9 Best Bars in Oaxaca, Mexico

Owned and run by musicians, Atemoztli Foro resto-bar overlooks Zicatela Beach from an airy second-floor dance floor in the heart of the Zicatela strip. Each night offers a different musical theme: take your pick from reggae, rock, blues, Mexicana, salsa, or Latin rock performed by the talented house band fronted by Vicente "El Diablo."

Bar Fly is the place to party to the hottest techno, house, electronic, and dance music mixes by local and visiting DJs. Popular on theme nights and open until almost dawn, it's upstairs from Hosteria Banana's restaurant.

Set under a dramatic dome and filled with masks and artwork, Casa Babylon is a magical blend of book exchange, coffee shop, and nightclub. While you nurse your beer, you can challenge friends to a game of Scrabble or Monopoly. Evenings see live music and theme nights. It's next to Hotel Arco Iris across from Playa Zicatela.

One of the most personable and funky bars in the area is also the oldest. Overlooking the town square, La Crema serves well-mixed cocktails such as the donaji, a mix of mezcal and orange juice rimmed with sal de gusano (chili-worm salt). A mix of canned tunes provides the beat: rock, lounge music, ranchera, and other Mexican music. A wood-fired pizza oven keeps energy levels high. There's dancing after 10 pm.

La Papaya is an enormous venue open to the stars. Patrons eat, drink, and dance while bikini-clad dancers entertain.

One of the city's most venerable watering holes offers salsa, merengue, and cumbia dancing on its terrace nightly beginning at 10 as well as light snacks and appetizers.

In the heart of Oaxaca, this bar has not changed for the last 50 years. The owner, El Chato, has seen successive governments come and go (one of his favorite things to talk about) while his bar has continued with its steady service of cocktails and beers, fried potatoes, and fish empanadas. While neither trendy nor classy, the Salon de la Fama offers a glimpse into one what life used to be like in Oaxaca. The silent service given by El Chato and his wife allow the conversation to flow. Although he must have heard millions of stories, El Chato isn’t one for spilling the beans, so he will let you do the talking.

Live blues, easy listening, and classic rock music on Saturday nights draw an older set to this rustic beach bar on the sand overlooking the waves at Playa Marinero. You can order barbecue ribs from the open-air grill, but the main draw is dancing barefoot under the stars.

Txalaparta is one of the bigger alternative bars featuring live music most nights, great cocktails, and a roof terrace among its many twisting and turning spaces. The vibe changes each evening, so be sure to check out what is going on. Every night brings in a large crowd, but Friday and Saturday are when the party really starts.