The Malecón of Puerto Vallarta stands out as the heart of the nightlife. Along this oceanfront promenade, you'll find a variety of bars and clubs that come to life after dark. The downtown area of Vallarta is the epicenter of nightlife and tends to be the starting point for most visitors, also popular among local residents.
The Romantic Zone, known for its bohemian and colorful atmosphere, hosts numerous venues, from relaxed spots to live music venues to DJ-driven nightclubs for dancing into the early hours. This area is popular for its welcoming, tranquil, and safe environment for everyone, especially the LGBT+ community.
The rest of the city offers everything from restaurants with live music, sports bars, karaoke, and nightclubs to casinos. In the hotel zone, there are nightclubs with offerings for young people and DJs playing popular music, as well as places to dance salsa and merengue.
In Vallarta, there's everything from spaces for salsa dancing, Cuban music, and rancheras, to nightclubs with electronic, pop, and hip-hop DJs. The city boasts venues that attract national and international talent, where outdoor concerts, private events, annual government acts, and local events open to the public are held.
We can't forget the annual festivals, parades, and tournaments that offer us a diverse musical proposal year after year. Locals go wild for New Year's festivities and the May Festival in Puerto Vallarta. New Year's Eve is an exciting event with its fireworks display. The party continues in the Romantic Zone, where streets are closed off and artists and DJs make us dance all night long. The 80s and 90s parties at Plaza Lázaro Cárdenas and the street parties during Pride are also tourist attractions. Plus, the best part is that we have places to grab a snack after the party, with taco stands and snack stalls open until the early hours of the morning.
Here are some of the spaces you'll find in Puerto Vallarta:
- Live Rock Music: Murphy’s, Roxy, etc.
Pop and - Electronic/DJ: Dorothy, Six, Studs, Pink Flamingos, El Doberman, etc.
- Hip Hop, Rap, and Reggaeton: El Zoo, La Vaquita, Rakata, etc.
- Karaoke: Kooky, La Regadera, etc.
- Drag Shows: Paco’s Ranch, Blue Chairs Rooftop, El Secreti de la Muxhe, etc.
- Latin Sounds, Cuban, and Salsa: J&B, La Bodeguita del Medio, etc.
- Retro Music: Pink Flamingos, Starwings, Luccas, etc.
- Banda and Norteña Music: La Casona, El Guamuchilito, etc.
As you can see, wherever you go, you'll find music and venues to suit every taste. Don't forget to check out our article on Annual Events and Festivals, where we've hosted renowned artists such as Juan Gabriel, Zoé, Rammstein, Steve Aoki, Paul Van Dyk, Caifanes, Maná, Molotov, Plastilina Mosh, Luis Miguel, María José, Alejandro Fernández, Yuri, among others known to more specific audiences. From MTV events to street festivals open to everyone.