Evening in San Felipe settles over the malecón, where the Sea of Cortés goes dark and the restaurants along the waterfront switch on their lights. Campgrounds fill with people cooking at their sites, and the bars begin to draw whoever is staying in town.
San Felipe's nightlife is small-scale and informal, built around the malecón, the campgrounds and a handful of long-standing bars and dance clubs. It suits visitors who want an easy evening near the water rather than a big-city circuit, and it rewards those willing to stay out late.
Where to go out in San Felipe
1. The malecón
The malecón is the waterfront strip where a couple of bars and clubs are found. It is the most straightforward place to start an evening, with the sea on one side and the town behind you.
It suits anyone who wants to move between a few places without covering much ground. Note that the dance clubs here tend not to get going until after midnight.
2. Dance clubs along the malecón
The more popular dance clubs named in the sources are Rockodile and Beachcomber. They are the late-night option in town, and the sources indicate they fill up only well after midnight.
This suits people who eat late and are prepared to wait for the room to fill. The sources do not state opening hours or prices, so treat the late start as the main thing to plan around.
3. Al's bar
Al's bar is described as a dive bar in the truest sense, safe and busy, and a place where you are likely to run into American expat locals. It sits a block off the malecón on a dark street.
It suits anyone who prefers a bar with character over a polished club. The sources describe it as worth seeking out, though the setting is not obvious from the malecón.
4. Restaurants
Most restaurants serve beer and wine, and many have a full bar. This makes dinner a reasonable base for the evening rather than a separate stop.
It suits a slower night, or the early part of a longer one. The sources give no details on closing times, so plan around the late start of the clubs.
5. Campground bars
Most campgrounds have a bar, which keeps the evening close to where you are sleeping. The sources note that the walk back to your tent is short.
This suits campers and anyone staying outside the town centre. If you are based at a campground, you may not need to go into town at all.
6. Drinking at your campsite
Buying Cuban rum, Coke and limes at a local market and making Cuba Libres at a beach campsite is described as a normal way to spend an evening. Local distributors also sell Mexican beer by the case, with a deposit on the bottles.
This suits groups and anyone who prefers a quiet night by the water. It depends on having a campsite and a nearby market, so sort out supplies earlier in the day.
How a night out unfolds
The sources indicate that the dance clubs along the malecón do not get busy until after midnight, so an evening here starts late rather than early. Restaurants serve beer, wine and in many cases full bar service, which makes dinner a natural first stop before the clubs fill. Beyond that late start, the sources do not describe set dinner times or closing hours.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Blues Festival — an annual event that normally takes place in April, with many local bands and an outdoor setting in spring.
Frequently asked questions
When do the clubs in San Felipe get busy?
The sources say the more popular dance clubs along the malecón do not get going until after midnight. Plan your evening so that you are still out at that point rather than arriving early.
Do I need to leave my campground to go out?
Not necessarily. Most campgrounds have a bar, and the sources note that the walk back to your tent is short.
Where can I drink if I am not going to a club?
Most restaurants serve beer and wine, and many have a full bar. Al's bar, a block off the malecón, is named as a place to drink with American expat locals.
Is there a festival worth planning a trip around?
The Blues Festival is an annual event that normally takes place in April, featuring many local bands.
Decide whether your evening starts on the malecón or at a campground bar, and time your night around the clubs' late start.