located in Banderas Bay on the Pacific Coast, Puerto Vallarta has long been a popular vacationer destination. With picturesque beaches, a lively culture, and fun nightlife, this is absolutely one of the best places to visit in Mexico. This guide is for all you party animals out there, as we’re going to dive into the awesome Puerto Vallarta nightlife!
While lots of people may think of Puerto Vallarta as a spring break hotspot, there’s a lot a lot more to the nightlife here than youngsters downing tequila shots at Señor Frogs. In fact, there are plenty of fun bars in Puerto Vallarta that aren’t overpriced vacationer traps.
On a night out in PV, you can take your pick between chilled out beach bars, hidden mixed drink joints, local craft breweries, LGBT-friendly bars, and pulsating nightclubs. There are so lots of choices here that you can bar hop on every night of your trip and barely scratch the surface.
In this fun-loving city, every night of the week has the potential to be a big one. Of course, you can expect there to be bigger crowds and a lot more events on the weekends, but you’ll still find plenty of people out and about on a Monday. After all, the best deals always come early in the week!
Having called Puerto Vallarta my home away from home for over two years now, I can assure you I did plenty of “research” for this guide. I did the backbreaking work of sipping margaritas on the beach and rocking out with local bands at night just for you. Let’s get this show on the road and check out the best options for Puerto Vallarta nightlife.
Table of Contents
Best beach Bars in Puerto Vallarta
Best Gay Bars in Puerto Vallarta
Best Puerto Vallarta Bars for Craft Beer
Best mixed drink Bars in Puerto Vallarta
Best sports Bars in Puerto Vallarta
Best Bars for live music in Puerto Vallarta
Top Nightclubs in Puerto Vallarta
Ready for Puerto Vallarta Nightlife?
Best beach Bars in Puerto Vallarta
The thing about Puerto Vallarta nightlife is that it actually kind of starts during the day. After all, this is a beach town. There are several beach bars in PV, a lot of of them located on the popular Los Muertos Beach.
Some beach bars require a minimum consumption in buy to use their umbrellas and sun loungers. I’m not going to send you to those places in this guide. Instead, I chose some of my favorite beachfront joints that have affordable prices and no minimum spend.
Swell beach Bar
Location: Amapas 182, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from 9 AM-8 PM
Located just south of the pier on Los Muertos, this is one of the top Puerto Vallarta bars on the beach. They have tons of umbrellas and loungers here so it’s never that hard to get a comfortable spot.
Swell is a great place to go in the afternoon for a casual lunch and some drinks. Go ahead and buy up a margarita and some ceviche — you’re in Mexico after all! Feet in the sand, cold drink in hand, and as if it couldn’t get any better, you can even get a massage ideal here on the beach.
If you’re like me and get tired sitting around, you can easily take part in some watersports like parasailing or SUPing. This bar closes around sunset, so go wash the salt and sand off and get ready for the evening. Or immediately pass out from too much sun and tequila. Your call!
Cuates y Cuetes
Location: Francisca Rodríguez 101, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily 8 AM-11 PM
If you’re trying to find a place to get hold of dinner and drinks on the beach, Cuates y Cuetes is a solid choice. They have a few tables in the sand here with a fantastic view of the pier and sunset.
Thanks to its location and views, Cuates y Cuetes is normally busy around dinnertime. It’s a good idea to make a reservation or get there early if you want to get a table on the beach.
This isn’t a guide about PV’s restaurants, though. This is a guide to Puerto Vallarta nightlife! They’ve got live music here at 8 PM every night of the week, so it’s the best choice to pre-game before a night out on the town.
El Solar
Location: Paraguay 1294, 5 de Diciembre (click here for directions)
Hours: 12 PM-11 PM M-Tues, 11 AM-Midnight Wed-Thurs, 11 AM-3 AM Fri-Sat, 11 AM-11 PM Sun
In my humble opinion, this is the best option for beachside Puerto Vallarta nightlife. I may be a bit biased as it’s also my local bar, but this place genuinely is awesome.
As with the other beach bars, El Solar is busy both day and night. Unlike the others on this list, though, the party goes late here on the weekend.
They normally have live music on Friday and Saturday night as well as on Sunday afternoon. often it’s a DJ playing tunes and they also have some really talented bands come through. buy up their special jalapeño mezcalita and get ready to rock!
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Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta – The utmost Neighbourhood and lodging Guide
The complete guide to travelling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
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10 best Excursions, activities and tours in Puerto Vallarta
Best Gay Bars in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a very LGBT-friendly travel destination. here you’ll find lots of hotels and bars that deal with LGBT travelers. The city also holds a massive pride week every may that draws in countless visitors.
Most of the LGBT-friendly bars are located in the romantic Zone, which is known as PV’s “gay-borhood.” here are a few of the best options for Puerto Vallarta nightlife when it pertains to gay bars and clubs.
Blue Chairs Rooftop Bar
Location: Almendro 116, Los Muertos Beach, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily 3-11 PM
This place is really easy to find. just walk to the end of Los Muertos beach and look for the – you guessed it – blue chairs! It’s absolutely one of the most popular gay bars in Puerto Vallarta, but all are welcome here.
You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to take pleasure in the restaurant, bar, and pool. They have a great view here and are known for their exceptional service.
This isn’t just a daytime spot, though. They host fun events every night, from karaoke to “drag queen bingo.”
Mr. Flamingo
Location: Lázaro Cárdenas 247, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from 2 PM-3 AM
This is hands down one of the most fun gay bars in Puerto Vallarta to party. Every single time I walk by Mr. Flamingo late at night, it’s absolutely packed. The dance floor is always bumping and the drinks are always flowing at Mr. Flamingo.
One of the best things about partying at Mr. Flamingo is that you get such a great mix of people here. Locals and tourists, gay and straight, old and young — everyone can appreciate a fun night out at this classic Puerto Vallarta bar.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
La Noche
Location: Lázaro Cárdenas 267, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from 3 PM-3 AM
Just a few doors down from Mr. Flamingo is another one of the best gay bars in Puerto Vallarta, La Noche. It’s only fitting that a place named “The Night” makes the list of best options for Puerto Vallarta nightlife!
Advertising “3 floors of fun,” La Noche has a large main floor with pulsating house music and go-go dancers. Upstairs is a 2-level rooftop garden with some fantastic views of the town. Be sure to add this special spot to your list of Puerto Vallarta bars to check out.
Best Puerto Vallarta Bars for Craft Beer
Craft beers are all popular these days, and lucky for you, there are two great brewpubs here in Puerto Vallarta.
Monzon
Location: Venustiano Carranza 239, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from noon-midnight
When it pertains to local craft beer in Puerto Vallarta, Monzon is the undisputed champion. These people have been brewing up creative beers in paradise for a few years, from coconut stouts to a jalapeño margarita gose. I consider myself a “beer enthusiast” and haven’t had a brew I didn’t like here yet!
Monzon holds trivia in English every Wednesday night and in Spanish on Fridays. It’s a great way to meet people and have some fun over a few beers. They also recently opened their upstairs Mosaic room with several TVs if there’s a game you want to watch.
Los Muertos
Location: Lázaro Cárdenas 302, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from 11 AM-12 AM
If your idea of a fun night out consists of pizza, beer, and sports, then I’ve got the place for you. Los Muertos Brewing is one of the best Puerto Vallarta bars for a slice, a pint, and whatever sports game is on.
I know that 4-6 PM doesn’t exactly fall into the “nightlife” category, but it’s worth discussing that pints are only 35 pesos ($1.75) during this delighted Hour. Score!
Best mixed drink Bars in Puerto Vallarta
If you’re seeking to take pleasure in a mixed drink, rather than the normal margarita or beer, here are some cool mixed drink bars you won’t want to miss.
El Colibri
Location: Morelos 582, El Centro (click here for directions)
Hours: Sun, Tues-Thurs from 8 PM-2 AM, Fri-Sat from 6 PM-2 AM
A recentaddition to the Puerto Vallarta nightlife scene is the fantastic El Colibri. This hidden gem may not seem like much from the street, but inside you’ll find a chilled-out courtyard and some of the best cocktails in town.
Upon entering, you’ll pass a sign that says “Welcome to the jungle, amigos” and you’ll swiftly see why. Their outdoor garden seating area with a fountain absolutely has a bit of a jungle vibe to it.
In a town full of bars pouring the same old cocktails, this place is a breath of fresh air. They come up with new ideas every week, such as the “Chama” (pineapple, mint, chocolate bitters, spiced rum). sounds delicious, right?! They often have DJs spinning tunes here starting at 8:00pm on the weekends, so it’s a great spot for some drinks and dancing.
Twisted Palms
Location: Ignacio L. Vallarta 228, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: Thurs to Mon from 6-11 PM (mid-October to July)
Famous for having the best martinis in town, Twisted Palms has been a staple in the Puerto Vallarta nightlife scene for 11 years now. It’s located on a rooftop in the heart of the romantic zone and is one of the best tucked-away bars in Puerto Vallarta.
They’re best known for Martini Madness Mondays, where their signature cocktails only cost 65 pesos ($3.25) and they show a classic James Bond flick. They do take the “low season” off though, so you’re out of luck if checking out during the summer months.
Bar La Playa
Location: Lázaro Cárdenas 179, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: open daily from 3 PM-12 AM
Not only is this one of my personal favorite bars in Puerto Vallarta, but it’s home to some of the friendliest bartenders around whipping up some tasty cocktails.
Despite the name, Bar La Playa isn’t actually located on “la playa.” It’s close enough, though, as it’s ideal next to Lazaro Cardenas Park and just a block from the ocean.
There aren’t too lots of stools here, so it’s the kind of place that encourages you to make friends with your drinking neighbours. After a few of their popular cocktails, that shouldn’t be too hard. BLP is one of the best places to start a night out in Puerto Vallarta.
Best sports Bars in Puerto Vallarta
If you’re trying to find a side of sports with your drinks, these are the best sports bars in the city. Football, UFC, soccer, you name it and it’ll be showing.
El Torito sports Bar & BBQ House
Location: Venustiano Carranza 243, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 AM-11 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-Midnight
I’m ready to bet you can guess what this place specializes in! El Torito has been one of the best bars in Puerto Vallarta for sports and BBQ considering that 1982.
Whether it’s an NFL game, a UFC fight, or the world Cup, they’re showing it here at El Torito. On big fight nights and for special events like the incredibly Bowl, the place is packed and you’ll need to make a reservation.
In addition to being a classic sports bar, El Torito is popular for its mouthwatering BBQ ribs. Be sure to come here hungry as they serve the plates packed with fries and coleslaw.
Players
Location: Rodolfo Gómez 138, romantic zone (click here for directions)
Hours: daily from noon-midnight
Located just one block up from Los Muertos, this is the best place to come after a day on the beach, especially when there’s a game on. It’s a great spot to transition from day drinking on the beach to enjoying Puerto Vallarta nightlife.
Players has very reasonably priced drinks, tasty burgers, and a few TVs so they can accommodate different sports fans. They have live music at night from time to time as well, so stick around and rock out!
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