Mexico City Nightlife: Bars and Clubs

Mexico City by day is fascinating enough, but by night, an entirely different side of the capital shows itself. It’s a 24-hour city, perhaps even more so than New York, which claims that title. And it’s at night when some of Mexico City’s most pleasant surprises reveal themselves.

There are rooftop bars, for one thing, which offer sweeping views of the sparkling skyline and—on the not-so-distant horizon—the mountains that serve as the city’s unofficial limits. And then there are the underground jazz clubs, where local and internationally renowned musicians (heard of Wynton Marsalis? Paquito D’Rivera?) play to enthusiastic, cultured crowds.

There are all the nocturnal diversions you’d expect of any big city, too: dance clubs and bars that range from dives to swanky joints and everything in between. So the difficulty isn’t deciding if you’re going to go out … it’s deciding where!

Best Rooftop Bars

La Terraza

There’s no shortage of scene-bars to impress even the most traveled of patrons, but two of Mexico City’s rooftop bars vie for top distinction in this category. La Terraza, the bar on the top of the Condesa df hotel, is an ideal place to stop and sip early on your visit to the city; from your rooftop perch atop comfortable, private loungers warmed by heat lamps, you’ll be able to take in a panoramic view of the city’s skyline. The drinks are good and generously sized, and a Japanese-inspired menu offers tapas-sized snacks for hungry clients. This is a bar best enjoyed with others, as solo seating is limited.

Condesa df, Avenida Veracruz N. 102, Colonia Condesa. Tel. +52-55-5241-2600. Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight. www.condesadf.com

Area

Area, another rooftop bar, located atop the Hotel Habita, actually consists of two levels. The first has a pool, while the upper level lets guests gather around its outdoor fireplace, but both allow a generous glimpse of the capital city, including a view of the massive national flag that flutters majestically from a tall pole in the distance. As at La Terraza, the drinks are generously sized, if a bit pricey.

Hotel Habita, Avenida Presidente Masaryk 201, Colonia Polanco. Tel. +52-55-5282-3100. Hours: Mon. to Sat., 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. www.hotelhabita.com

Next: Best Mexico City Jazz Clubs