Nightlife & Entertainment

If there was an Olympics for nightlife, Acapulco would win a Gold Medal.

Pop group The Monkees knew the nighttime was the right time, when back in the 60s they sang the lyrics to Acapulco Sun:

“Acapulco sun, leaving work undone
Dream about the nighttime ‘til she comes”

On any given day, half the people on Acapulco’s beaches are recovering after a night on the town. They’re soaking up the rays and gathering their strength for another all out assault on the city’s nightlife. Acapulco is legendary for inspiring visitors to dance the night away, zipping from one club to another.

There are venues to suit every taste. Some skew young and attract a hip and energetic crowd that is thrilled to dance to the latest beats while being covered in mountains of soapy foam. For those looking for a more elegant night on the town, there are plenty of clubs delivering sophisticated enjoyment in elegant surroundings.

Acapulco got its first disco back in 1965, when Teddy Stauffer (Mr. Acapulco) opened Tequila A Go-Go.

One of the largest and newest venues is the Forum at Mundo Imperial, a 4,000-seat theater that is part of the Mundo Imperial Complex, in the posh Diamante Zone. World famous acts like the Cranberries and Latin headliners like Raphael and Paulina Rubio regularly take the stage. The Mundo Imperial complex is much more than a theater – it also has a 805-room hotel, spa, restaurants, shops and a convention center.

A world famous disco is Baby’O, where there’s a chance you’ll be rubbing elbows with a celebrity or two. The cave-like club holds about 200 people and the music is a mix of oldies and current chart toppers.

A recent addition to the city’s nightlife scene is Nisha Acapulco located in the posh Diamante Zone. Take in the cutting-edge interior design, Nisha Acapulco contains the open-air GuGu nightclub which attracts a younger crowd to its Sunset Parties.

Acapulco’s main tourism corridor is Costera Miguel Alemán, where you’ll find the Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood. This is also where you’ll discover the eye-catching Barba Roja, a recreation of a pirate ship docked on dry land overlooking the beach. Things can get a little rowdy at the open-air bar as the hours pass, but it’s all good fun as the bar’s pirate staff put on an energetic show.

The Palladium nightclub on the Las Brisas hillside pumps out fresh beats while dancers look out on Acapulco Bay through 160 feet wide glass window; while El Alebrije in the Golden Zone delivers current hits for a younger post-teen crowd and can pack in 3,000 revelers with its stadium seating.

Baby’O is a favorite with superstars like Mick Jagger, Sting, Bono and Luis Miguel when they roll into town.

In the “Las Brisas” neighborhood you’ll find club Mandara, which mixes minimalist décor with knockout views of Acapulco Bay. If you’re still going strong at 4 am, the action shifts to El Privado, a private club on Mandara’s second level. Las Brisas is a favorite with celebs, having hosted such stars as Dustin Hoffman, Rod Stewart, Gloria Gaynor and John Travolta.

For the height of retro charm, head down to Old Acapulco and Coco Wash, the new disco at Hotel Boca Chica, an acclaimed boutique hotel that is in the forefront of Acapulco’s celebration of its glittering past.

Getting around Acapulco by night is easy, with reasonably priced taxis at your beck and call.