Oaxaca Entertainment

  1. Bar del Borgo

    A very small but neatly arranged space, next door to Freebar, the Borgo offers some unique street views and a jazzy, arty, almost publike atmosphere. Check it out!

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  2. Café Central

    The social hub of Oaxaca's artsy, bohemian, alternative scene, the Café (or Bar or Colectivo) Central is owned by one of Oaxaca's innovative painters, Guillermo Olguín. It hosts rarely seen live music acts (often on Thursdays), dance and independent films, and uses its wall space as an alternative gallery for celebrated and unheard-of artists. On Friday and Saturday it leans toward a nightclub with an unpredictable, eclectic music mix. There are cover charges for a few events.

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  3. Café Del Jardín

    The Jardín has a peerless position beneath the arches at the southwest corner of the Zócalo. In the evening you're likely to be serenaded by one of the funkiest marimba (wooden xylophone) ensembles in the country.

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  4. Candela

    Candela's writhing salsa, cumbia and merengue band and beautiful colonial-house setting have kept it at the top of the Oaxaca nightlife lists for years. It's open as a restaurant from , so arrive fairly early for a good table, and either learn to dance (free classes from 10 to ) or learn to watch.

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  5. Casa de Cantera

    A lively mini-Guelaguetza is staged here nightly, in colorful costume with live music. To make a reservation, phone or stop by during the afternoon.

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  6. Cineclub El Pochote

    El Pochote shows independent, art-house and classic Mexican and international movies (the latter in their original languages with Spanish subtitles). There's usually a different theme each month. To find it, duck under the old aqueduct into Parque El Pochote.

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  7. Fandango

    Fandango, next door to La Embajada, has a more retro style with a long bar serving cocktails (around $50 to around $60 ) as well as a small stage for bands.

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  8. Freebar

    Freebar hosts a young and vibrant international crowd that doesn't mind being rammed together to soak up beer and the atmosphere. There's space to dance if the crowd isn't too dense.

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  9. Hotel Monte Alba'n

    This hotel presents a 1½-hour version of the Guelaguetza nightly, usually to recorded music.

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  10. La Casa del Mezcal

    Open since 1935, this is one of Oaxaca's most atmospheric bars, 1½ blocks south of the Zócalo. It's a cantina, but a reasonably respectable one. One room has a large stand-up bar and shelves full of mezcal; the other room has tables where botanas (snacks) are served. Most, but not all, customers are men.

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  12. La Divina

    La Divina, facing Santo Domingo Church, has a disco-esque interior, and music from salsa to house to trance to reggae. There's live rock a few nights a week, and early-evening ( ) movies on other nights. As the evening progresses the crowd may generate a warm enough atmosphere to spill out into the street.

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  13. La Embajada

    One of a trio of interconnecting bars in a corner building known as La Casa de los Perros (House of the Dogs), La Embajada is popular with a student and international crowd for its rock music, magazine-montage decor and drinks from tea, coffee and chocolate to beer, mezcal and wine.

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  14. La Pasión

    This smart contemporary cantina has half a dozen screens for music and sports, and a section of sofas and easy chairs at one side. Live Latin music from Thursday to Saturday. Enter through the Mayordomo restaurant.

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  15. La Tentación

    Foreigners and residents alike have a great time when this venue gets up a head of steam - best on Friday and Saturday, when you can move to live salsa, merengue and cumbia .

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  16. Tapas & Pisto

    Upstairs from Los Danzantes restaurant and in keeping with its sensuous theme, T&P's main bar is a teens and 20s haunt with black light and loud music. Its contrastingly quiet rooftop terrace (h - Tue-Sun) offers fabulous views to Santo Domingo Church.

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