Cuernavaca, Mexico, has some great bars. There are cheap street bars selling good-value micheladas (Mexico’s famous beer and Clamato tomato juice combo), right up to expensive cocktail bars that serve some really exciting creations… and everything in between.
The curious thing about Cuernavaca is that the bar scene is quite elusive and underground. Some of the best bars in the city are not in the city centre. You have to know where they are.
And if you are a first time visitor to the city, you may not know how to find the best locations.
That is why we are publishing our guide of the best bars in Cuernavaca – 2026 edition.
The guide is organized from cheap to expensive, with a list of some good Cuernavaca clubs at the end.
Best low-cost spots in Cuernavaca
Sometimes you don’t want anything fancy. You just want a laid back place where you can have a few drinks and relax, without spending too much money. Here are the best cheap locations in Cuernavaca for a laid back drink.
Mercado Comonfort
Mercado Comonfort is a colorful indoor plaza with a selection of bars and restaurants in the historical center of Cuernavaca. You sit on one of the tables in the middle and you choose which bar or restaurant you want to order from. It works a bit like a food court in the US. You can get your beer from one bar, your mojito from a different bar, your mezcal cocktail from another bar and your delicious freshly made birria tacos from the birria taco food truck. It is a perfect concept and we always love going there. Mercado Comonfort also looks great. There is colorful graffiti on the walls with interesting designs and sculptures from local artists. Palm trees grow from the floor and stick out through the roof. There is also sometimes live music on the weekends. For a laid back drink in Cuernavaca, Mercado Comonfort is one of the best places to go.
Pulquería San Juan Parrandero (La Guayaba)
Have you ever tried pulque? If not, you have to try it! It is Mexico’s oldest and most traditional alcoholic drink, dating back to long before the Aztec Empire…. some say it may have been drunk in Mexico as far back as 2000 BCE, or even earlier.
It is made out of the sap of a type of Mexican agave called maguey, and the natural flavor tastes slightly sour and fermentented.
Our favorite place to try pulque in Cuernavacva is the Pulquería San Juan Parrandero, also known locally as La Guayaba. It is located in the historical center of the city, on one of the oldest colonial-era streets. The bar preserves the traditional Mexican style, with simple wooden tables, friendly staff and a laid back atmosphere. The pulques that they serve there are really incredible. They have a rotating selection of seasonal flavors, as well as the natural classic flavor which is of course served permanently, with the seasonal diferent flavors changing every week. Some of the flavors are incredibly unique, creative and delicious. Over the years we have tried the classic flavors such as guava (guayaba), mango and passionfruit (maracuyá), as well as some completely unique creations such as cempasuchil petal (the orange marigold flower that is traditionally used on Day of the Dead altars), marzipan and rose petal.
For those who don’t drink alcohol, the bar also specializes in traditional Mexican cacao-based drinks. You can try one of Mexico’s famous tejates, a cold chocolate drink made from raw cacao, ground mamey seed (hueso de mamey), cacao flower (rosita de cacao) and maiz, or a chilate made from raw cacao, rice (arroz), cinnamon (canela) and unrefined whole Mexican cane sugar (piloncillo).
The bar also serves a selection of interesting spirits, including Mexican mezcales distilled with scorpions and other local delicacies.
Sometimes there is live music there on the weekends.
El Gallo Negro
If you like mezcal, this bar is for you. This mezcal-focused bar is located next to the entrance of Mercado Comonfort on Calle Comonfort in the historical center of Cuernavaca. It is one of the best bars in Cuernavaca and absolutely worth visiting when you are here. Unlike some other mezcal bars in the city the prices are very reasonable. The decor is unique and interesting (like a lot of bars in Cuernavaca historical center), with one-of-a-kind artworks and sculptures on the walls.
The bar has one of the best selections of mezcals in the city, with bottles from every region of the country, at a range of prices. The mezcal is always served in the most traditional way, with red maguey worm salt and a slice of orange, but one of the inovations of this bar is that some of the mezcals are also served with Mexican cacao or guava, along with other acompaniments, depending on the type of mezcal. The bar staff know a huge amount about the mezcals that they are serving and they can guide you through one of the best and most authentic mezcal experiences in Mexico.
The bar also has a wide selection of original mezcal cocktails, all created from scratch by the bar’s owner, with some unique local flavors. One of our favorite cocktails at El Gallo Negro is made with ground cucumber, smoked mezcal and burnt rosmary sprigs, along with other locally sourced ingredients. A perfect creation!
La Cocotte Minute
La Cocotte Minute is a laid back bar in the historical centre build around an open colonial-era courtyard. Owned by French expats, the atmosphere of Cocotte Minute is lively and sociable. There is a wide range of good quality beers and wines, as well as a newly designed food menu that offers a selection of tapas and French-inspired dishes. We can never resist the negronis, the mezcal (served with Cocotte Minute’s unique green tomato garnish) and the uniquely flavoured herring tapas (tapas de arrenque).
The bar also has a small gallery area where they display the work of local artists and host cultural events.
Hamburguesas SA de CV
This place is quite far out of the center, on Avenida San Diego, but it can be a fun night out, if you like loud Mexican music and locals-only vibes.
The beers are cheap, they sell burgers and ribs, and the music is always 100% Mexican (and 100% loud).
The only thing that we don’t like about this place is that they allow people to smoke inside, so if you are a non-smoker then the air can get quite thick with smoke. But the atmosphere is 100% Mexican and very authentic. The beers come in liters or bottles, the micheladas are authentic and there is live music on the weekends. If you are brave enough for a real Mexican drinking session, then this place may be for you.
We personally don’t smoke so we find the air quality difficult to endure these days, but we do always enjoy going there and seeing 200 Mexicans arm-in-arm singing along to Peso Pluma or Los Tigres del Norte, performed by a live Mexican band wearing sombreros. It has its charm.
Best slightly more-expensive bars in Cuernavaca
The Cuernavaca bar scene is quite inexpensive in general, so even these places are relatively cheap by Mexican standards (and absolutely cheap by USA standards). But they are slightly more upmarket than the previous list of bars listed above.
La Verdad Sospechosa
This bar is a bar for the cocktail purists. If you like your cocktails creative, locally-sourced, full of flavor and uniquely Mexican, then this is the perfect bar for you. Located in Cuernavaca historical center (just over the road from Pulquería San Juan Parrandero), this bar serves a selection of classic cocktails and unique creations. We recomend trying one of the unique creations created by their in-house mixologist (although their classic cocktails are very good too). Here you can sample cocktails made from Mexican ingredients that are only available in Mexico, as well as ingredients that are rarely used in cocktails. We love their cocktail made out of bougainvillea petals (pétalos de bugambilia) – an unusual ingredient that works really well in their unique in-house cocktail.
The bar also serves some excellent food.
LUUM Speakeasy
This speakeasy-style bar located on Avenida San Diego is a great place to come from Thursday to Sunday. Like all speakeasy bars, LUUM has a secret entrance, this time behind a fake icecream shop. You won’t find it unless you know it’s there.
Inside, you are treated to well-made drinks, a lively atmosphere and live DJs most days of the week. We’ve seen some great DJs at LUUM Speakeasy and we always enjoy the night. This one is open quite late, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s always a good option if you are looking for a late party.
They also do early events called Coffee Raves starting in the early afternoon, with live DJs, drinks…. and coffee… for those who prefer to start the weekend earlier. Check their Instagram for more.
Naaya
Located on Avenida San Diego, just a few minutes from LUUM Speakeasy is Naaya. It is a popular Cuernavaca bar designed around an open-air garden area. The drinks are decent and the bar often hosts DJs on the weekends.
Panzón
Ok. Technically this is a pizzería. But the cocktails are so good it’s worth mentioning in this list. Located 20 minutes from the centre, the pizzas here are incredible – real Napolitan style – and you can accompany your pizza with a delicious cocktail or artesanal beer. The decor and music is always great too.
Cuernavaca Clubs
Cuernavaca’s nightlife scene is unusual in that most of it happens outside of the main historical center (centro historico) of the city. Most of the best clubs are located around a 15 minute drive from the center so you’ll need to get an Uber there and back. And it’s always worth checking the door policy because sometimes there can be a dress code (particularly in the more upmarket ones like Republica).
Runa
Runa is a rooftop bar located on Avenida Teopanzolco. It hosts regular parties with local DJs and also hosts multiple special events year round. The aesthetic is tropical, with dangling jungle vines, tropical plants and good music.
República
República is one of the most famous clubs in Cuernavaca. A long-time favorite of of the sons and daughters of Cuernavaca’s economic elite, this club has an exclusive atmosphere and a fairly strict door policy. If you want to dance until 6am and order bottles of tequila or champagne in an exclusive secure atmosphere then this club is a good option.
Meneo
Meneo is an inclusive LGBTQ+ club night that changes venues regularly. It is quite a new addition to the Cuernavaca club scene but it is deservedly gaining popularity thanks to its excellent roster of talented house and techno DJs and its liberal, hedonistic atmosphere. To find out when and where their next party is, check their Instagram.
