Guadalajara Nightlife

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We had a party of six and reservations for 10:30 pm. And it was good that we did, by 11:00 it was standing room only. This is a Cuban night club with their own in house entertainment. A live band and a dance show that starts at 11:00. THe dancers opened with a series of traditional dances from Cuban history. From tribal beats through the ages and many costume changes,and ended with salsa and rumba. At this end of their dance show the dancers came out into the audience and pulled people up on the stage. And the music continued. The club dancers disappeared and the stage remained full with the patrons. We danced until after two and the music never stopped. I didnt notice when the band stopped and the DJ started.
Great party place.

Dress Code: Salseros and in general Latin dancers mostly dress to impress but it is not required. Just dress nice and wear your dance shoes.

The hotel desk clerk suggested this club that was about five blocks walk from the hotel. It was in the plaza area on a road that was closed to traffic. At around 9 pm we walked down a side street that got a little dark and very empty. For a moment we got a little spooked, being strangers there. When we found the club there were about 10 people hanging outside. The doorman spoke up in english and showed us the door. To be honest it was not looking very good. Adoorway into a small hall with a ticket counter and another door beyond that. It only cost $4 each so we went in for a try. When we entered the next door...WOW! The entry hall was a tiled floor atrium with a stained glass ceiling. The stairwell took us up to a grand area covered with paintings and murals. The place was huge! three different rooms and two bars. A host showed us to a table and helped us to order, he wanted to practice his english so he came by often to see how we were doing. By 10 pm it was shoulder to shoulder. The recorded music blasted non stop. About 11pm a live dance show started and included two men dressed as janitors dancing with mops, salsa couples, merengue couples, tahitian dancers(wow) and a tango show where two men were fighting over one woman , all in dance. And after that came the live music. We couldn't stay awake long enough for all of it.

Dress Code: casual, but salseros dress to impress.

those who want to spend a quite but still fun night , this will be the great spot, great decoration, location, good drinks and realx music with friends or just with your couple,,thats perfect ... lounge electro-jazz music stays all night long, around 11.00 a live jazz band will be playing, great cocktails and they also offer appetizers and some pasta dishes..

Dress Code: no dress code although i see people wearing no shorts or sports tennis shoes, polo shirts, sneackers and hats are fine i guess, if can dress a little bit you will feel more in to it

Bananas is a fun bar located right in Guadalajara's Zona Rosa. It stands out for one thing: insanely cheap cocktails. Bananas has a list of musician-themed drinks such as Rolling Stones, Cyndi Lauper and The Doors, and all the drinks clock in at less than 25 pesos ($2.50 US/CAD). One of my favorites is The Doors, with a refreshing blend of pineapple juice, amaretto, peach liqueur and banana liqueur. Another fun one is Poison, made with orange juice, rompope (an egg and vanilla liqueur) and vanilla ice cream. There is a large open-air patio at the front of the restaurant, and inside you may find DJs spinning or music videos playing. Bananas' "signature" may well be their unique method of administering shooters: a whistle-equipped server comes to your table, "feeds" you the shot and then shakes your head vigourously while blowing the whistle loudly. The only thing I can assume is that their goal is to actually make you go bananas!

I stumbled into La Maestranza on the last night of my first visit to Guadalajara, and knew I would have to go back when I returned (a month later!). Located in a cantina from the 1940s that has (apparently) since been renovated, La Maestranza is chock-full of bullfighting memorabilia, with walls covered in everything from posters to costumes to, yes, taxidermied bull heads. The menu is standard Mexican bar fare, with queso fundido (basically, melted cheese to dip tortilla chips into), some meaty dishes that I didn't pay attention to, quesadillas and my favorite- nachos. For $18 pesos ($1.80 US/CAD) you get enough nachos to share between two people, and they come covered with refried beans and cheese (add a bit more money for slices of beef on top as well). I get the nachos with a side of guacamole (10 pesos). They have a huge list of tequilas and mixed drinks like margaritas and palomas (tequila mixed with Fresca) depend on the quality of liquor you prefer.

La Maestranza has a fun, friendly atmosphere. On my last visit, a vendor was walking around selling electric shocks (I'm serious!), and a few local guys pooled their money together to watch the Canadian girls get shocked. Scary, but fun. There is live music at times, and dancing sometimes as well, but there doesn't seem to be any kind of schedule. The surprise is part of the fun!

I haven't been to Ireland yet, but after traveling along the American East Coast... I must say I've been to dozens of great Irish pubs. This one is nothing to die for... just a bar with a nice atmosphere, some Irish decoration and, of course, pints of Guinness and shots of Jameson! But... you can't forget you're in Mexico now... so, hey... take it or leave it... but remember this, you may get sick of mariachis... and if you do, this Irish pub is gonna save your night!! No doubt!

Dress Code: Casual.

The week we were there here is what was on --

Classic opera
A performance of the popular opera "Carmina Burana" in the Plaza Soleil (Av. Lopez Mateos, between Plaza del Angel and Plaza del Sol). Tickets from Ticketmaster at 3818-3800 or www.ticketmaster.com.mx.

Piano recital
Elena Camarena plays works by Chopin at the Universidad de Guadalajara Paraninfo (Av. Juarez 975). A Tapatia by birth, Camarena now lives in Germany, where she has carved out a successful career as a performer. Tickets 80 pesos. For more information call 3615-8725.

Guatemalan legend
Guatemalan pop star Ricardo Aronja performs at the Teatro Diana (Av. 16 Septiembre 710) Ticket office open Tue. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or purchase from Ticketmaster at 3818-3800 or www.ticketmaster.com.mx.

Grammy winner
See Oaxaca blues singer Lila Downs in concert at the Hacienda Jose Cuervo in Tequila Downs was featured in the movie "Frida" starring Salma Hayek and has won a Grammy. For more information call Conciertos Guadalajara at (33) 3613-2024 or email conciertosguadalajara@yahoo.com.mx.

Romantic interlude
Enjoy boleros with Pepe Santana, Wednesday, May 17, 8 p.m. Instituto Cultural Mexicano Norteamericano (Enrique Diaz de Leon Sur 300). 3825-4102. Free admission.

Jazz cycle
The Teatro Diana (Av. 16 Septiembre 710) hosts two jazz concerts next week: ticketmaster at 3818-3800 or www.ticketmaster.com.mx.

State Choir
The Jalisco State Choir, directed by V’ctor Manuel Amaral, performs at the Ex Convento del Carmen (Av. Ju‡rez 612).

Dress Code: Casual everywhere