5 Most Amazing Bars To Visit In Guadalajara

With its impressive range of cafes and restaurants, Guadalajara’s Chapultepec Avenue has established itself as one of the trendiest streets in Mexico. But the zone truly comes to life when the sun goes down and the bars open. Here’s our rundown of the best watering holes this street has to offer.

* El Grillo

This tiny bar has friendly staff, classic indie music and an impressive drink selection. Dimly lit and atmospheric, El Grillo has a real countercultural vibe. The bar offers an extensive range of local and US craft beers, as well as top quality mezcals. Owing to its popularity, the downstairs section often fills early, but claustrophobes can always head to the terrace upstairs.

* Bar Americas

This legendary nightlife institution has hosted some of the biggest names in dance and electronic music – including Paul Oakenfold, Charlotte de Witte and Flying Lotus. The bar opened in 2002 on Avenida Americas but relocated to trendier Chapultepec five years ago. The new venue boasts two dancefloors, and sleek, minimal decor. You will always find something unique at Bar Americas. The owners are determined not to accommodate expectations but to offer innovative presentations that cement Guadalajara’s place on the global electronic music map.

* El Callejón de los Rumberos

This salsa hotspot is not hard to find – just look for the two taxis painted in the colors of the Cuban flag sitting on raised platforms outside the building. With its vivid decor and live sets by cumbia and salsa bands, El Callejón de los Rumberos has a vibrant carnival atmosphere. The bar also offers dance classes every Wednesday to Saturday, from 7 to 9 pm.

* El Depósito World Beer Store

Interest in craft beers has soared in Mexico in recent years, and El Depósito is one of the best places for cerveza connoisseurs in Guadalajara. A neat, unpretentious beer garden sits outside the venue, while you’ll find an extraordinary range of craft beers once you step inside. The imported bottles are plentiful but pricey. The local range is inexpensive but mostly limited to Minerva. The Guadalajara company has become one of Mexico’s major craft beer enterprises, offering a variety of first-rate beverages.

* PaloSanto

One of Chapultepec’s liveliest bars, PaloSanto offers regular drinks deals and a never-ending stream of soccer or NFL on its multiple TV screens. Essentially, this a commercial sports bar given a mystical makeover. The wooden shelves behind the long wooden bar are painted in the vibrant shades you might expect to find on a Day of the Dead altar. The name PaloSanto refers to the wild tree used in shamanic healing rituals across the Americas.