Although, as expected, Cancún is the source of much of the Yucatán's nightlife, that resort city isn't the only place to have a good time after dark. Along the Caribbean coast, beachside dance floors with live bands and extended happy hours in seaside bars dominate the nightlife. Here are some favorite hot spots, from live music in hotel lobby bars to hip techno dance clubs.
Cancún: Longstanding Cancún favorites Carlos 'n' Charlie's and Dady'O offer potent drinks, hot music, and wild (if sometimes sloppy) dance floors. For a more cosmopolitan setting, La Madonna is a fashionable martini bar and restaurant in the La Isla Shopping Village, while Bling, with its outdoor terrace overlooking the lagoon, is the city's most chic cocktail venue.
Forum by the Sea: This seaside entertainment center in Cancún has it all: a dazzling array of dance clubs, sports bars, fast food, and fine dining, with shops open late as well. You'll find plenty of familiar names here, including the Hard Rock Cafe and Rainforest Cafe. It's also the home of what remains Cancún's hottest club, CoCo Bongo, which regularly packs in up to 3,000 revelers.
The City: One of Cancún's hottest nightclubs, the City is a raging day-and-night club, offering a Beach Club with a pool, beach activities, and food and bar service, and the sizzling Club, at which the world's top DJs have spun through the night until the sun once again rises over the turquoise waters. This is truly a City that never sleeps.
Quinta Avenida (Playa del Carmen): Stroll along lively, pedestrian-only Fifth Avenue to find the bar that's right for you. With live-music venues, tequila bars, sports bars, and cafes, you're sure to find something to fit your mood.
San Cristóbal de las Casas: This city, small though it may be, has a live-music scene that can't be beat for fun and atmosphere. The bars and clubs are all within walking distance, and they're a real bargain.
