Night Clubs And Discos
Acapulco is even more famous for its nightclubs than for its beaches. Because clubs are always opening and closing, it's extremely difficult to give specific and accurate recommendations. But some general tips will help. Every club seems to have a cover charge of around $20 in high season and $10 in low season; drinks can cost anywhere from $3 to $10. Women can count on paying less, or entering for free. Don't even think about going out to one of the hillside discos before 11pm, and don't expect much action until after midnight. But it will keep going until 4 to 5am.
Many discos periodically waive their cover charge or offer some other promotion to attract customers. Another popular option is to have a higher cover charge but an open bar. Look for promotional materials displayed in hotel reception areas, at travel desks or concierge booths, and in local publications. You'll also be hit up with promotions for nightclubs as you take in the sun at the local beaches.
The high-rise hotels have their own bars, and sometimes discos. Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment.
The Beach Bar Zone. Prefer a little fresh air with your nightlife? The young and hip crowd is favoring the growing number of open-air oceanfront dance clubs along Costera Alemán, most of which feature techno or alternative rock. There's a concentration of them between the Fiesta Americana and Continental Plaza hotels. These clubs are an earlier and more casual option to the glitzy discos and include the jamming Disco Beach, El Sombrero (you'll know it when you see it), Tabu, and the pirate-themed Barbaroja. These mainly offer an open bar with cover charge (around $10). Women frequently drink for free with a lesser charge (men may pay more, but then, this is where the young and tanned beach babes are). And if you are brave enough, a new bungee jump has opened in the midst of the beach bar zone at Costera Alemán 107, [tel] 7/484-7529.
Alebrijes.This high-tech club boasts an exterior of reflection pools, gardens, and flaming torches. Inside, booths and round tables that can seat up to 1,200 surround the vast dance floor -- the disco doubles as a venue for concerts and live performances by some of Mexico's most notable singers. Dress code states no shorts, T-shirts, tennis shoes, sandals, or jeans. It's open nightly 11pm to 5am. Costera M. Alemán #3308 (across the street from the Hyatt Regency Acapulco). [tel] 7/484-5902. Cover (including open bar) for women $5-$19 for men $5-$25. On Mon, the open bar is for Tequila drinks only.
Baby-O. This is a long-time favorite in Acapulco, and has some of the more reasonable drink prices of any club along the Costera.. The mid- to late-twenties crowd dances to everything from swing to hip-hop and rock 'n' roll. Located across from the Romano Days Inn, this intimate disco has a small dance floor surrounded by several tiers of tables and sculpted, cave-like walls. Drinks run from $2 to $5. Open 10:30pm to 5am. Costera Alemán. [tel] 7/484-7474. Cover for women, $5-$10; for men, $10-$15. Both covers include 2 national drinks.
Carlos 'n' Charlie's. For fun, danceable music and good food, you can't go wrong with this branch of the Carlos Anderson chain. It's always packed. Come early and get a seat on the terrace overlooking the Costera. This is a great place to go for late dinner and a few drinks before going to one of the clubs. It's located east of the Diana traffic circle, across the street from the Fiesta Americana Condesa. Open nightly 1pm to midnight. Costera Alemán 999. [tel] 7/484-1285 or 7/484-0039. No cover.
Enigma. Venture into this stylish chrome-and-neon extravaganza perched on the side of the mountain for a true Acapulco nightlife experience. It's located between Los Rancheros Restaurant and La Vista Shopping Center -- you can't miss the neon lights. The plush, dim interior dazzles patrons, with a sunken dance floor and panoramic view of the lights of Acapulco Bay. Music is varied, but always offers the very hottest of dance, house, and Euro tunes, spun by expert DJs. Around midnight on weekends, watch for a spectacular, changing dance performance. On the upper level, the club also has an intimate piano bar room where you can sing along -- it's as if the old Pepe's has been transported across the street. The updated decor includes baroque-style murals and granite floors. There's also pumped-in mood smoke, alternating with fresh oxygen to keep you dancing. The door attendants wear tuxedos, indicating that they encourage a more sophisticated dress -- tight and slinky is the norm for ladies, no shorts for gentlemen. The club opens nightly at 10:30pm; fireworks rock the usually full house at 3am. Call to find out if reservations are needed. Carretera Escénica. [tel] 7/484-7154 or 7/484-7164. Cover $15-$20. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Zucca. This club, formerly called Fantasy, is located in the La Vista Shopping Center and offers yet another fantastic bay view. It caters to a slightly more mature crowd -- only those over 25 are admitted -- and is particularly popular with the moneyed Mexico City set. Periodically during the evening, the club projects a laser show across the bay. The dress code prohibits shorts, jeans, T-shirts, or sandals. Reservations are recommended. It's open nightly 10:30pm to 2:30am, but stays open later (until 4am) on weekends or when the crowd demands it. The cover charge is occasionally waived. Carretera Escénica #28. [tel] 7/484-6727 or 7/484-6764. Cover $5-$10. AE, DC, MC, V.
Hard Rock Café. If you like your music loud, your food trendy, and your entertainment international, you'll feel at home in Acapulco's branch of this chain bent on world domination. Elvis memorabilia greets you in the entry area, and among other numerous framed or encased mementos is the Beatles gold record for ``Can't Buy Me Love.'' There's a bandstand for the live music -- played every night between 10pm and 2am -- and a small dance floor. It's on the seaward side toward the southern end of the Costera, south of the Convention Center and opposite El Cabrito. It's open daily noon to 2am. Costera Alemán 37. [tel] 7/484-0047. No cover.
Pepe's Piano Bar. Pepe's is one of the most famous piano bars in the hemisphere, but in the past year, it seems to have traded its traditional stylings for Karoke. Its setting of red velvet banquettes and its eclectic mix of art has inspired patrons of all ages to sing their hearts out for more than 40 years -- and it still draws a crowd. The music ranges from Mexican boleros to English-language love songs. Open nightly 10pm to 4am. Carretera Escenica, Comercial La Vista, Local 5. [tel] 7/484-8060. No cover.
Salon Q. This place bills itself as ``the cathedral of salsa,'' and it's a fairly accurate claim -- Salon Q is now known as the place to get down among the Latin rhythms. Frequently, management raises the cover and features impersonators doing the top Latin American musical acts. Costera Miguel Alemán 3117. [tel] 7/481-0114. Cover $13.
Tequila's Le Club. They say that female impersonator shows used to be considered fun for the whole family in old Acapulco -- and this club is a throwback to that time. The early show features international (English lip-syncing) ``ladies,'' while the later show stars Mexican drag divas. 20 Calle Urdaneta. [tel] 7/485-8623. Cover $13 Tues and Thurs; $25 Mon, Wed, and Fri and includes drinks.
