CENTRO CULTURAL DE ESPAÑA
Read moreConcerts are often held on the top floor of the Spanish Cultural Centre (inaugurated in 2002 by the King of Spain himself), which is located in the heart of the historic centre. The music is varied, from jazz to electronic music. Be careful, these parties attract more and more people, if you arrive too late, they won't let you in for lack of space. There is also a bar and a good restaurant serving Spanish specialities.
CAFE LA CONCHITA
Read moreIt serves a much better coffee than the Music, which has so much success, and offers a peaceful and pleasant setting for a capuchino or tea sitting in comfortable armchairs. Wireless internet service.
HOSTERÍA LA BOTA
Read moreThis establishment is absolutely worth a visit for its zany decor, which is more reminiscent of an antique store or an attic than a bar. Paintings of the Virgin of Guadalupe line the walls, alongside statues of Malverde and luchadors, bullfighting posters and Corona trays. What's more, this open bar with its lovely terrace serves not only beers, but also wine and a wide range ofantojitos, botanas and dishes, each more hearty and cheaper than the last. Everything you need for an enjoyable evening...
SALÓN SOL BICENTENARIO
Read moreInaugurated in 2010, the Salón Sol is a gigantic disco, which can accommodate up to 1 100 people. It organises salsa evenings on Thursday evening and electro evenings on Friday and Saturday. The decor of the nightclub is not exceptional, but everyone knows that when the atmosphere beats its full, it doesn't matter. In addition, this discotheque has the virtue of displaying very attractive rates.
LA HOSTERÍA DEL TROBADOR
Read moreThe Hostería del Trobador is a peña, that is, a music bar where groups live in live. But beware, the style of the house is rather the romantic songs and classics of Mexican and Latin American music. So the place is not done to dance until the early morning, but rather to spend a Bohemian evening, or in love. On Tuesday, the hotel organises poetry evenings.
THE CROSS TAVERN
Read moreThis pub, whose decoration refers to medieval times and Celtic culture, opened its doors at the beginning of 2011 and quickly became the meeting place for revellers between 25 and 35 years of age. It offers a wide range of national and international beers and whisky brands. An open area was built on the first floor for smokers. Possibility to eat on site.
LA NACIONAL
Read moreThis is a mezcalería that naturally serves a wide variety of mezcals. You can also taste other typically Mexican spirits such as raicilla and bacanora, also from the agave plant, and sotol, a plant alcohol from Chihuahua. The decor is sober, the atmosphere is dark and the light is subdued. We like the intimate and relaxed atmosphere that reigns in this bar, far from the overexcited atmosphere of the Cantinas! The bar is open to the street, which allows you to enjoy the warm nights of Mexico City
BULL DOG CAFE
Read moreKnown as the "Rock's House", Bull Dog Café is a unique establishment in Mexico City, halfway between the concert hall and the disco. Every Friday and Saturday evening, concerts are held there. They are often prestigious Mexican groups such as Molotov, Café Tacuba or Plastinila Mosh. Visit the website to find out about events. But beware, don't forget to bring your identity papers: even if you're a long time ago, you won't let you pass if you don't show your passport at the entrance!
LA ESQUINA DEL TE
Read moreSince it is difficult to find an establishment that serves good tea in Mexico City and Mexico, it is our duty to recommend this small tea salon, which is opposite San Jacinto Square. Tea lovers can choose on the spot a cup of green tea, black, yellow, or white, or buy a package of these precious sheets to enjoy it throughout the journey. Only hic: the facilities that appear to be highly random. If the place is closed during your passage, or you prefer the coffee, rabattez-vous on Café Solo Dios, at the corner of San Jacinto Square. There is a very good coffee made from organic beans, and the establishment opens every day without fault from 7 am to 22 pm.
JUAN SOLDADO
Read moreThis cantina bears the name of a Mexican that is revered in northern Mexico by migrants trying to move to the United States. While La Paz avenue is flooded with chic restaurants, this establishment seeks to offer a more casual atmosphere, inspired by popular bars and cantinas in the small villages of Mexico. It's successful! Even though customers are among the privileged classes, they feel transported far away from San Angel district. Possibility to dance and restore.
LA NUCLEAR
Read moreNuclear is not a bar, it is a pulquería: neither beer nor wine is sold, but pulque, a milky and viscous beverage made from the fermentation of freshly recovered sap or agave. The hotel opened its doors at the beginning of 2011. However, although it is a very recent pulquería, the decoration of the establishment is consistent with tradition: a saloon door at the entrance, simple benches arranged around wooden tables, terracotta cups to taste the beverage, and magnificent frescoes on the walls that represent pulque drinkers, and the landscape of the region, with its volcanoes and magueys. A good address to explore this ancestral drink.
EL JACALITO
Read moreThis is where the night-owls meet when the bars close their doors. Small, but big by its atmosphere, El Jacalito is undoubtedly the most famous after of the city! They drink and dance in the morning.
CINE TONALA
Read moreCine Tonalá is a unique space in the area: mostly independent cinema, the place also presents theater and music works. The vintage atmosphere is very nice, and the programming is really great. You can see some blockbusters, but also independent Mexican films. If you're in the mood for a one-man show, check out the website for a list of events. There is also a restaurant and a bar on site, so you can relax before the show or debrief afterwards.
LA BIPO
Read moreOwned by actor Diego Luna, the place is set on two levels, in a decor that is at once popular, kitschy and trendy. La Bipo deserves its name, which comes from bipolar: on the ground floor, the atmosphere is relaxed and minimalist, with large communal wooden tables; while the second floor offers a more elaborate décor and a warm and festive atmosphere. Concerts, open-air roof terrace, successful cocktails and good food. Without a doubt, a place not to be missed in the neighbourhood.
FORO BIZARRO
Read moreOpened in 2016, the place is the new mecca for extreme rock music, punk or psychedelic tendencies, with also some techno events in the free and decadent 90s style. This is really where it's at. The setting lends itself quite well to the concept of the place: skulls and bones on the walls and around the bar, a small stage with psychedelic motifs, Colette benches in fake velvet or leather, a very underground atmosphere... Foro Bizarro is really a UFO in the Mexico City nightlife. Resolutely alternative.
EL BÓSFORO
Read moreA small, dark and uncluttered bar with a nice selection of music, separated from the street by a thick red curtain. There's no fuss here, just mezcal to drink and beer to cool down. And for botanas(tapas), go to the sidewalk where they sell quesadillas. The place is very popular (the clientele is rather young) and often crowded, we recommend you to arrive early, especially on the evenings of weekend, to have a place at the bar or on the floor, in the small mezzanine where one settles on large cushions on the ground.
LA CLANDESTINA
Read moreNext to Parque España, La Clandestina is a small bar that presents its forty or so mezcals in large glass bottles hanging on the wall behind the bar; the visual effect is magical. Or maybe it's the effect of the delicious mezcals served here, neat and accompanied by a few slices of orange sprinkled with chili... To start off gently, you can let yourself be tempted by one of the excellent cocktails, especially the avocado one. You can drink it at the bar, standing outside or sitting in the back room. Local clientele. Very nice.
MOOD RETRO BAR
Read moreA lounge bar beautifully decorated. Favorite for music of the 1980 s and 1990 s.
CINETECA NACIONAL
Read moreThe National Cinematheque of Mexico City was founded in 1973, with the aim of preserving the art of Mexican cinema and promoting cinematography in the country. The original building was destroyed by fire, and the current building, with its beautiful futuristic ceiling and open spaces, dates from 1983. It shows many previews of films, but above all a demanding selection of national and international films. The place is also known for showing controversial films. A real film buff's den.
ZINCO JAZZ CLUB
Read moreFor a change from Latin rhythms, here is a pleasant jazz club in the heart of the historic center. Both Mexican and foreign bands play here. You'll feel good in its cozy atmosphere, with velvet curtains, red neon lights and candlelit tables. To find out what's on, check out the club's website or social networks. Reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Not bad for a romantic evening with excellent music.
SALÓN LOS ANGELES
Read moreOpened in 1937, Salón Los Angeles is the cathedral of danzón (practiced in Cuba, Veracruz and Mexico City), a romantic and very elegant Mexican tango accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra. People flock here on Tuesdays from 5pm just to dance. On Sundays, it's the Cuban sound that takes center stage. Locals of all ages come to dance and spend wild evenings. It is said that " El que no conoce el Salón Los Angeles no conoce México " ("He who does not know the Salón Los Angeles does not know Mexico"). What's up?
SALÓN TENAMPA
Read moreOne of the most important cantinas in the historic center, opened in 1925. Here you can eat and drink to the rhythm of jarocho and mariachi music. Live music, and the good news is that there is no entrance fee. You pay for your drinks and food, and that's enough to enjoy the music. The decor, with its walls decorated with large paintings of mariachis and Mexican farmers wearing sombreros, sets the tone. As for the ceiling, it is covered with papel picados, those small perforated and multicolored flags typical of Mexico.
QUETZALCOATL
Read moreA bar very popular with Mexican youth (beer is not very expensive). Several floors, and a terrace. Attention to noise on Saturday evening.
CORAZON DE MAGUEY
Read moreIn the heart of Coyoacán, here is a very nice bar which wants to be the cathedral of the artisanal mezcal . It serves mezcal-based cocktails and pulque, but also craft beers. Concerts are often organized there. It is also possible to eat on the spot of a kitchen with traditional accents, with copious and rather successful dishes (the speciality is the marrow bone served with a soup of beans). The decoration of the place, with colored walls, reminds the traditional colonial architecture of Coyoacán.
HANKY PANKY COCKTAIL BAR
Read moreSubdued, intimate and refined, this is a good place to start the evening with creative and original cocktails. Ideal for a good little chat with friends in this bar which follows the concept of speakeasies, clandestine bars during the prohibition in the United States: you enter through the kitchen door, hidden in a fridge.. . The place being very popular, think of reserving your table a few weeks in advance. If you can, we recommend that you go to Hanky Panky during the week, as it is very crowded on weekends.
TEATRO DE LA CIUDAD
Read moreJust a few blocks from the Palacio de Bellas Artes, don't miss the façade of this small theatre. Its history is closely linked to that of the star, singer and actress Esperanza Iris (1884-1962), who gave the instructions for the construction of a theatre modelled on La Scala in Milan. It was inaugurated in 1918 and is still as majestic as ever. The place still hosts many concerts and recitals. Attending one of them is the best way to discover its magnificent interior.
LA CANTINA DEL TIO PEPE
Read moreIts history dates back to the late 19th century. The cantina has faithfully preserved its large bar carved out of wood and its lighting fixtures made from German beer mugs and stained glass. Inside, the old sign that forbids entry to "women, miners, shoeshine boys and people in uniform" still stands. The clientele is made up of locals and tourists curious about the place where William Burroughs used to come and throw himself a few. They still serve very traditional calditos de camarón and tacos that change every day.
CANTINA LA FAENA
Read moreThe clientele of this unusual establishment, founded in 1954, looks like Rimbaud's Bateau Ivre... You enter through a corridor of blue tiles riddled with inscriptions of popular wisdom, to literally burst into a large room lit by neon lights and with old tiles. Meanwhile, the plastic furniture is dressed with deceptively shiny tablecloths and a Virgin of Guadalupe flashes to the rhythm of a Christmas garland. Here, you can still eat traditional dishes as you pour yourself a glass.
FIFTY MILS
Read moreTake a dash of the poker scene setting in Casino Royale, a dash of the sophistication of the most lavish palaces and a dash of instrumental jazz and you have a rough impression of Fifty Mils. Opened in 2015 in Mexico City's iconic Four Seasons, the elegant bistro's long marble counter is where you toast the bartenders for their spectacular feats: their cocktails. We highly recommend you try the " Bugs Bunny" cocktail (gin, carrot juice, lemongrass syrup, chilies and Fernet). A delight!
PANADERÍA ROSETTA
Read moreThe Rosetta restaurant has been so successful that Chef Elena Reygadas decided to open a bakery next door to cater for sweet tooths. And the gamble paid off! Here, everything is excellent, from the croissant to the scone and the muffins, not forgetting the bread (baguette or cereal, among others). Even the pastries leave us wondering; let yourself be tempted by the mille-feuille. The place also offers a few dishes, including very good sandwiches. Once again, it's a great success, and the place is always full from morning to night.
CAFEBRERIA EL PENDULO
Read moreThis large house houses the best of literature and beautiful books on Mexico on several floors. The place also serves as a café, with its many tables and large armchairs. Special mention for the pleasant terrace, although we have a preference for the indoor tables which allow us to enjoy the hipster setting. On the menu, simple and rather successful dishes: eggs and fresh juice for brunch and burgers, salads and tacos for dinner. Three other similar branches are scattered throughout the city.
CAFE AVELLANEDA
Read moreAs you walk up the charming cobbled Higuera Street, you'll notice many shops that are very appealing... this little blue-fronted café tops the list! It serves the best coffee in the neighborhood, if not the capital. If you're craving a good latte with a divine foam, a cappuccino with a heart, or a full-bodied black coffee, Café Avellaneda will satisfy you. Some surprising cocktails too. The place is very small, but you can still sit along the counter and enjoy your hot drink served on a wooden tray. Charming.
MAMBOCAFE
Read moreOn Avenida Insurgentes, Mambocafé is the perfect place to dance salsa all night long! Depending on the night and the DJ's preferences, you can also rock out to disco, mambo, bachata and other intoxicating Latin beats. The dance floor is not very large, which makes it easy to meet people! Mambocafé also offers dance classes. The prices of the drinks are a bit high (at some tables, it is compulsory to order at least one bottle), and we do not recommend to make your meal there.
BUDAPEST CAFÉ CUKRÁSZDA
Read moreOpen on two floors in an old-fashioned brocante decor with gilded ornaments, porcelain, antique furniture and black and white portraits, this charming café serves delicious snacks, empanadas, bagels, quiches and desserts in a warm and surprising atmosphere. Satie or Liszt music echoes through the speakers creating a nostalgic atmosphere of the early 20th century. One can both immerse oneself in reading a good novel on the small terrace of the second floor and enjoy tea time with friends.
BLEND STATION
Read moreChilangos call Blend Station the mecca for freelancers in Mexico City. In a spacious and bright space, fair trade coffees from independent producers from around the world are offered. The baristas don't hesitate to share their knowledge about the different characteristics of their products while concocting superior cappucinos, flat whites, mochas and smoothies. They also serve avocado toast, shakshukas and other healthy and nutritious dishes made with fresh and organic ingredients.
TLECAN MEZCALERIA
Read moreIn this dark and intimate tasting room, you will participate in a lively and constructive exchange about the mysteries of mezcal. Not only do the staff teach you about the production methods of this delectable drink made from the leaves and roots of the yucca tree, but they also present you with a rigorous selection of handcrafted and ancestral mezcals from some 40 varieties of agave. They collaborate with independent and certified producers and guarantee an irreproachable quality of their products. A real surprise.