4 Best Bars in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

There's salsa, Cuban, or romantic music at Bandidos from Tuesday through Saturday (in low season call to confirm the schedule). It's smack in the middle of downtown and almost as popular with locals as with travelers—both foreign and domestic. In the afternoon and early evening you can get drinks, snacks, and full meals at the bar and outdoor patio. The TV is usually tuned to sports, though the volume is turned way down.

Though it's hardly a secret—it's one of the venues that hosts the Guitarfest in March— El Canto de la Sirena is something of a hidden gem, if only because of its unlikely location outside of town by the main bus station. This local favorite is owned by a local legend, guitarist José Luis Cobo López, who performs most evenings. There's live music (and sometimes dancing) Tuesday through Saturday starting at 10 pm; jam sessions usually last until the wee hours.

The vibe at this hip, open-air mezcal bar right on the Paseo del Pescador is pure kitsch, complete with colorful vinyl-cord chairs and tables covered with lotería cards. It serves dozens of varieties of mezcal from five different Mexican states, along with inventive cocktails and tasty dishes ranging from burgers and tacos to duck carnitas. You'll find occasional live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. It's generally open from 4 pm to 2 am but closes early in the low season.

The idea behind this hip, three-level "concept store" near Playa la Ropa is rather broad: it's a coffee shop, bar, restaurant, art gallery, surf boutique, gourmet shop, furniture store, lounge, occasional nightclub, and condo-sales platform. Zihua's young and beautiful congregate here to hear international DJs, sip cappuccinos, or just see and be seen on the rooftop terrace.