Gay Mexico City: (Part 1: Nightlife & City Synopsis)

Descend into North America's largest city with an equally expansive queer scene

Credit: Pevert CDMX

Mexico City (CDMX) is the largest city in North America at almost 22 million and has a wealth of culture within the ancient valley that once held the floating Aztec island city of Tenochtitlan. The Centro Historico is centered around the massive Zócalo Plaza where historical landmarks, massive cathedrals, and bustling street markets inhabit the area by day and a queer nightlife haven awakens in the evening. Heading west the city unfolds into grand boulevards that outline the city’s trendiest neighborhoods of La Condessa and La Roma. These neighborhoods have a plethora of treelined streets choc full of stunning 19th-century Colonial architecture. Chic street-side eateries around Parque Mexico or Plaza Rio De Janeiro are reminiscent of Europe and serve anything from classic Mexican delicacies to global cuisine.

Architecture of La Condessa and Plaza Rio De Janiero in La Roma Credit: Author

Quaint boutiques and specialty coffee shops line Calle Colima in the heart of La Roma. As such, many local and international queers choose these neighborhoods and the surrounding areas to live in. Adjacent to La Condessa and La Roma, Zona Rosa is the city’s “official Gayborhood” where cheap drinks and Latin Pop spill into the streets nightly. Adjacent, the upcoming neighborhood of San Rafael is where you can find many Mexican queer locals and the impressive German Art Noveau Museo Universitario del Chopo which houses some of the city’s most experimental art exhibits. Not far away Chapultepec Park houses an array of the city’s top historical attractions including the massive Anthropological Museum and the hillside castle of Castillo Chapultepec which has sweeping views of the city.

Posing in front of the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihoucan. The glimmering Museo Soumaya in Polanco Credit: Author

The park is packed during weekends with locals strolling through its winding paths. Next door to the park, the upscale neighborhood of Polanco is known for its elite residents, posh restaurants, and world-class museums such as the contemporary Jumex and the glimmering landmark of Soumaya. Heading South to the neighborhood of Coyacan you’ll find the quirky La Casa Azul which is the former home of the eccentric artist Frida Khalo and her husband Diego Rivera’s impressive temple of culture Museo Anahuacalli. CDMX is teeming with queer art and culture. For history buffs, Mexican University organizes a queer walking tours while galleries such as Eucalipto 20 , Salón Silicón, Centro Cultural Xavier Villaurrutia, and the Centro de la Diversidad Cultural México host visual and performance art exhibitions. At the city’s far south, Xochimilco's colorful Trajinera boats float through what might be the last remnants of the terraced Aztec City. Rent a boat with friends, bring libations, and enjoy an afternoon in the festive ambiance. If you’re lucky you might even catch a live performance from XochiBeats or stumble upon the Isle de Muñecas. (Island of Dolls) Contrastingly, to the far North lie the ruins of the Unesco World Heritage Site Teotihuacan. Wander through the site by day or take a popular hot air balloon ride over it for epic views.

Raving in CDMX (Credit: Author)

Nightlife:

Mexico City has an electronic music and party scene on the level of the world’s most iconic queer hubs like Berlin and New York City. Zona Rosa/Jaurez, the Centro Historico, and La Condessa/Roma are where you’ll find most gay bars, but there are underground parties thrown at warehouses throughout the city. Zona Rosa is the most well-known conglomeration of gay bars where you’ll find rainbow-filled cantinas with ample street-side seating and lots of “Taco de Ojo” (eye candy).sapphic-focused This area draws the youngest crowds in the city searching for affordable drinks and rowdy drag queens, but you’ll also find cowboys dancing at Vaqueros Bar, scruffy guys at Nicho’s Bear Bar, and sapphic focused parties e at Babiana Club. On Saturday nights SIC Club turns Jaurez’s Versalles 64 into a gritty church of queer techno.

Credit: La Purisima (La Puri)

The Centro’s chaotic streets turn into a nightlife refuge by night. Start your evening off by catching a cheeky theatre performance at Foro A Poco No Teatro Cabaret. Then for those seeking pop ballads, clubs kids, and neon-lit dancefloors head to La Purisma or its sister dancing sanctuary Soberbia Bar. Sidestep with sexy Rancheros adorning sombreros and cowboy boots at the gay saloons El Oeste and La Malagueña Bar. Catch sweaty bear go-gos at Hot Room and find your next drag obsession at Lx Locx Queer Club, El Marrakech, El Pecado, or the iconic drag Cabaret La Perla. Support the Lesbian-owned bar and restaurant Travesura where depending on the night you’ll find queer karaoke, DJs spinning reggaeton, or even upcoming local live performances. Finally, finish your weekend off right by taking an unmarked elevator that leads to rooftop views overlooking the Zocalo, international DJs, and epic sunsets at Sunday Sunday .