Mexico City Nightlife

Music and dance are so central to the Mexican identity that it's no surprise that the Top Ten Bars, Clubs, and Nightlife in Mexico City center on these activities. Add a shot of tequila or mescal, a frosty cerveza or a glass of vino tinto and you're set for a night of fun.

If you are looking for a good time and want to connect with local partiers, visit the Federal District's most popular nighttime areas: Polanco, Condesa and Roma, Zona Rosa, and Centro Historico.

My #1 Pick: Area Bar. The Habita Hotel's rooftop bar, Area, set the standard for high style in Polanco when it opened in 2000 and is still the capital's #1 nightlife destination. If you want to surround yourself with Mexico City's most beautiful, wealthy, and well-connected night owls, Area is the place for you.

Mama Rumba - #2 on the Top Ten list - is Roma's "in" place for salsa, cumbia, and timba. Its dance floor is always packed with sexy, sweaty, hip swiveling couples.

Mexico City's LGBT bars and clubs can be found mostly in Zona Rosa. My #7 pick is Nicho, an unpretentious place that attracts a mixed-ages male crowd that comes here to hang out with friends and share a pitcher of draft beer.

Maybe your tastes run to high culture - there's no finer destination than the elegant #9: Palacio de Bellas Artes. Ballet, opera, and classical music are represented here. Ballet Folklórico de México graces the stage on Wednesdays and Sundays.

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