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Acapulco rolls up its sidewalks much earlier than it did during its “dance until dawn” heyday, with most places winding down by 11 pm. Lingering over dinner or drinks has become a time-honored way to spend an evening here, and most visitors enjoy that low-key tranquillity. Your hotel may have something special going on, too, on certain nights, so be sure to ask. You’ll still see some action Friday and Saturday night; Wednesday and Thursday have a bit less going on while Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are generally pretty quiet. Of course, the cliff-diving spectacle at La Quebrada still makes the most memorable Acapulco evening.
Drinks typically cost $3–$5, and two-for-one drink specials during happy hour are common. Waitstaff depends on tips in the 15%–20% range. Note that Mexico's legal drinking age is 18. When you’re ready to call it a night, call a taxi to take you back to your hotel or have someone at the venue do it rather than flagging down a cab on the street yourself.
Frequented primarily by tourists, this lively open-air bar is on the beach and not far from other nightlife spots. You will get two drinks when you order, and the mood is conducive to meeting other people. There's no cover charge during the week, but on Saturday it's about $7 or $8 and on Sunday it's around $5 and includes a drink.
Small, expensive, and exclusive, Baby'O caters to the local elite. The club has long had the reputation of being Acapulco's classiest, and the well-dressed clientele lounges and dances in a jungle-inspired interior. It can be hard (and pricey) to get in, and even harder to get a table, but this is the place to go if you're looking for a glamorous night in Acapulco.
The legendary Palladium still brings crowds on weekends and is one of the few remaining places that keeps very late hours. Things don’t get underway until 10:30 pm and they usually keep going until about 4 am. A waterfall cascades down from the dance floor, which is considered by many to be Acapulco's best. It's also surrounded by 50-foot-high windows, so dancers have a wraparound view of the city. The club is popular and tends to favor a young crowd.
The restaurant downstairs has beach access, a swimming pool, and lively dance contests at night. The open-air bar upstairs affords a spectacular bay view and it's a great place to watch bungee jumpers as they plunge from the 165-foot platform right next door.
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