Oaxaca City
The city’s main theater is a riot of frescoes and gilded boxes built in Louis XV style in 1909 during a renaissance of Mexican theater known as chico…
Must-see entertainment in Mexico
Puerto Vallarta
This appealing upstairs venue might be constructed out of breeze blocks, bricks and planks of wood, but it provides plenty of class with regular live…
Puerto Escondido
A varied program of movies, from recent feature films to art house, classics and documentaries, is shown on the sands of Playa Bacocho at Hotel Suites…
Puerto Vallarta
This outdoor amphitheater, a Vallarta landmark, is backed by Los Arcos, a row of arches that has become a symbol of the city. It's regularly used as an…
San Luis Potosí
This exceptionally handsome neoclassical theater completed in 1894 contains a concert hall with 1500 seats where San Luis Potosí's Orquesta Sinfónica…
Centro Histórico
A vital component in the rebirth of the centro, Zinco is a subterranean supper club featuring local jazz and funk outfits as well as touring artists and…
Roma
Behind the graffiti-scrawled facade is Mexico City’s premier indie-rock club. A suitably dark, seatless space, the Alicia stages mostly up-and-coming punk…
Oaxaca City
If you’re not in Oaxaca for the Guelaguetza dance festival itself (July), it’s well worth attending one of the regular imitations. The highly colorful…
Monterrey
This petite Spanish-language puppet theater is a delight for younger crowds, with lively Sunday shows (from 5pm) as well as periodic Friday- and Saturday…
Roma
Leading Mexican and Latin American artists of varying musical genres (especially acoustic guitar, tango and jazz) play at this cafe-bookstore's intimate…
La Paz
Features performances by musical and theatrical groups, often by performers from mainland Mexico, as well as occasional film series. The giant theater is…
San Miguel de Allende
Built in 1873, this elegant venue is the most impressive in town and hosts local productions, classical-music concerts and other cultural events. The…
Guadalajara
This erstwhile 17th-century church and monastery (which mostly now dates from the 1860s) is home to a well-respected cultural center hosting a wide range…
Isla Cozumel
Though the cocktails here barely pass muster, there are some pretty decent live acts – not only covers, but some nice original stuff too. The beers are…
Centro Histórico
Cool young things pack the terrace of this place each weekend for its excellent DJ and live-music sessions. Located directly behind the cathedral, the…
Condesa
A theater within a fine restaurant (La Bodega), this classic cabaret venue showcases some of Mexico’s more offbeat performers. Afterwards, catch top-notch…
Guadalajara
This retro glam jazz club – table cloths, chandeliers, martinis – on the 1er piso (1st floor, not ground floor) of a downtown city building has sets most…
Coyoacán & San Ángel
With liberal doses of politically and sexually irreverent comedy and a genre-bending musical program, all in Spanish, this alternative cabaret is…
Morelia
Numerous renovations since its inception in 1828 haven't dampened the refinement of Morelia's centrally located Teatro Ocampo. It hosts everything from…
Guadalajara
The hippest venue in town hosting a wide range of range of drama, dance and music performances. It stages traveling Broadway shows, concerts with local…
Puerto Vallarta
In the heart of the Zona Romántica, this place draws an enthusiastic mixed crowd with its nightly rock cover bands and no admission charge. Expect…
Centro Histórico
Some visionary developers took a historic building and transformed its stonewalled ground level into a restaurant-bar for various cultural happenings,…
Cine Luciernaga (Firefly Cinema)
Zipolite
A neat little makeshift cinema with indoor and outdoor seating areas and a small bar. It usually screens one or two evening shows. From December through…
Campeche
Incidents from Campeche’s pirate past are reenacted several nights a week at the Puerta de Tierra. It’s a Disneyesque extravaganza with lots of cannon…
Veracruz City
This popular live-music venue and club plays a variety of music: salsa, pop, rock etc. Come late and expect it to be packed in with the raucous, jovial…
Centro Histórico
Built in 1918 and modeled after Milan's La Scala opera house, this lavishly restored 1300-seat hall gets some of the more interesting touring acts in…
Acapulco
At the airport junction in the Diamante area, this huge, striking venue attracts big-name acts for anything from dance performances to rock. It's best…
Mérida
Strippers, drag queens and karaoke are the reasons to come to Blue, which is a bit far from the center near the Paseo de Montejo. Great shows and a casual…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
With a beautiful upstairs space and terrace, this art gallery and tea salon screens films and holds events. Private cinema rooms available with over 3500…
Chichén Itzá
Weather permitting, the 45-minute light-and-sound show begins each evening at 8pm in summer and 7pm in winter. You must preorder your tickets online.
Isla Holbox
Drop by the palapa bar at Hostel Tribu for live music, weekly salsa classes and Tuesday pub quizzes.
Mérida
This cultural center on Plaza Grande always has something going on: films, concerts, art installations and other events, many of which are free.
Isla Mujeres
Drinks and food are nothing special here but if the Cuban salsa band is playing it's definitely worth sticking around for some dancing.
Zona Rosa & Reforma
Screens commercial releases and international film-festival titles, many in their original language with Spanish subtitles.
Oaxaca City
The July Guelaguetza celebrations take place in this rather spectacular semi-open-air auditorium on the Cerro del Fortín.
Aguascalientes State
In a fine 17th-century building, the Casa de la Cultura hosts art exhibitions, concerts, theater and dance events.
Guadalajara
This historic theater is a downtown cultural center that hosts a range of drama, dance and music performances.
Roma
A small, hip multipurpose venue in Roma Sur for independent cinema, plays, stand-up comedy and concerts.
Mazatlán
Screens recent releases, including some original version Hollywood films with subtitles.
