The Legendary Nightlife Of Playa Del Carmen

Located halfway through Cancun and Tulum, Playa del Carmen is the beating heart of this world class travel destination known as Riviera Maya. This vibrant city that was once just a little fishing village built around the dock for the ferries arriving from Cozumel, has become a magnet for people all over the world that want to experience the Mexican beach town way of life. Not as big as Cancun, and not as trendy as Tulum, Playa, as known by the locals, is the perfect spot to do just that.

This town is like a modern Babel, where languages, cultures, and nationalities are mixing all the time producing a very cool blend of international vibes. This, of course, also generates one of the best night scenes in all of Mexico.

Let’s explore it!

The Big Names

If you’re familiarized with the Mexican nightlife, you may have noticed that the biggest clubs tend to dominate in the most popular beach towns. This way, you’ll find out that the famous Cancun nightclub of Coco Bongo also exists in Playa del Carmen as one of the most popular nightlife options in town. Similar stories can be told about Mandala, and La Vaquita.

So, if you want to taste the full Mexican nightclub experience, you have to visit one of these clubs. They’re all different, and I’ll get to that in a moment, but you can be sure that they won’t disappoint in terms of production, visuals, and music. That said, they’re also the most popular clubs among tourists, and that can be a con for some.

Coco Bongo

If you only have one night at Playa del Carmen, this is the club you have to visit. The place is massive, with capacity to host 1,800 spectators. It’s not, however, your typical nightclub where you go to get a table, listen to music, and dance till you can no more. Here, you’ll get to watch a fantastic, colorful show filled with acrobats, dancers, actors, and singers. And lots and lots of confetti!

Every night there are different shows, including The Mask spectacle (inspired by the famous Jim Carrey movie); 300, a show based in the legendary Battle of Thermopylae between the Spartans and the Persians and also made into a Hollywood action film; Moulin Rouge, Queen, Mad Max, and Samba, are other of the shows you will enjoy at this magical place.

The entrance fee is a bit more expensive than in other clubs, but the experience is definitely worth it!

Location: Calle 12 Norte and Av. 10 Norte.
Price: From $83 to $156 USD.
Open: From 9:00 pm to 3:00 am.

Mandala

This is the fanciest nightclub in town. The one where locals like to go to be pampered and enjoy small luxuries. It’s also a more “typical” kind of club, meaning that here the show doesn’t come from some actors, but you’re the main character of the night.

The music is always great, offering a mix of Pop, EDM, and the latest and most popular hits. The place is very big, with a capacity for up to 700 people and it’s known for having some of the best parties in town.

Location: 1 Av. Norte.
Price: From $85 USD with bar credit.
Open: Daily from 8:00 pm to 3:00 am.

La Vaquita

Mandala’s sister nightclub is just as spectacular, but maybe a little bit more rowdy. Think less classy and more fun. More foreign tourists (and students) and less locals. Also, the music here tends to go more on the side of Hip Hop, R&B, and Reggaeton.

Party animals love it here! This is the place for your last night in Mexico, the one where you just don’t care any more. But don’t let me scare you, this is a fun nightclub, just a bit too crazy!

Location: Calle 12 Norte.
Price: From $85 USD with bar credit.
Open: Thursday to Sunday from 8:00 pm to 3:00 am.

The Up-and-Coming Nightclubs

If you want to try something different, are bored of finding the same nightclubs in every Mexican tourist destination, or just want to experience some really cool nights out, you have these two original options that are at the top of their game right now.

Clandestino

Local party experts and travel connoisseurs both agree that Clandestino is right now the best spot in Playa del Carmen's buzzing night scene. Set in a wonderful rooftop in the heart and soul of Playa, the famous Fifth Avenue, Clandestino came to revolutionize the fiesta in town.

The music is a mix of commercial hits and electronic dance music that pumps the adrenaline high all night long. Here you can dance, but also enjoy live music, theater shows, and go go dancers. The atmosphere at Clandestino is more relaxed than in some of the big name clubs, less fancy and stylish, but more laidback and natural.

Definitely, my personal favorite!

Location: 5ta Av. with Calle 10.
Price: From $86 USD.
Open: Daily from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am.

Santino

Another favorite of the locals, Santino is also a rooftop club, but with several floors and different atmospheres and types of music in each one. This is the kind of Latin club you thought of when you were just planning your Riviera Maya vacations.

The rooftop is usually packed and the party goes hard till late in the night. Lots of students and young people like this place, for its mix of electronic and Latin music. Not to be confused with Santino Tun-Tun, which is also cool but more mainstream.

Location: Calle 8 with 5th Av.
Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am.

Speakeasy

This is one of the most recent additions to Playa’s nightlife scene and definitely one of the most attractive for fans of electronic music, funky house, and techno. There’s a club room and a rooftop terrace, each with its unique atmosphere and different Djs and types of music.

One of the main pros of Speakeasy is that it stays open till late in the night (or early in the morning!), so you can go first to a traditional nightclub and then move to this place to squeeze the night of all its fun.

Location: 5th Av. between Calles 4 and 6.
Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am (officially).

The Chilled Bars

In the unlikely case of you not being a party animal and you’re just looking to go out at night, have a drink and a nice chat with your friends or partner, maybe you should consider one of the following bars:

Prana

This lounge bar is a delightful option if you appreciate hip-hop music, smoking flavored shisha (or hookah) and go-go dancers. This place is just off the famous Quinta Avenida and although most nights start quietly, on the weekends it can get a bit crazy late in the night.

Location: 12 Av.
Open: Daily from 8:00 pm to 2:30 am.

Zenzi Beach

This is one of my personal favorite places in Playa del Carmen. Come here early in the morning for a nice breakfast by the sea and stay working on your laptop while your feet play in the sand. Spend the day in its sunbeds, sipping delicious cocktails and working on your suntan or come at night to take a Salsa lesson, dance to a wide variety of Latin rhythms and meet fun expats and like-minded tourists.

Location: Calle 10 and the beach.
Open: Daily from 8:30 pm to 1:00 am.

Final Thoughts & Safety Recommendations

Remember that this is a curated list that reflects my personal opinions about the different bars and nightclubs mentioned. However, Playa del Carmen has many more options not included here for lack of space.

There’s also a wide array of beach clubs and rooftop terraces from hotels that, as Zenzi does, double up as daytime lounges and nightlife options too. Those aren’t included here as they deserve their own post, make sure to check back on this same space for updates on that article.

Regarding safety, it’s important to mention that the whole Riviera Maya is one of the safest regions in all of Mexico. That said, it’s still important to be careful when going out at night, as you would do in most places around the world. Be smart and avoid staying by yourself late in the night, only get taxis from set “Sitios” (taxi stations you will find in different corners), and avoid getting completely wasted, as that raises exponentially the odds of finding troubles.

All in all, Playa’s nightlife is legendary for a reason and that reason is that people come here to have fun and enjoy themselves. The bars and nightclubs exist to cater to these people and provide them with the atmosphere they’re craving for and that’s why there are so many great nightlife options.

Be good, be safe and have fun!