Entertainment in Western Central Highlands
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Ego
On the hillside 3km south of town, Morelia’s hottest club thumps, bumps and grinds to house and electronica tunes. Dress code is casual. The crowd is young and pretty and they don’t stop dancing till they have to.
reviewed
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A
El Parián
You can pay your respects to the mariachi tradition in its home city. The Plaza de los Mariachis, just east of the historic center, is an okay place to sit, drink beer and soak in the serenades of passionate Mexican bands. But you'll be happier at El Parián a garden complex in Tlaquepaque made up of dozens of small cantinas that all share one plaza occupied by droves of Mariachi. On the weekends the bands battle and jockey for your ears, applause and cash.
reviewed
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B
BarRio
Located in the basement of an old, abandoned waterworks, this club is the perfect blend of sleek and comfortable and offers the best night out in Uruapan. There’s a large dance floor packed with an exuberant, sexy crowd of 20-somethings, old stone walls that drip with river water, huge exposed pumps, wheels, belts and pipes overhead and a global progressive soundtrack (although musical style and DJs rotate nightly). Service is brilliant. It’ll keep you drinking.
reviewed
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C
Angels Club
Welcome to Guadalajara’s megaclub. Sure, it’s a gay venue, but chicks dig the mod acrylic tables, cool lounge, throwback beanbag room and the three dance floors blasting electronica, hip-hop and progressive rock, so heterosexual men should shed their inhibitions and mingle with the party people. Saturday nights get wild. Clubbers often leave for breakfast at around 5am and return for sun-drenched fun after hours.
reviewed
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D
Arena Coliseo
Watching masked luchadores (wrestlers) with names like El Terrible and Casanova gut-punching each other makes for a memorable night out. Expect scantily clad women, insult-hurling crowds, and screaming doughnut vendors: it’s all part of the fun of this classic Mexican pastime. The neighborhood surrounding the beloved coliseum can be a bit dodgy – watch your pockets.
reviewed
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E
La Prisciliana
La Prisciliana is laid-back and stylish, with arched windows, burgundy walls, worn tile floors and an antique wood bar in an old colonial building. It can get wild late and there’s a drag show from time to time, but usually things stay chill. Downstairs Club Ye Ye is smaller but louder and wilder, with metallic decor and a club soundtrack.
reviewed
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F
La Peña Colibrí
Beyond a heavy wooden door, this intimate courtyard café glows with candlelight, illuminating the grinning Day of the Dead skeletons on the walls. Live music starts at 10pm – guitarists pluck weepy ballads, folk singers wail mournfully. Come on Friday or Saturday to see a well-known local troupe perform the danza de los viejitos, a classic Michoacán folk dance.
reviewed
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G
La Mutualista
With smoke-yellowed walls and antique chandeliers dangling from high ceilings, this vintage dance hall simmers with the decaying glamour of Old Havana. Thursdays and Saturdays are salsa nights, the real reason to come. A Cuban band kicks off around midnight and the all-ages crowd explodes with eye-popping moves on the dance floor. Prepare to get sweaty.
reviewed
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H
Casa Bariachi
This bright barn-like restaurant-bar has romantic lighting and leather chairs, along with piñatas and colorful papel picado (cutout paper) hanging from the ceiling. This place may fail the hipster test, but the margaritas are bathtub big and mariachis jam from 4pm to 11pm daily. It’s about a 10-minute taxi ride west of the city center.
reviewed
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I
Casa de la Cultura
For international films, dance, music and art exhibitions check what’s up at the Casa de la Cultura, a hive of creative energy with music and dance classes and a cool coffeehouse set in an old colonial palace. The Museo del Estado has a free concert or other cultural event every Wednesday at 7pm, complete with free drinks.
reviewed
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J
La Fuente
La Fuente, set in the old Edison boiler room, is an institution – and a rather friendly one. It’s been open since 1921 and is mostly peopled by regulars – older men who start drinking too early. But they treat newcomers like family and women like queens. A bass, piano, violin trio sets up and jams from sunset until last call.
reviewed
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K
La Bodeguita del Medio
This pseudo-Cuban joint is right next door to Bar Bariachi. Graffiti decorates the walls. A restaurant is upstairs (balcony tables are best) and a bar downstairs. Live Cuban music and Cuban dance lessons are a regular feature. Check out the cigar display and sign that states 'Life's too short to smoke cheap cigars.'
reviewed
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L
Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso
There are two bullfighting seasons, running in October and November, and February and March. Fights are held on Sundays starting at 4:30pm. A couple of fights usually take place during the October fiestas; the rest of the schedule is sporadic. Check the website or ask for details at the tourist office.
reviewed
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M
Santa
Red walls and blinking Señora de Guadalupe pictures sum up the eccentric glam interior at this Zona Rosa hot spot. It gets crowded on weekends when DJs spin electronica. During the week well-dressed scenesters sip mezcal (an agave spirit; two for one on Thursday) and listen to lounge music.
reviewed
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N
Velvet
This new spot on the roof of the Cinépolis building is hopelessly hip and extremely white – as in white awnings, white velvet sofas and white light fixtures. Oh, and the views are outstanding. During the film festival producers, directors and stars party here. Saturday night is the big night.
reviewed
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O
Casa de la Salsa
Locals converge to shake their collective ass to a rocking four-piece band on a raised stage in this dark, cavernous club. Don’t worry, this is not one of those snooty, show-off salsa clubs, so feel free to get loose. Tequila and beer are priced to move if you need liquid courage.
reviewed
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P
El Refugio
This elegant hotel bar has two (quite different) points of highlight: the lovely wood-burning fireplace that attracts couples and sparks good conversation, and the flat-screen TV above the bar that displays global and American football games to an international expat crowd.
reviewed
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Q
Balcones del Ángel
A hip and beautiful crowd gathers in this open courtyard lounge on the top floor of a 17th-century building. The design is seamless, the music bounces between global pop and electronica and the glowing dome of the cathedral is visible through the open roof. Stunning!
reviewed
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R
Hard Rock Café
In the Centro Magno shopping center, this is your typical Hard Rock, with guitars on the walls and Tex-Mex burgers on the menu. Hidden inside, however, is a 1000-seat auditorium that hosts international groups (check with Ticket Master for bands and showtimes).
reviewed
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S
Akqua
Pátzcuaro's newest bar-lounge attempts to blend modern electronica vibrations into the ancient soul of this quiet town. Brand new at the time of research, it wasn't crowded. But the old stone courtyard is a great location and it should find its groove.
reviewed
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T
Los Caudillos
Diagonally across from La Prisciliana, Los Caudillos is a popular two-story disco, with three dance floors and endless lounges and bars. This is a hook-up joint, pure and simple. Keep the wild times going at the Sunday morning after-party.
reviewed
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U
Campanario Bar
Pátzcuaro seldom parties, but you can toast the saintly Quiroga at the airy sidewalk tables or in the cramped black-lit environs of Campanario Bar, which offers live bands on occasion. If the Pátzcuaro night has a pulse, this is its heart.
reviewed
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V
Centro Magno
The Centro Magno have up-to-date multiplexes showing Spanish- language and first-run popcorn pictures from Hollywood. Hollywood movies come dubbed in Spanish or subtitled, so double check which show you’re seeing.
reviewed
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W
Hotel Francés
The dark marble courtyard bar at this hotel encourages you to relax back into another era, where waiters in bow ties treat you like an old friend, happy hour lasts until 8pm and acoustic troubadours strum gorgeous, weepy ballads.
reviewed
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X
Teatro Diana
The newest and hippest venue to host a range of drama, dance and music performances is Teatro Diana. It stages traveling Broadway shows, concerts with local and international artists and art installations.
reviewed
