Entertainment in Guadalajara
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
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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.'
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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.
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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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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Scratch
This new hipster bar in the Centro Historico has elevated the michelada (beer and Bloody Mary's lovechild) to fine art and celebrates the days when grunge rock ruled. It also has 12 labels of good tequila.
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Escarabajo Scratch
This fun hipster bar in the Centro Histórico has elevated the michelada (beer and Bloody Mary’s lovechild) to fine art and celebrates the day when grunge rock ruled. It also has 11 labels of good tequila.
reviewed
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Bar Américas
Mexican and international DJs spin slamming electronic music for the Jaegermeister swilling masses at this crowded old bunker. There's no sign, so it can be tough to find. You'll hear it before you see it.
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Candela
Drink with Zapopan’s young, sexy, moneyed bohemia in this converted home with a courtyard lounge, specialty cocktails and a jazz soundtrack. It serves wood-fired pizzas. Friday is the big night.
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El Callejón de los Rumberos
This is the loudest salsa bar in Guadalajara, where locals dress to the nines and shake their asses on two floors with two bandstands and three bars. Wednesday is the big night.
reviewed
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Circus
Circus fills up late in the night with hot young hardbodies lounging in heart-shaped chairs and howling at the variety shows. It’s also popular with lesbians.
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La Prole de Don Clodomiro
This laid-back lounge, known by regulars as simply La Prole, is a good place to nibble tapas, sip a Mexican microbrew and chat up that cute graphic designer on the couch.
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Green Mug
This sleek, indie coffee house is Starbucks’ main competition on Chapultepec. There are leather sofas, flat screen TVs and free wi-fi, all enjoyed by a young, hip crowd.
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Bananas
Beers are cheap, the crowd is young and the music gravitates from hip-hop to global rock and back again. On slow midweek nights this mod-dive always attracts a crowd.
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Instituto Cultural de Cabañas
The Instituto Cultural de Cabañas is a downtown cultural center that hosts a range of drama, dance and music performances.
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