Hey all,
I lived in Guadalajara for three months and here's what I've learned:
Guadalajara is unique and is known for having more beauty than other parts of Mexico. While it's not as busy and liberal as Mexico City, Guadalajara is the 2nd biggest city with plenty of things to do.
I went out often, 3-4 times per week with intermediate level of Spanish. First thing I would like to caution you about is the hours of the nightlife. Mexicans like to party late by starting late after a late dinner. Typically, in Mexico time, dinner is at 9pm-10pm, party starts from 11pm-12pm and people go home 4-5am.
If you arrive at 12am to a nightclub, you will hit peak party time, and you will encounter a line. I prefer to go before it gets crowded. Wear pants, nice shoes, and a button up or polo shirt otherwise the Mexican bros will out-dress you!
Word of caution, no need to be arrogant or cocky here. Tapatios, the people of Guadalajara, are respectful, polite, and friendly. I didn’t experience any negative issues, not even cock-blocking, although if a girl says she has a boyfriend, she is being honest thus pursuing her would be a waste of time. Chances are she won’t go out with you even if you get the number.
Another word of caution: smoking, while there are signs and rules prohibiting smoking in most venues, they are not strictly enforced. People will smoke freely at their will indoors of bars and clubs.
Here are the specific bars available around the city. If you are out solo and hope to find somebody to join you, it’s easy to ask. In Spanish, nightlife is “vida nocturna” and “antros” are nightlife venues such as having one word for bars and clubs.
The following contains clubs in Zapopan, Centro, and Colonia Americana. You can search for them by name on Google Maps. If not found, it's possible the name changed:
BIBLIOTECA GDL $$$
This luxury venue used to be called La Santa from what I’ve heard but now it’s called “library” as translated to English. It does resume a huge library inside with wall-to-wall fake books. It is a giant room with many tables catering to the wealthy Mexicans. Expect it to be mainly groups here and bottle service all around being delivered in a toy mini ambulance. Don’t be surprised to see blonde, green-eyed Mexicans here. They exist. My friend and I stayed half an hour until I noticed a group of girls I befriended earlier that day so they invited us to drink with them. A beer will cost you 80 pesos ($4). Cocktails are over 150 pesos.
ABOLENGO $$$
Located in Andares, the “western” luxury area of Guadalajara so not a very walkable place. Abolengo is less pretentious and has more reasonable prices. People go there to have fun and not necessarily to flash their wealth. We approached a group of girls celebrating their birthday there after having a few beers. While they were receptive and polite, they didn’t seem interested in meeting foreigners. A beer will cost you 60 pesos (~$3)
MACA SAO PAULO $$
There are two Maca locations in Guadalajara. This one and in Colonia Americana. Maca Sao Paolo is the bigger fancier one. The venue has two rooms and outdoor bar with a swimming pool. It gets packed from Thursday to Saturday! This is a place where I saw a few people wearing those giant head masks that you see in reggaeton music videos. Definitely funny and good for taking selfies. While most bars sell drinks and bottles individually, Maca does an entry free for an open bar of liquor-based drinks until 1am or 2am. Although, it’s not as good as it sounds.
Since everyone there gets unlimited drinks, waiters are working non-stop and expect to get tips. This means you can not order directly from the bar and need to rely on a waiter to bring you drinks usually within five minutes. Expect to pay 250 pesos ($13)
GLOW BAR $
This venue is located 10 minutes by taxi outside of Chapultepec in a small shopping center. While there are tables there, you can chill by the bar, roam around or play in the ball pit. Yes, this place wants you to feel like a kid again jumping into a huge ball pit. There are ultra-violet and neon lights all around with good music and bears as cheap as 35 pesos ($2). Bottles are also cheap here.
CENTRO
Guadalajara has a huge city center which you can walk around by foot and be fine during the day, but nightlife is spread out. You don’t have a central club district. Definitely take a Uber going there at night. It’s less than 10 minutes by car to Colonia Americana.
LA LUPITA $
This is more of an alternative dive bar with lucha libre decorations. They might even have a ripped luchador dancing and pouring shots. This place is small so it gets very tight on the weekends. You can find a variety of micheladas, reggaeton music, as well as an LGBT crowd here so it is definitely unique but the prices are cheap. A beer will cost you 35 ($2) pesos here. It’s good place to pre-game and go to Morelos across the street afterwards.
Cerveceria Morelos $$
Located across the street from La Lupita, this places is a favorite among the local crowd who love dancing. I’m sure of this because I have witness the “train dance” where people form a line holding shoulders and dancing around in a snake formation. While there are tables there, you will have plenty of space for roaming around or chilling by the bar along many single ladies. A beer will cost you 45 pesos ($2.50)
COLONIA AMERICANA
This is the area I spent most of my time because it is very walkable, safe, and centralized. There are many bars, restaurants, gyms, street vendors, comida corrida, all around and it is known for having the most amount of expats although you won’t see them everyday.
EL CHACAL $ (sign appears as Chaxal)
This is a great venue to listen to authentic Mexican music of all eras. You can expect to hear banda, norteña, reggaeton, pop, and other popular songs I haven’t heard before. There’s no cover charge, the cocktails are good along with decent prices, however there’s one catch. After going through the entrance, you’ll noticed that besides the bar area and bathroom, there’s no ceiling so you’re practically outdoors. Arrive before 11pm before it gets crowded because it gets difficult to maneuver inside when packed. It’s mostly tables but you can chill at talk to people at the bar. Beers start at 40 pesos but you can get a good deal on a liter bottle of Corona.
MACA AMERICANA $$
The Maca located in Colonia Americana is a smaller version of its Zapopan counterpart up north. However, they function the same in respect to entry. A cover charge of 200 pesos ($10.50) here will grant you an open bar of liquor drinks. This includes rum, vodka, or tequila. Beers are sold separately but you still have to pay the cover charge. Since this venue is located closer to apartments, they have been shut down before due to noise complaints from neighbors. It’s one of the few clubs that’s great on Thursday night. There are two main rooms with a bar and a different DJ. There’s also a side alleyway with standing tables if you prefer fresh air.
El Rey Mezcalería $
Also known as just “El Rey”, this venue is located adjacent to El Chacal. It has a younger crowd including many local students as well as foreign exchange students. It is a bar with three areas, the main bar at the entrance, an indoor room on the left and an outdoor room in the rear. The music is not best here as it seams more like an afterthought since I didn’t see a DJ. The crowd seems more timid than any other place I’ve been possibly because they are students and stick with their classmates. Beers start at 35 pesos.
CHANGO VUDU $$
Chango meaning monkey is another unique venue you can consider a dive bar that is a spacious basement. It has a decrepit, rustic, hallway leading to the bathrooms and some other mystery doors. It totally resembles a sight out of a horror movie. The main floor is hip with a disco light, some misplaced curtains and a few tables. Some nights you will see the most eclectic dancers due to the alternative music. They don’t stick to strict DJ schedule but on a Thursday night, they played an excellent variety of retro 80s music including pop songs and even the Ghostbusters theme song. Other nights expect to hear electronic music. Beer are not the cheapest, starting at 50 pesos, but you can get a liter bottle of Heineken for 100 pesos.
LATINO GUADALAJARA $
This is what considered a “puro reggaeton” club meaning pure reggaeton. It is said that reggaeton clubs attract the wrong crowds such as 18-25 year olds who like to fight and cause problems. I heard this in Mexico City but I’m not sure it’s the case everywhere. Inside it seemed safe even though you there were mean looking bros you shouldn’t mess with. There are two rooms with DJs and graffiti on the walls. It gets packed at midnight. This places has a cover charge on the weekends of 50 pesos and drinks start at 45 pesos.
El Callejon de los Rumberos $$
You have a piece of Cuba here. This is a very authentic Cuban salsa place with music, a dance floor, Cuban decoration and hip furniture. They are open most of the week including Sunday nights but don’t expect much of a party before 10pm. It’s also a dinner place. The crowd can range in age here so it’s best as a date place. In fact, it’s very ideal to bring a date here since it has dim lighting sofa-style seating to get extra flirty with your date. A beer here starts at 50 pesos and cocktails for 120 pesos. Some nights they have Buy one get one free cocktails.
CASA BARIACHI
While it is not a nightclub or a bar, Casa Bariachi is a must-see restaurant with a live performance of singers and dancers. I recommend going here on a date or with a group. You can come have dinner here before going to party. Be sure to check when the shows start as times may vary. Prices are moderate with tons of liquors and Mexican food to choose from. Beers start at 50 pesos ($3).
Cerveceria Chapultepec
Last but not least, I want to mention “Cerveceria Chapultepec” one of my favorite cheap drink and food places. They are located all around Colonia Americana but mainly near Av. Chapultepec. Come here any day or any night and you will see a crowd enjoying a variety of loud latin music. Prices for most menu items are 19 pesos ($1).
The bars mentioned about will have you occupied and drunk from Wednesday to Saturday and just in case that’s not enough for your bing-partying, Monday nights from 7pm-10pm, you can participate in outdoors salsa located in the middle of avenida Chapultepec. Just arrive and be ready to sweat dancing salsa with the local chicas. Don’t be the guy sitting on the sidelines. For the fans of tango, Sunday afternoons have free tango at the same location but with much less people and the hours vary.
IF YOU FOUND THIS USEFUL, PLEASE SEE MY OTHER NIGHTLIFE GUIDES AND REVIEWS ON MY BLOG AND YT
