Entertainment in Yucatán Peninsula
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Backstage Theater-Cabaret
Cancún is well known for its lively gay and lesbian scene (though there's more for gay men than women), meaning there's plenty to do most nights. Backstage Theater-Cabaret features drag shows, strippers (male and female), fashion shows and musicals. Terrific ambience, joyful crowd.
Other venues include Karamba which is popular with cross-dressers and Picante which is more for talkers than dancers.
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Café Finca la Chiquilla
This place, directly across from Don Pepés, is one of a kind, a great little spot with occasional live music, a full bar, and coffee that is not only freshly ground and roasted, but even grown and picked by the owners from their coffee plantation in Puebla. It's very popular with locals and tourists alike. Meals are also served for around $40 to $70.
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Dady’O
Opposite the Forum Mall, this is one of Cancún’s more elaborate dance clubs. The setting is a five-level black-walled faux cave with a two-level dance floor and what seem like zillions of laser beams and strobes. The predominant beats are Latin, house, techno, trance and hip-hop, and the crowd is mainly 20-something.
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Coco Bongo
This is often the venue for MTV’s coverage of spring break, and tends to be a happening spot just about any day of the week. The club opens with celebrity impersonators, dancers and circus acts (think clowns, acrobats and the like) for an hour or so, then the rock, pop and hip-hop start playing.
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KY60
Surprisingly, despite the men-wearing-construction-outfits Village People vibe, this is not a gay bar. It’s got good pool tables and is popular with guys and gals, gays and straights, locals and tourists, probably because of its reasonably priced beer, which seems to be a universal attraction.
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Bulldog Café
Bills itself as ‘the home of rock and roll,’ and features live bands and a jumbo Jacuzzi that’s made to look a bit like a cenote but is really just a showcase for bikini-clad staff to splash around in. Look for the giant bulldog sign outside and you’ll know you’ve found the right place.
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Hard Rock Cafe
What more is there to say about this famous chain of cafes? You may not be the kind of homogenophile that's longing to add another identical t-shirt to their collection, but it's worth checking out this particular version, as it has live music most nights of the week.
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D
Salón Rincón Colonial
This Cuban-style drinking establishment served as a location for Original Sin, a 2001 movie with Antonio Banderas that was set in Havana. The botanas (drinking snacks) are exceptionally fine; you get a different selection with each round.
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Picante
Set back from Avenida Tulum a few blocks north of Avenida Uxmal, this place isn’t as ‘spicy’ as its name suggests, but it is a longtime neighborhood gay bar. It often features movies shown at high volume until about 1am, when the dance music comes on.
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La Peña
This English-run club features the sound of waves, lots of wood and a nice pool table. Off the north side of the plaza, it has a great atmosphere and a fabulous music mix. Some say it's the best in town.
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Neptuno
The fact of the matter is this: Neptuno is the only disco in town worth that particular title. You'll find that it's huge and generally not crowded, which means there's a lot of room to pull some shapes.
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Cinemark
In general, Hollywood movies are shown in English with Spanish subtitles; however, English-language children’s movies are usually dubbed in Spanish. Ticket prices run about M$50 for children and adults.
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La Boom
La Boom has in its purchase a varied and (relative to neighbouring clubs, that is) sophisticated selection of danceable tunes on high rotation, all played to full effect at mega decibels. Loud and cool.
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La Luna
This club features the sound of waves, lots of wood and a nice pool table. Off the north side of the plaza, it has a great atmosphere and a fabulous music mix. Some say it’s the best in town.
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Tequila Barrel
With a large dancing area in back, this sparkling clean bar and grill between Calles 10 and 12 pours a huge selection of tequila and other spirits, and spins old rock and Motown CDs.
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El Pache
Take a taxi to the Prolongación de Montejo, where you’ll have your choice of bumping discos and uberchic lounges. Most charge admission.A local favorite is El Pache
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Don Pepe’s
This is an old standby, popular with the mellow set and karaoke masters. Come here to hang out, talk, watch the plaza or catch live music if it happens to be on.
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Italian Coffee Company
Sure it’s a chain, but not many chains can claim such lovely real estate: a remarkably well-preserved casona (mansion). The coffee’s pretty decent, too.
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Glazz
This sleek and hip lounge specializes in yummy cocktails. You don't have to look cool and love fruity mixed drinks to hang out here, but it definitely helps.
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Roots
Pretty much the hippest downtown bar, Roots features jazz, reggae or rock bands and the occasional flamenco guitarist. It’s also a pretty decent restaurant.
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Dady Rock
A steamy rock-and-roll club – it plays techno on occasion – next door to Dady’O and attracts a slightly older crowd. Admission is free until 10pm.
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La Iguana Azul
Toward the weekend this casual restaurant across from Café La Parroquia hosts local cover bands and jazz combos in its colonial courtyard.
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Flor del Campo
Juice up for the day at this tiny place, which just has chilled juices (no smoothies). It’s like sipping a part of the rainbow.
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Sabor Latino
On the 2nd floor of Chinatown Plaza, this is a happening club. Its live acts feature Dominican salsa and other tropical styles.
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La Malquerida
Seems pricier than it could be and doesn't have the view the beach bars do, but it's open daily and sometimes has live music.
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