The key addresses in Puerto Vallarta — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
Anonimo is spread over three floors in the Zona Romántica. On the ground floor, guests choose the music videos themselves, and happy hour attracts visitors with cheap beer tokens. The second floor offers an open terrace with a view, and a wine bar awaits you at the top. There are also inexpensive drinks and daily cocktail specials in the city's LGBTQ+ scene.
In the Zona Romántica, Anthropology is a gay bar with live entertainment by male dancers. The program includes pole dancing, strip shows and a shower performance; Tourists and locals of all ages mix. The renovated rooms look modern, the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. It opens late until the early hours of the morning, access only for men.
In the middle of the Zona Romantica, on the Olas Altas, lies the Apaches Martini Bar, run by a lesbian owner. On the patio you can sit with a wide selection of cocktails, including martinis and blue specialties, at fair prices. There is a daily happy hour, plus food and changing dinner specials. Locals and travelers meet here.
In the Zona Romántica, the Awaysis is located near the Río Cuale and is a restaurant during the day and a bar in the evening. The open-air indoor-outdoor facility serves Mexican and American dishes such as sandwiches, wings, ribs, and salads, as well as breakfast and Southern seafood cuisine. Live music plays from Tuesday to Sunday, plus karaoke, classic rock shows and a drag brunch on weekends. The Rio Bar is air-conditioned.
CC Slaughters in the Zona Romántica is one of the larger gay dance clubs in the city and is divided into two areas: a dance floor with a large DJ booth and VIP seats, and a separate pop martini bar with a view of the Lazaro Cardenas. Both areas are air-conditioned and have their own bars and toilets. Open every day, with events, DJs, live shows and happy hour.
The Corner Bar in the Zona Romántica is a modern cocktail bar with an intimate atmosphere, where Mexican elements meet contemporary style. Murals and handmade decorations characterize the space. The menu includes signature cocktails, martinis, and Mexican-inspired snacks like tacos and quesadillas. The air-conditioned rooms are located a little away from the main road.
On the corner of Francisca Rodríguez, Cuates & Cuetes is located right on the beach of the Zona Romántica, with tables on the sand and breeze from the Pacific. Mexican classics such as chilaquiles are served, along with drinks and various coffee variations. With live music and events, the venue attracts the local LGBTQ+ community. A webcam shows the view of the sunset.
In the Zona Romántica, Divas relies on dim lighting, festive décor and posters of classic films. The focus is on drag shows with comedy, lip-sync and unusual costumes, plus strip shows and acrobatic numbers on the small stage. There are cocktails, light fare, and snacks, as well as a happy hour that attracts locals and tourists alike.
In the Zona Romántica, Fridas is a traditional Mexican cantina, gay-friendly and with a local owner. Open from breakfast to dinner, she serves fajitas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and snacks, plus cocktails, cheap beer and homemade tequila. Weekly offers and live music are part of it. From the balcony you can watch the hustle and bustle; Wifi and pets are welcome.
Located in the Zona Romántica, Garbo's Piano Bar focuses on live music on the piano: jazz, bossa nova, Broadway numbers and show tunes. The air-conditioned rooms offer comfortable seating, along with martinis, handcrafted cocktails and a wide selection of spirits. The vibe is interactive and warm, a good place for an after-dinner drink in the gay community.
Located in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica, Industry mixes industrial design with modern club culture with state-of-the-art lighting and sound technology. A preparation area with a small dance floor and bar is followed by the large main floor, which runs mainly on weekends. During the day, the club serves as a lounge, in the evening there are themed events such as Leather Nights or disco evenings.
Kooky Karaoke in Puerto Vallarta is all about singing: colorful lights, a big stage, and regular karaoke nights from classics to current hits. There are also cocktails, beer and other drinks, and the bartenders give recommendations. As a meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community, the bar offers an open environment, alone or with friends.
La Cantina Margarita is located in the Zona Romántica and borders directly on the well-known La Noche, which is why it is good for a few drinks before the go-go shows. The strong margaritas are well known; a live DJ plays modern music, and the air conditioning keeps the rooms cool. The audience is mixed, the service cordial.
In the Zona Romántica, La Cueva is a small, rustic cantina with a predominantly local clientele. The bartenders mix generously, the drinks are cheap. There is a pool table and karaoke nights, Wi-Fi and pets are welcome. Cowboy flair characterizes the place, which offers bears, cowboys and friends of the LGBTQ+ scene a relaxed space.
Located in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica, La Noche is a gay bar complex spread over three floors. On the main floor, drag shows with local stars run daily, followed later by go-go dancers into the night. The open rooftop bar on the second floor offers views of the city and mountains. The program also includes pole dance performances; the audience mixes locals and tourists.
In Puerto Vallarta, Los Amigos is an established gay bar and a permanent meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community. The cantina atmosphere is relaxed, the crowd mixed with locals and visitors. Thanks to its central location and hospitable service, you can get together here informally. The menu includes the typical bar drinks.
Located on Los Muertos Beach, Mantamar Beach Club caters to adults and features an infinity pool overlooking the sea. The menu includes cocktails, breakfast, lunch, dinner and sushi. DJs play every day, from a quiet beat to a lively set. The club is considered a meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community.
In the Zona Romántica, Mr. Flamingo is an open tiki bar with a tropical flair and a mixed, LGBTQ+ friendly clientele. From sunset until the early morning, the vibe changes from happy hour to party, which often spills over into the streets. Cocktails such as the Agua Loca, snacks, music and laser light are among them. The shop is small but lively.
Located in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica, Paco's Ranch combines modern design with Mexican flair, such as colorful murals. On several dance floors, DJs play chart hits, Latin American rhythms and electronic beats. There are drag shows every day, and cheap cocktails, beers and spirits at the bar. The audience ranges from locals to international guests.
In the Zona Romántica, Reinas is a gay bar with a royal Queen theme: pictures of British royals meet Mexican cantina elements. Guests can dress up with wigs, hats, high heels, dresses and make-up. There is beer, margaritas, mezcal and tequila, plus 80s music videos in English and Spanish. Before midnight it is busiest; Owner Marco Van Groeningen runs the house.
Gay bars in Puerto Vallarta are almost entirely concentrated in the Zona Romántica, the southern part of the old town directly behind the Río Cuale. The district has been considered one of the largest gayborhoods in Latin America for years. Along a few streets such as Lázaro Cárdenas, Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, the main shops are so close to each other that you can easily walk from bar to bar. A permanent fixture is the Mr. Flamingo, whose open front to the street invites you to watch the passers-by and which gets crowded early in the evening. La Noche works more as a pre-club with drag, go-go boys and a rooftop view, while Paco's Ranch is known as a cowboy bar and Code is one of the larger club nights.
The pace of nightlife picks up late here. Many guests don't start their clubs until after midnight, before that they meet in the open street bars for a drink. Over twenty gay bars and clubs in the Zona Romántica alone ensure that there is something for almost every taste, from quiet cocktail bars to loud dance floors with a show program. The atmosphere is mixed, with many travelers from the USA and Canada next to Mexicans and Europeans. If you are there for the first time, it is best to start around Olas Altas and work your way from there. The following addresses will show you which bar suits which evening.