Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Acapulco rolls up its sidewalks much earlier than it did during its “dance until dawn” heyday, with most places winding down by 11 pm. Lingering over dinner or drinks has become a time-honored way to spend an evening here, and most visitors enjoy that low-key tranquillity. Your hotel may have something special going on, too, on certain nights, so be sure to ask. You’ll still see some action Friday and Saturday night; Wednesday and Thursday have a bit less going on while Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are generally pretty quiet. Of course, the cliff-diving spectacle at La Quebrada still makes the most memorable Acapulco evening.
Drinks typically cost $3–$5, and two-for-one drink specials during happy hour are common. Waitstaff depends on tips in the 15%–20% range. Note that Mexico's legal drinking age is 18. When you’re ready to call it a night, call a taxi to take you back to your hotel or have someone at the venue do it rather than flagging down a cab on the street yourself.
The legendary Palladium still brings crowds on weekends and is one of the few remaining places that keeps very late hours. Things don’t get underway until 10:30 pm and they usually keep going until about 4 am. A waterfall cascades down from the dance floor, which is considered by many to be Acapulco's best. It's also surrounded by 50-foot-high windows, so dancers have a wraparound view of the city. The club is popular and tends to favor a young crowd.
