Zona Río Dance Clubs

Tijuana [1]’s once-vibrant nightclub scene is a shadow of its former self. A few mainstays have survived, but most others have closed or evolved into something different. In the meantime, a new and trendy bar scene [2] has emerged along Calle 6 with more than 30 bars thriving in roughly a six-block area.

Most of Tijuana’s top dance clubs enforce a dress code of no jeans or sneakers, and some insist on even more formal attire. The clubs begin to fill up around midnight and often stay open until dawn. The later the hour, the louder the music. Here are a few of the mainstays on the circuit. For current information online, search Facebook or MySpace, as few of the clubs maintain their own websites these days.

In business since 1988, Las Pulgas Disco Club (Revolución 1127, tel. 664/685-9574, www.laspulgas.info [3]) consists of five different dance halls. Salon Rojo (10 A.M.–5 A.M. daily) plays rock music from the 1970s to pop hits. Salon Cachanilla (9 P.M.–6 A.M. Mon.–Tues. and Thurs.–Sun.) plays banda, norteña, and ranchero tunes. Larger Salon Vaquero holds 1,500 people and is open 9 P.M.–6 A.M. Wednesday and Friday–Sunday. The other two dance halls, Salon Teatro and Salon Palomar are open for special events.

Pyramid-like Club Balak (Plaza Pueblo Amigo, Vía Oriente, tel. 664/682-9222, from 9 P.M. Thurs.–Sat.) is an upscale venue with attentive service and a dress code.

Run by a global entertainment group and located inside a seven-story “cave” Babyrock (Diego Rivera 1482, tel. 664/622-3800, www.clubbabyrock.com [4], until dawn daily) has been a favorite for more than 20 years. A million-dollar sound system and state-of-the-art light shows bring a European club experience to TJ. Internationally recognized DJs play a range of techno and house music.

Mike’s Disco (tel. 664/685-3534, till 5 A.M. nightly), on the east side of Avenida Revolución at Calle 6, is a gay and lesbian dance club with drag shows on weekends.