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CHILL NIGHTLIFE IN GUADALAJARA

5 Evening Spots for a Relaxed Date🍸✨ 


Note: This article is free to everyone—whether you’re a TWIG members or not!



Before the bustle of bar hopping, let's explore where chill vibes reign supreme—no crowds, no pretension—just easy ways to enjoy good company, drinks, and light entertainment. 🍸


Unlock:

🍹Cocktail Hour Treasures—premium drinks at insider prices.

🎯 Perfect Timing Intel—when to score the best deals & vibes.

🌙 Secret Serene Moments—quiet hours for deeper connections.

🍷 2025's Rising Star—the wine bar everyone will be talking about.

 

💕 Dates with your significant other or friends should feel easy, not performative. These spots are about shared laughs, soft lights, real talk—no showboating. 💕



🎲 La Madriguera – Board-Game Cafe Vibes

Quiet, cozy & interactive

Over 2,800 games, snacks, coffee, or wine—perfect for talking and playing over a table.

📅 Hours: Tue–Sun 4–11 PM

⏰ Best Time: Tue-Thu 4-6 PM (quiet before evening crowds)

🎯 Game Access: $50 pesos for unlimited games + expert explanations

🍴 Must-Try: Sweet potato chips, hamburgers, and specialty wraps

💕 Perfect for: Couples or friends who want relaxed fun without bar volume

📍 View Location - Av Tepeyac #947, Zapopan📞+52 33 2259 7753


🎵 Farmacia Rita Pérez – Neon Nostalgia & Jukebox

Retro disco-meets-cantina charm

Jukebox, vintage interior, live raicilla nights & tasty snacks. Cozy enough for chats; loud enough when you want it. The easygoing afternoon pace quickens in the evenings, when aguachile service shifts to tacos and the jukebox lights up with everything from cumbia to Queen. For a chilled time, go in the afternoon!

⏰ Golden Hour: Around midday for leisurely afternoon vibes

🍹 Signature Drinks: "Las 83 Lunas" & "Yerbabuena"

🦐 Star Dish: "El Manigüis" aguachile (best in GDL!) + aguachile with peanut

🎯 Insider Tip: Ask for owner Pancho for personal tequila tours

🌟 Vibe: Perfect balance of intimate and energetic

📅 Hours: Tue–Sun 1PM–1AM (Closed on Monday)

📍 View Location - C. Colonias entre Avenida Ignacio Luis Vallarta y Pedro Moreno, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara📞+52 33 4064 5489

 

🥃 El Gallo Altanero – Agave Essentials

Speakeasy-style, tequila-focused, distinct

Listed No.8 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025. Dim lighting, courtyard seating—intimate and refined. Go when it opens for a quiet time. Any time after 9:30 pm, you will most likely have to wait in a line.

⏰ Best Arrival: 6-8 PM (limited seating, gets busy later)

🍹 House Special: Signature Paloma

⚡ Happy Hour: Great deals on drinks and snacks

🌟 Unique: Menu changes every 2 months (65+ created so far!)

🎭 Monthly Feature: International guest bartenders

💡 Pro Tip: Sit at bar for tequila education from experts

📅 Hours: Wed–Sun 6PM–1AM (Closed on Monday & Tuesday)

📍 View Location - Calle Marsella 126, Col Americana, Lafayette, Guadalajara, 44160📞+52 33 1523 2574

 

🌺De La O Cantina – Casual Tiki Meets Cantina

Easygoing, a tad playful

Tiled bar, retro vibe, tequila/rum-forward cocktails. Casual enough for dates, fun enough for a late-night vibe. For a chilled time, go in the afternoon!

⏰ Chill Time: Early afternoon for relaxed vibes

🥥 Signature: Pepita Tequila Mai Tai, tepache & pulque cocktails

🌮 Best Bites: Pork belly burritos + crispy chicharrón tacos

🎯 Sunday Special: Exclusive cocktails only available on Sundays

📅 Hours: Wed–Mon 1PM–1AM (Closed on Tuesday)

📍 View Location - Calle Argentina 70, Col Americana, Guadalajara📞+52 33 2465 9094


🍷Loco Wine – Gourmet Wine & Mexican Street Food

A blend of retro diner aesthetics with a bold, modern concept

Loco Wine, a new 2025 hotspot in Guadalajara’s Colonia Americana, blends retro diner aesthetics with a bold, modern concept. Inspired by the nostalgic charm of 1950s–60s diners, it offers an elevated twist on traditional Mexican street food—like zarandeado shrimp tostadas, truffled picanha gringas, quesabirria, and vegan birria tacos—expertly paired with an extensive wine list. This unconventional pairing, once experimental, has gained traction, even drawing the attention of top sommeliers. The experience is elevated further by a custom Hi-Fi audio system, designed to deliver crystal-clear, faithful sound. With DJs and vinyl selectors spinning soul, funk, rock, disco, and more from the ’70s to 2000s on weekends, Loco Wine creates a full sensory journey. It’s a concept worthy of any global city—now rooted in the heart of Guadalajara. Interview.

🎁 Deals: Go on Thursdays for $95 pesos glass of wine or bubbles

🎵 Sound System: Hi-Fi audio with 70s-2000s music (DJs Fri-Sat)

🍷 Wine Selection: Mexico, US, Italy, Spain, Argentina, France & Portugal

🌮 Unique Concept: Gourmet street food + wine pairings

✨ Aesthetic: 1950s-60s diner nostalgia in spectacular corner location

🍻 Also Serves: Vermuts, spritz & artisanal beers

💫 Opened: Less than 6 months ago - discover it early!

📅 Hours: Mon–Sun 5PM–12AM

📍 View Location - C. Manuel López Cotilla 1235, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara📞+52 33 1974 9782


💡 Pro Tips for a Smooth Date Night

📅Pre-book board-game nights especially on weekends.

⏰Arrive before 9 PM at speakeasy bars to avoid the peak crowd.

👗Dress informed: vintage/retro styles fit Farmacia & De La O; elegant casual suits El Gallo Altanero.

🍸Ask for the off-menu at speakeasies—they often offer exclusive drinks.


 

Voila!

 

💕 Dates with your significant other or friends should feel easy, not performative. These spots are about shared laughs, soft lights, real talk—no showboating. 💕


✨The TWIG team wishes you the best life in our beautiful city of Guadalajara. We’re always here to help, if we can!

FAQ´S -

  1. HOW SAFE IS GUADALAJARA? Guadalajara is both safe and unsafe, depending on your lifestyle and choices. Numbeo safety index gives Mexico City a crime rating of 68.2 which is high. Guadalajara's is close at 62.2. If the crime rate comes higher than other similar big cities (Paris, London, New-York, Rome), in Mexico, most violent crimes are restricted to instances between criminal organizations. Reading about cartel activities in Mexico can be scary, however, unless you are extremely naïve or unlucky to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, as a tourist or expat, you have no reason to encounter criminal organizations, just like you don’t meet the mafia when traveling in Italy.

  2. What makes Guadalajara a safer place than most other big cities in the world? People’s kindness and helpful nature. Very low aggressivity and no mass shootings. Most Mexicans are non-aggressive (except behind the wheel), polite and well mannered. GDL has a great expat community ready to help. Check TWIG’s connect page for all the wonderful groups we recommend you join to get help, good advice and make solid friends.

  3. Is Mexico safer than the US? In this video Andrew compares Mexico to the USA and explains why Mexico is safer.

  4. How to Make Your Move to Guadalajara Smooth and Stress-Free? Sign-up to TWIG's Relocation Program and learn in 4 days what it takes other years. From where to eat, where to stay, what to see, and connecting you to all the top professionals you need for your new life, you’ll feel home in an instant.

  5. How can I stay updated on the latest events and attractions in Guadalajara? Subscribe to TWIG's free weekly newsletter to get the best of Guadalajara delivered directly to your inbox.

Want more of everything going on in Guadalajara? Subscribe to TWIG’s free weekly newsletter to get the best of Guadalajara in your inbox. And get the “Best of Guadalajara List” to know the top bilingual professionals in 30+ categories (from private drivers to doctors).



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