Entertainment in Northern Baja
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Club Extasis
Tijuana's biggest and some say best gay dance club - complete with male strippers and karaoke - is right on the border. It's famous for its male dancers and 'dark room' area where no lights means much more than dancing goes on.
reviewed
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Caguamamas
Thursday is karaoke nights, and Friday through Sunday it hosts the somewhat legendary Amanda's Show, featuring trávesti (transvestite) performers. It's next door to Club Extasis, right near the border.
reviewed
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La Estrella
Just off La Revo, this is a great spot to sip cheap beers, dance some salsa, or belt out karaoke tunes.
reviewed
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Plaza Fiesta Mall
What La Revo is to gringos, Plaza Fiesta mall is to locals. The dozen or so bars and restaurants here are great places to knock back a few tequilas and hear the local rock and DJ talent thrash (or spin) it out. It's unique because you can take your pick simply by walking door to door.
The bars include Sambuca (a Brazilian-themed place), Monte Picacho (live rock en español - Spanish-language rock - Sunday through Thursday, DJs Friday and Saturday), Callejón del Ambiente (great for '80s music and the diverse crowd), Bar Sótano Suizo, El Bunker, Indestruckt (for the industrial and garage scene) and Pancho Villas ('tequila, tacos & rock-n-roll!').
reviewed
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El Lugar del Nopal
This sophisticated café-bar-cum-restaurant-cum-cultural center is a fervent supporter of local artists and an enchanting place at that, especially in the garden patio. It's known as a café cultural (cultural café). These places are probably the best way to experience Tijuana's independent arts and music scenes. It's tucked away in a residential area and is a bit hard to find but well worth the effort.
It offers music and art classes, and live music Wednesday through Saturday nights. It's also a super place to eat.
reviewed
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Teatro del Estado
A variety of theatrical and musical performers appear throughout the year at the state theater, Teatro del Estado, a modern building seating 1100 and equipped with the 'latest acoustical technology.' The Instituto de Cultura de Baja California also presents retrospective film series in the theater's Café Literario. The theater is opposite the Cotuco tourist office.
reviewed
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El Toreo de Tijuana
El Toreo de Tijuana. Spring bullfights take place at El Toreo, which has room for 12,000 spectators. In July or August, corridas move to the ring in Playas, which holds up to 25,000 people. This may change, as there has been talk of demolishing the Toreo de Tijuana ring, in which case all corridas will take place at Plaza de Toros Monumental.
reviewed
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Balak
Masquerading as a giant Mayan temple about 10 minute's walking distance from the border, Balak is Tijuana's biggest, loudest most state-of-the-art disco, featuring international DJs, a multi-million-dollar sound system, wildly festooned performance dancers and an always-packed dance floor. Pay extra to take advantage of the barra libre (open bar).
reviewed
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El Palmar
Banda may not seem the type of music you want to listen to over a plate of food, but it can put you in the party spirit if you give it a chance. Attracting more locals than tourists, this is a great place to hear good Mexican music (rather than Creedence and The Doors). Music starts at 22:00 Friday, Saturday and Monday, and at 16:00 on Sunday.
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Dandy del Sur
For something more down-to-earth than many La Revo watering holes, hit this Tijuana classic. The sort of nostalgic dive that would make Tom Waits proud, it's been around since 1957, and the charreada (Mexican rodeo) photos, vinyl barstools, mixed clientele and eclectic jukebox make it one of the most interesting places downtown.
reviewed
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Multikulti
One of Tijuana's newest entertainment-cum-cultural venues, Multikulti occupies a burned-out old theater that's been gutted and turned into a sort of urban amphitheater, showcasing music, media and cultural events. It's well worth catching an event here if you're in town at the right time. Great for punk shows.
reviewed
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Blanco & Negro
Not the sort of place the tourist office will send you to, this small working-class salon social (social club) kicks out some of Tijuana's very best salsa, cumbia, merengue and other Latin grooves. It's a great place to get sweaty with the locals.
reviewed
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El Patio
If tequila poppers, whistles and buckets of beer aren't your style, slip into this classy, dimly lit, low-ceiling bar where, for once, you can actually carry on a conversation with your mate (except on Friday and Saturday nights, when there's live music).
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Sótano de Rita
With its exceptionally unique (and naughtily inviting) location in a basement beside a strip club, this alt-culture venue hosts everything from movie nights and art shows to excellent live music, and the occasional 'literary café'.
reviewed
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La Casa de la 9
In a funky old building surrounded by auto-repair shops, this long-standing art gallery and café hosts visual-art exhibits, live jazz, folk and various forms of Latin American music, book readings and more. It's well worth a peek.
reviewed
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Tangaloo
One of the biggest discos in town, Tangaloo branches out from the standard techno-house sets with the occasional 1980s mix, and sometimes hosts live music. The place gets packed, and scantily clad stage dancers keep the pitch high.
reviewed
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Papas & Beer
Notoriously crazy Papas & Beer caters mostly to rowdy college students, and a small army of bouncers keeps things under control. Roaring music - sometimes live, sometimes spun - means dancing tops conversation.
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Las Pulgas
Pop in the earplugs and grab a dance partner - Las Pulgas showcases everything from live and recorded banda (brass-band with vocals) and norteña (country style) music to cumbia and merengue.
reviewed
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La Carreta
To brave the local norteña (country style) music scene, pop into the rancho-esque La Carreta, complete with wagon wheels out front and dancing inside. Thursday is ladies-only night.
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Plaza de Toros Monumental
Of the town's two bullrings, the larger, more spectacular venue is the Plaza de Toros Monumental. This renowned bullring by the sea in Playas de Tijuana, is only a short distance from the border fence.
reviewed
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Cucapá Brewing Company
The ultimate cure for the Mexican light-beer blues, Mexicali's microbrewery serves six excellent brews on tap (four lagers, two ales) and good, hearty bar meals to go with them. No shorts after 18:00.
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Hussong’s Cantina
The oldest and perhaps liveliest cantina in the Californias has been serving tequila since 1892. It’s one of the few bars filled with people who aren’t just 20-somethings trying to get plastered.
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Bar Andaluz
For a complete change in ambience, visit the cultured bar inside the Riviera del Pacífico, where having a drink is an exercise in nostalgia. It’s quiet, perfect for a nightcap with friends.
reviewed
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Centro Cultural Tijuana
The theater here is the city’s apex of drama, dance and musical performance, with several events scheduled each month. It sports one of the world’s largest 3D movie screens.
reviewed
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El Callejón de Ambiente
Gay, straight, bi and freaky all rip up the dance floor to '80s dance tunes, electronica, synth-pop and more at this club in the Plaza Fiesta Mall. Great mix of people.
reviewed
