Guadalajara
A laid back, modern beer hall pouring Mexican craft brews – sours to stouts from 14 lines – with flights offered for M$60. A full line-up of bottled…
Must-see nightlife in Mexico
Campeche
For chocolate cravings, head to this cute little cafe with a patio in front and grassy yard in back. Try bittersweet hot chocolate with green tea or chili…
Puebla
With its impressive beer list, this shrine to las cervezas del mundo (beers of the world) serves beers from far and wide, including 21 varieties of German…
Cancún
One of Cancún’s only beach bars open to the public. With just a few tables on the terrace and on the sand, Bar del Mar serves snacks, beers and cocktails…
Western Central Highlands
Perched on the top floor of Colima's landmark Hotel Ceballos, Trapiche is one of several outlets of a local craft beer brewery but this one has by far the…
Chiapas
This fun and smart(ish) cantina is all things to all people. Expect lots of action (think downing of shots) or enjoy watching the groups in action:…
Querétaro
One of the many bars near Calle 5 de Mayo, this place revives traditions of old: a cantina-botanero (bar with snacks) complete with barrels and stools and…
Playa del Carmen
The Dirty Martini Lounge doesn't have a foam machine, there's no mechanical bull and there's minimal nudity – a refreshing change for crazy Playa. The…
Puerto Vallarta
What do you get if you mix pop art with slushies and add generous helpings of tequila, gin and Absolut vodka? Something like this fun bar, we imagine,…
Puerto Vallarta
By far the best of three adjacent clubs here, this cinema-sized spot has privileged malecón (beach promenade) frontage and keeps a youngish crowd happy…
Puebla
Excellent artisanal pizzas are the specialty promoted at 'The Aubergine,' but the bar's long list of Mexican craft beers and mezcals are just as special…
Central Pacific Coast
Right on the plaza, this is the beating heart of the San Blas expat community – a place to catch up on local gossip, sip an iced margarita or a bucket…
Coyoacán & San Ángel
This mock cantina plays up the kitschier elements of Mexican popular culture, with wall panels fashioned from plastic crates and sliced tin buckets as…
Guadalajara Region
This thoroughly pleasant local cafe is everything a good coffee bar should be, with fine aromas, Mexican beans, wooden chairs tailored in coffee sacking…
Sayulita
At the rubber-duck sign and up a spiral staircase, this lively bar on the main plaza pumps out live music or DJ sets most nights, with an open mike on…
Tasting Room por Capricho del Rey
Zihuatanejo
This snug little bar welcomes you with its arctic chill and Zihua's first, bona fide craft beer. It has four of its own bottled brews: a fruity IPA, a…
Centro Histórico
Typical sights and sounds at this gay bar include bare-chested bartenders serving cheap drinks, bar-top drag shows and festive music ranging from '80s pop…
Mérida
If you've been craving a spot to sip cocktails and look at skulls, your search is over. This dark, macabre-themed place has an excellent selection of…
Ensenada
Suffering from margarita meltdown? Then head to this relaxed wine bar for a glass of fruity Passion Meritage, an award-winning red from the owners’…
Sonora
There are gorgeous bay views, particularly at sunset, from this popular bar-restaurant, which has live music and pool tables. Skip the food and just enjoy…
Puebla
This is what a Mexican cafe would look like in a cartoon. Think shrines to Frida Kahlo, Day of the Dead trinkets, lucha libre (Mexican wrestling)…
Acapulco
Do you believe in life after love? Actually, you're not terribly likely to hear Cher here but there's usually a decent set played by a roster of local DJs…
Tepoztlán
It looks unassuming from the street, but climb the stairs and this dimly lit, open-air bar has good views of the cliff face and greenery. The late-closing…
Puerto Escondido
Psychedelic Babylon has a terrifying Mexican mask collection, a sprawling library of books to exchange and varied live music or a DJ Thursday to Saturday…
Puerto Vallarta
It's a real relief to come in here on a hot afternoon and leave bland beer behind. There's a fine selection of craft brews from around Mexico and imports…
Troncones
Sip a spicy mango margarita or Bloody Mary while soaking up the scenery of a jungle-backed beach at this quiet resort about 6km north of town. To get here…
Veracruz
This handy town center cafe serves a full range of lecheros (coffee with milk), espressos, lattes and cappucinos, as well as frappés and iced coffees for…
La Paz
Located in El Centenario, around 5km north of the center, this hotel, bar and restaurant dates from the 1980s and has long served as the resident expat…
Veracruz
Don't miss having a drink and taking in the city and surrounding mountain views from this cute rooftop cafe-bar, named after the famous Mexican songwriter…
Ensenada
Enjoy craft beers made by the owners, as well as from national and international small breweries; seven samplers will cost you just 105 pesos. The…
Chetumal
With a more subdued vibe than some of the nearby nightclubs, this outdoor cantina stages the occasional midweek reggae act and serves ridiculously cheap…
San José del Cabo
A pub-style environment offering local microbrews. Sample 4oz measures of six different beers in a flight to find your favorite. Popular choices include…
Oaxaca City
This pleasant cafe offers a small lunch menu to pair with a wide selection of single-origin coffee, prepared in a variety of ways, depending on batch and…
Mérida
There's a warm and relaxed atmosphere at this downtown craft-beer bar housed in a barnlike colonial building. Mérida-produced craft beers including Ceiba,…
Tijuana
If you seriously need a coffee and are serious about the coffee you need, make a beeline to this hip roastery, with seats made from coffee sacks and model…
San Luis Potosí
A hip bar named after the very beer it produces, Siete barrios, which is in turn named after the seven main regions of the city. After you've tried one of…
Zona Rosa & Reforma
Three levels of house and retro might sound like your average Zona Rosa gay club, but it's the roof garden, cool student crowd and local drag stars that…
Bahías de Huatulco
Plunge into Crucecita’s popular mezcal dive bar, which is actually rather large compared to your average mezcalería, with moody lighting, lurid graffiti…
Morelia
Rock belts out of a handful of clubs on and around Av Madero Poniente after 10pm, but this is one of the best. Expect young, moody student bands…
La Paz
Head upstairs to the terrace for sweeping views over the bay and a cerveza (beer). Five local beers are on tap, and there about 25 bottled varieties…
