A guide to nightlife in Tijuana, Mexico's Sin City

During Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, alcohol was banned in the United States, so American citizens flocked across the Mexican border to get their hands on booze. That's when Tijuana started to grow as a party capital. Prohibition ended almost a century ago, but Americans still flock to Tijuana to get their hair up.

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, so a trip to Tijuana is a rite of passage for 18-20 year olds who can't legally drink alcohol in the United States. With low prices for everyday items, low alcohol taxes, and cheap hotels, it's no wonder tourism in Tijuana is booming.

The Tijuana Arch is an iconic Tijuana landmark (Credit: Alex Johnson)

Just across the border from San Diego, Tijuana is the easiest Mexican city to get to from the United States. Not only is it a great nightlife destination, but it also has beautiful beaches and fascinating museums, making it even more popular.

How to get to Tijuana

By Plane

Tijuana International Airport has daily flights from many cities throughout Mexico, including Mexico City. The only international flight is American Airlines, which operates six flights a week from Phoenix, Arizona, with connections from around the world. There are also year-round flights from Hainan, China.

By Land

There are three border crossings with the United States, and the most common way to get to Tijuana is by driving or walking across the border. The most popular is San Ysidro, which has the most border crossings in the world. If you're going by car, it's as easy as crossing from the UK to France or the US to Canada.

Downtown Tijuana is within walking distance of the US border (Credit: Alex Johnson)

If you don't have a car, you have three options for crossing the border by land.

By Foot

From Old Town and Downtown San Diego, you can take the trolley light rail to the San Ysidro border. From there, you can walk to the border crossing and walk across the border (you'll need your passport, of course).

Once you're on the other side, if you don't want to walk 20 minutes to downtown Tijuana, taxis are always waiting. If you take a taxi, make sure it's a licensed taxi and agree on a fare with the driver before you set off. Taxis accept US dollars and Mexican pesos.

By bus

Grayhound runs a few lon g-distance buses across the border between San Diego and Tifuana. Many of these are departing from Los Angeles and boarding a city along the coast on the way. If you are worried about what will happen at the border, you can almost surely cross the border by taking this bus.

When you arrive in San Isidro, the American driver gets off and the local Tiffanian driver is taken over. They guide the procedures, have their passport push their stamps, and wait for their luggage to wait. Tickets must be reserved online in advance.

Don't miss the chance to eat traditional churros in Tifuana (Credit: Alex Johnson)

The only drawback of a bus is that Tif Ana's stop is far from downtown. The bus will take a taxi from the main street Revolcion Odori on the 3 0-minute El Mihikano Square (PLAZA EL MEXICANO).

Tour with guide

A guide tour is convenient to go from San Diego to Tiffana. Guided tours are generally for daytime sightseeing, but you have the chance to experience many places that are very exciting Tif Ana's nightlife.

Our favorite is a 6-hour drive tour with lunch and a 7-hour Mexican street food tour. Tiff Ana's street food is amazing!

Is Tifuana safe?

If you've been thinking of visiting Tifuana, you may have come across an article that affirms Tifuana that it's not safe. Let's unravel it. At first glance, there will be no objection to numbers: more than 2, 000 murders have occurred in 2023, which is equivalent to 105 per 100, 000 residents. Looking at the world rankings, Tifuana is the sixth dangerous city on the earth.

The sunset over Playas de Tiffa is completely dangerous (Credit: Alex Johnson)

That's why I was a little anxious to visit Tifuana. However, when I arrived at Tifuana, I felt it was as safe as other places. In fact, I felt that Tifuana was safer than the New York subway after sunset. In fact, Tifuana is definitely a very dangerous place to live, but not so dangerous to visit. I realize that safety is not a sense, but stay within some simple rules to get most ways to spend.

The most important advice is that you don't get lost in bad areas. In downtown, protect Avenida Revolution and the surrounding street. After sunset, do not leave the Revolcion Boulevard, where tourists specializing in patrols for 24 hours. Whatever you do, do not enter Zona Norte, just north of Revorsion Street. Just north of Revorsion. This is an entertainment district dominated by Tif Ana's gang, and is notorious for violent crimes.

Always walk with your purpose, clarify your destination, and don't get lost outside the area.

Revolcyon Odori is one of the best places to experience Tif Ana's nightlife (Credit: Alex Johnson)

Other than the center, the main tourist areas, Prayas de Tiffana, and Zona Rio, an u p-an d-coming chic area, are safe. It is important to narrow down your wisdom a few hours after enjoying Tiff Ana's nightlife, especially at night. It's okay if you don't look like you are drunk as you know the destination.

Tiff Ana's Night Life Best

Av. Revolcion

Revorsion Street, the center of Tiff Ana's nightlife, is Tifaa's answer to Las Vegas Strip. This street, which is crowded all the time, is a place where people who want to relax at craft beer brewery, those who want to enjoy a party at the club, or want to have a casino.

Revorsion Odori is full of neon (credit: Alex Johnson)

Border psycho

The Border Psycho at the center of the craft beer revolution has been the key to Tif Ana's nightlife for over 10 years. It is one of the original craft brewery in the town, and it seems to have changed almost since it opened for the first time long ago.

Every day (excluding Wednesday) until midnight, and on the weekends until 2 o'clock in the middle of the night, this shop, which is open until midnight, has an indoor seat and an outdoor seat. There are always more than 10 kinds of beer and you can eat. Tacos fits any beer (may be due to time zone).

beer garden

My favorite spots, Tiff Ana's nightlife, are at the corner of Revolution and Carillo Puerto. There are more than a dozen barrels, and the highest one does not do more than 90 pesos (US $ 4. 50).

Beer garden is a paradise of human watch (Credit: Alex Johnson)

Sit on the terrace and look at the world. The noise of the festival, sirens, and cars of car traffic is overwhelming and settled at the same time. The beer garden is open every day until midnight (until 1am on weekends).

Elcopeo

When the dawn, or when the morning comes, go to El Copeo. Ercopeo, which is open every morning until 5 o'clock, is a paradis e-like place for a true nigh t-type human. Entering has a very strict security check (TS A-type physical tests are expected), but not welcomed in one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Elcopeo's party lasts all night (Source: El Copeo)

The great thing about Elkopeo is that everyone gathers. If you want to have a party all night on the dance floor, you should do it. Watch sports on a large screen. If you want to ignore everyone in the outside seat, you can. One liter of beer is 50 pesos (US $ 2. 50).

Dandy del Sur

Daddy del Sur has been offering cocktails to regular customers for decades. This is the best way to enjoy the real Tifuana atmosphere with a classic dive bar. It turned into a strange blend of traditional Kantina and chic cocktail bars. Regardless of which you prefer, you can't miss it as a standard of Tiff Ana's nightlife. Moreover, it is open every day until 3am.

Dandy del Sur is a dubious bar (Source: Trip Advisor)

Caliente Casino

Caliente, the largest casino in Tifuana and a classic Tif Anna nightlife, is in the middle of Revorsion Odori. This lively casino gathers people of all levels. From locals who put coins on slot machines to the most experienced people in Las Vegas in the table, no matter who you use, you will be welcomed here.

The table has blackjack, poker, Texas Holdem, and sports betting and bars.

Zona Rio

Zona Rio, right next to downtown, is an u p-an d-coming area of ​​Tifuana and a major business district. If you are staying in downtown, it is best to take a taxi or Uber at night for safety, but it is well worth it.

The museum and the Cultural Heritage Center Centro Cultural are the biggest highlights of Zona Rio.

Buda

Buda, known as a hamburger shop in the daytime and a music club at night, is one of the most trendy spots in the Tiffana nightlife scene. If you don't know its existence, it's one of the places you can't find. You can find it by inputting 9450 Guadalope Victoria on the side of the Plaza del Zapato mall, Google Maps. However, please note that this is a true Shin City territory!

Sotana Suizo

A place for locals to hang out, Sotana Suizio is a traditional music bar. Whatever the genre, from rock to opera, in what seems to be no particular order, it's a great spot to spend the night.

It's decorated like a classic American dive bar and has the same vibe. You can party inside or sit on the patio and enjoy the cool evening. Sotana Suizio is open until 2am every night.

Sotana Suizio's patio is always busy (Source: TripAdvisor)

Lionfish

Despite being a seafood restaurant, Lionfish is an icon of Tijuana nightlife.

Lionfish is the perfect Tijuana nightspot for those who want a quiet drink with friends (Source: Trip Advisor)

Whether you're looking for a quiet night or looking for a place to go before hitting the bars, Lionfish is ideal. Plus, it's the perfect spot to fill up on delicious fresh seafood before hitting the town for the night.

Playas de Tijuana

A daytime hotspot in Tijuana. If you're staying on the beach and don't want to venture downtown, or you want something a little more relaxed, Playas is where you'll find Tijuana's nightlife hotspots.

Rambay Restaurant & Bar

Rambay Restaurant & Bar is a great spot for an early drink with a view. A perennial seafood spot, Rambay's terrace is the perfect place to watch the sun go down over Playas de Tijuana. They serve fresh local fish, as well as a wide selection of craft beers.

Sunset from the side of Rambay Restaurant & Bar (Credit: Alex Johnson)

Matt's Bar

A late-night hangout in Playas de Tijuana, Matt's Bar has long been a staple of Tijuana nightlife. Opened in 1976, it feels more like a London pub than a bar steps from a Mexican beach. There's music, but it's quiet enough to have a conversation, and there's a good selection of craft beers, along with staples like draft Guinness. Matt's Bar is open until 2am Tuesday through Saturday.

Ruben's Hideaway

Tucked away at the northern end of Tijuana's main promenade, Avenida del Pacifico, and with no obvious signage, this bar is technically the closest bar to America in Tijuana. And yet it's surprisingly quiet.

Ruben's Hideaway is directly opposite the "Trump wall" that marks the Mexico-US border (Credit: Alex Johnson)

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