It won't be difficult to find the bars offering cheap drinks and loud music, but Tijuana offers much more than that, if you know where to look. In the Zona Río, a smorgasbord of clubs, bars, and restaurants is found in Plaza Pueblo Amigo, Vía Oriente and Paseo Tijuana, and Plaza Fiesta, Paseo de los Héroes 9415, making it easy to pick and choose the venue that's right for you. In Pueblo Amigo, you'll find perhaps the city's most popular disco, an ersatz Mayan temple known as Balak (tel. 664/682-9222); Spanish food and flamenco music at Gypsys (tel. 664/683-6006); and an alternative dance party at Mofo Bar (tel. 664/683-5427; www.mofobar.com). There are more than a dozen choices at Plaza Fiesta, where top draws include Sótano Suiza (tel. 664/684-8834), Monte Picacho (tel. 664/687-4740), and Cinque (tel. 664/634-1640). You can also work up a sweat at the dance clubs Tangaloo, Av. Monterrey 3215 (tel. 664/681-8091; www.tangaloo.com.mx), and Baby Rock, Av. Diego Rivera 1482, Zona Río (tel. 664/634-2404). Tijuana's gay bars can be found along Avenida Constitución, north of Calle 1.
Brewery, restaurant, and nightclub, Cervecería Tijuana, Blvd. Fundadores 2951 (tel. 664/638-8662; www.tjbeer.com), will transport you to the beer halls of Prague, of all places. Everything in this wood-paneled tavern, located a few minutes' drive from the tourist zone, was imported from the Czech Republic. Upstairs is club space presenting a variety of live music Wednesday through Saturday. For jazz or trova (singer/songwriter balladeers), check out Antigua Bodega de Papel, Calle 11 No. 2012, Zona Centro (tel. 664/633-9174); or, for a complete immersion in Tijuana arts and culture, go to El Lugar del Nopal, Callejón 5 de Mayo 1328, Zona Centro (tel. 664/685-1264; www.lugardelnopal.com), a gallery, cabaret, and restaurant all in one. For something more traditional, you'll find mariachis blasting away at lively La Cantina de los Remedios, Diego Rivera 19, Zona Río (tel. 664/634-3065; www.lacantinadelosremedios.com.mx). It has the cure for whatever ails you.
