You'll find all sorts to do after dinner in Mexico City, whether you're looking for a tequila-fuelled salsa or a quieter evening. Mexico's rich culture is on full display after sunset. There are monthly museum nights and nighttime tours of Aztec sites for those who want to delve into some history, or wrestling and witch markets for a flashier trip.
Below is our list of the best things you can do after dinner in Mexico City. It can get chilly at night, so make sure you pack the right clothes to fully enjoy a fun evening out.
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Cocktails at a rooftop bar
Admire Mexico City’s skyline with a nighttime drink
- Nightlife
Enjoying cocktails at a rooftop bar is a great way to relax after dinner in Mexico City. The city is famous for its view of neon lights after dark, so you should make sure to enjoy it from above. There are countless rooftop bars in the city, so make sure to check your local area.
If you're on a budget, Terraza Catedral offers affordable cocktails with views of the cathedral. The more upmarket DF Condesa Rooftop Bar gives a great view of Chapultepec Park. If you're looking for something swanky, check out Area Bar in Polanco.
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Teotihuacan
Explore ancient Aztec pyramids under the stars
- History
- Nightlife
- Photo
Read moreTeotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was a major city of the Aztec Empire around 1,500 years ago. It's just under an hour's drive from the city centre. Once there, you'll find a collection of ancient pyramids and tunnels to explore.
To make the most of it though, you need to see Teotihuacan at night. Take a night-time tour to experience a striking atmosphere in the ancient city. You'll be guided along the Avenue of the Dead to the Pyramid of the Moon, before taking a seat on the stones to watch an unforgettable light and sound show at the Pyramid of the Sun.
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Mercado de Sonora Witch Market
Go shopping for ghostly goods
- Nightlife
- Shoppers
- Unusual
Mercado de Sonora is Mexico City’s infamous witch market, located southeast of Centro Histórico. It attracts an interesting mix of locals and tourists looking to buy all sorts of creepy goods and trinkets.
Mercado de Sonora has items related to the occult, witchcraft, white and black magic, shamanism, and the cult of Santa Muerte. Among the aisles, you'll find model skeletons, herbal medicines, and gold dust. If you look hard enough, you might find love charms and trinkets.
Location: Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 419, Merced Balbuena, Venustiano Carranza, 15800 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Open: Monday–Saturday from 9 am to 7 am, Sunday from 9 am to 5 am
Phone: +52 56 1187 0415
Map - 4
Watch a lucha libre show
See a professional wrestling bout
- Nightlife
Lucha libre (freestyle wrestling) is a great show to watch after dinner in Mexico City. The country’s professional wrestling circuit is famous around the world, sending its stars to the USA to wrestle alongside the biggest names in WWE.
You’ll find plenty of lucha libre shows at night throughout Mexico City. It’s a spectacle you don’t want to miss – the sport is famous for its high-flying style, with acrobatic wrestlers in flashy costumes putting on a highly impressive performance. They’re also huge celebrities in Mexico, so don’t miss the chance to see lucha libre on your trip.
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Noche de Museos
Explore history and culture at the monthly cultural event
- Families
- History
- Nightlife
Noche de Museos (Night of the Museums) is a monthly event that involves over 40 of Mexico City’s museums and galleries. It’s organised by the Mexican government to promote the history and culture of the city. These venues stay open until around 10 pm – great for museum-hopping after dinnertime.
You'll find one of the world's largest archaeological collections of Mayan and Aztec civilisations at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Museum of Anthropology). Families can check out dinosaur skeletons and interactive learning at Museo de Historia Natural (Museum of Natural History). There are also some more quirky museums involved, such as Museo de la Caricatura (House of the Cartoon), or if you've got the stomach for it, Museo de la Tortura (The House of Torture).
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Learn salsa
Dance the night away with a partner
- Couples
- Nightlife
Learning salsa is one of the must-do things on most people’s bucket lists when visiting Mexico. Bars in Mexico City come alive with salsa every night, and there are plenty of places for you to learn how to swing like the locals.
Nightclubs like Mama Rumba offer evening classes for beginners. Then you've got professional dance studios like La Nana. Beginners are still welcome, but this is the place to be if you're looking to impress on the dancefloor.
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Salón Tenampa
See traditional Mexican bands
- Nightlife
Salón Tenampa has been a local favourite for drinks and mariachis since 1925. It’s one of Mexico City’s oldest and most revered mariachi halls. The venue has a terrace overlooking Plaza Garibaldi and an extensive tequila menu, making it rather popular with tourists as well.
Mariachi is a style of traditional Mexican music that’s very common in the city. It involves a group of musicians in sharp suits and traditional Mexican hats, all taking turns to serenade you with their singing.
Location: Plaza Garibaldi 12, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Centro, CDMX, Mexico
Open: Daily from 2 pm to 2 am
Phone: +52 55 5526 6176
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Condesa
Dance into the early hours in the city’s clubs
- Nightlife
Condesa is Mexico City’s thriving party capital, with many trendy clubs and bars. It’s a small neighbourhood on the edge of Chapultepec Park, with several boulevards lined with art nouveau mansions, casual taquerias, sidewalk cafés, and fashion boutiques.
When it comes to choosing where to go after dinner in Condesa, EDM fans will find themselves at home at AM, a 3-storey nightclub south of Parque España. If you prefer something laidback, you can chill out to reggae at Kaya Bar. Mama Rumba’s famed salsa nights are great for mingling with friendly locals in Mexico City.
Mapphoto by Luis MEjía Castañeda (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
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Zócalo
Mexico City’s biggest public square
- Budget
- Nightlife
Read moreZócalo is Mexico City’s largest public square. During the day, it’s packed with tourists visiting grand architecture like the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral and the president's National Palace.
The atmosphere really comes alive at night. Zócalo can hold over 100,000 people, so there’s always something going on. Night-time activities at the square start at 6 pm with a flag-raising ceremony. You’ll find a host of vendors selling souvenirs and food, as well as street performers to keep you entertained throughout the night.
Location: P.za de la Constitución S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
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Palacio de Belles Artes
Enjoy the fine arts of theatre and music
- Couples
- History
- Nightlife
Read moreThe Palacio de Bellas Artes puts on a variety of cultural shows throughout the year. The building itself is an impressive sight, with an art nouveau and neoclassical exterior that overlooks the Alameda Central Park.
Palacio de Belles Artes serves as an art museum and a performance hall. Opera, theatre, classical music, dance, and exhibitions are some of the many events that take place within. Giants like Luciano Pavarotti have sung here, so it's worth seeing what's on during your visit.
Location: Av. Juárez S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +52 528 647 6500
Map