What time does nightlife start in Mexico City?

That really depends on the kind of establishment. If you’re talking about rooftop bars, people flock to these in time for sunset on fine nights. Clubs, on the other hand, don’t start to see much custom until about 11 pm.

Can you walk in Mexico City at night?

It really depends on the area. We live in Condesa and are quite comfortable walking around the neighbourhood at night, but there are areas around the Centro Historico that we find dodgy once the sun goes down. For more detailed info, you can check out our post on safety in CDMX.

Where to bar hop in Mexico City?

Some of Mexico City’s trendiest bars are all within a 10-minute walk of one another, spanning the Roma Norte and Juarez colonias. If you want a good table, you’ll have to book in advance, but if you fancy yourself a chancer, we’ve managed to turn up and squeeze into places like Handshake Speakeasy and Hanky Panky.

Where is Mexico City Red Light District?

The area around La Merced is infamous for being a hive of prostitution. This isn’t an Amsterdam-style red light district where the goings-on have become their own tourist attraction. It’s an area that can be dangerous to visit, so we wouldn’t recommend going unless you’re with a local.

Can you walk with beer in Mexico City?

No, it’s illegal to drink on public streets in Mexico City. It’s sometimes easy to forget that fact seeing as how so many bars, both fancy ones and simple holes in the wall, have roadside seating, but you can be arrested by police if you’re caught strolling about with an open can or bottle of booze.

Can you drink drinks with ice in Mexico City?

That really depends on where you are. Water in Mexico City isn’t the cleanest, so we definitely wouldn’t drink ice cubes made straight from the tap. However, it’s safe to say that if your cocktail at Licorería Limantour comes with ice, you can trust that it will have been made from filtered H2O.

Does Mexico City get cold at night?

Yes, Mexico City can get cold at night, particularly during the winter. Late spring and summer evenings, on the other hand, are generally mild. Autumn is a rather fickler time of year. If you’ve got a warming alcohol buzz going, you’ll probably be fine, but otherwise, pack a cardigan!

Mexico City Nightlife: Wrap-Up

We’ve put a whole lot of hours into sipping cocktails since we began living part of the year in the capital. What we’ve learned is that Mexico City nightlife is a many-headed beast. You can find mixology here that is as good as anything on the international scene, as well as bars that could only thrive in the streets of CDMX.