Entertainment in Oaxaca
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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 Thursday), 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 being a nightclub with an unpredictable, eclectic music mix. There are cover charges for a few events.
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Hotel Monte Alba\'n
This hotel presents a 1½-hour version of the Guelaguetza nightly, usually to recorded music.
In a grand old high-ceilinged building smack on the Alameda de Leo\'n, the Monte Alba\'n is an atmospheric place all in all, though the fluorescent lighting and somewhat threadbare rooms diminish the romance. The cheaper, interior rooms are no great shakes, but the exterior rooms are large and have balconies or views of the cathedral.
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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 7pm, so arrive fairly early for a good table, and either learn to dance (free classes from 10pm to 11pm) or learn to watch.
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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 are served. Most, but not all, customers are men.
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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 (18:00) 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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Fandango
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-style montage decor and drinks from tea, coffee and chocolate to beer, mezcal and wine.
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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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Tapas & Pisto
Upstairs from Los Danzantes restaurant and in keeping with its sensuous theme, T&P’s main bar is home to black lights and loud music. Its contrastingly quiet rooftop terrace (open 6pm to 1am Tuesday to Sunday) offers fabulous views to Santo Domingo Church.
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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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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 21:00 Thursday to Saturday. Enter through the Mayordomo restaurant.
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El Olivo
Serving tasty, upscale pinchos (skewers) and tapas, this is Oaxaca’s most serious cocktail bar, with excellent pours and a good beer. The woodsy-chic minimalist decor and terrace make for a refined atmosphere.
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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 ensembles in the country.
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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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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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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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Cafe 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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