Live Music and Clubs

Daytime

Mariachis

The Zihuatanejo area has a number of live music options, beginning on the beach in the morning and continuing until sunrise. Start off your musical tour on the beaches of Zihuatanejo Bay where you will encounter wandering minstrels alone or in groups up to quartets who will play just for you, charging by the song. These groups play a wide variety of instruments, including, but not limited to, a variety of guitars, mandolin, violin, stand up bass, snare drum. bongos, accordion, trumpet, saxophone and even a full size harp. The music is mostly latin or popular Mexican tunes from a variety of regions, with styles that vary from the lively northern corridas to haunting melodies of lost love. They will often perform a number of songs at a discounted rate but be sure to agree on a price before they begin.

Canta Bars (Karaoke) feature popular music to sing along to and also provide dance floors and disco music. This is a great way to learn the words to all those songs you have loved for years and improve your Spanish while having fun.

At times in the local restaurants larger bands of Mariachis in groups of up to twelve can be seen in the evenings.

Music in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

Following are some of the regular, local music venues in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. There are also occasional concerts at La Casa de la Cultura (The House of Culture) and the Centro Social (Social Center) on Avenida Jose Ma. Morelos.

The municipality also hosts Sunday evening Cultural concerts (Domingos Culturales) at the Cancha or basketball court & plaza beachfront in downtown Zihua. These evenings can be great fun mingling with the townspeople along the beachfront, enjoying music, dance, children’s shows, clowns and other spectacles.

In Troncones, the Burro Borracho beachfront restaurant often has entertainment on the weekend during the high season as well as their traditional Fiesta Mexicana.

Zihuatanejo Music Spots:

Bandido’s – 5 de Mayo & Pedro Ascencio next to the Church in downtown Zihua – live music every night starting at 10:30 or 11 p.m., mainly tropical rhythms and salsa. Dance floor.

Caprichos Restaurant – 5 de Mayo No. 4 (next to the church) in downtown Zihuatanejo. Periodically has special music appearances through the winter season.

Coconuts Restaurant – Live music from 7 to 10pm in garden dining area. Entrances off V. Guerrero and Agustin Ramirez streets, downtown. Coconuts occasionally hosts special music events.

Rick’s Bar – Live music regularly in a variety of genres during the winter season. On Cuauhtemoc Street within the first block in from the basketball court

Tango Restaurant – on the corner of H. Galeana and N. Bravo sometimes has the dinner music in the early evenings

Paccolo - On Nicolas Bravo, downtown Zihuatanejo – often has a variety of music and entertainment. .

Black Bull Midnight Rodeo and Karaoke Bar – corner of V. Guerrero and N. Bravo, Zihuatanejo

A personal favorite is El Canto de la Sirena (Song of the Mermaid) across the side street from the main bus station. Live music is presented after about 11 pm, when the owner, Jose Luis Cobo, begins to play. Other musicians also play during  and the dance floor may be full till dawn. Late in the evening spontaneous jam sessions may erupt as other performers join in. Dancing.

Tequila Town (Canta Bar – Karaoke) – Cuauhtemoc Street in Zihuatanejo, next to Rick’s. Sing along to popular music; also dance floors and disco music.

Ventaneando Canta bar – Canta Bar (Karaoke) located above the Koyuca Pharmacy at the corner of V. Guerrero and N. Bravo.

Nightclubs and music in Ixtapa

There are a number of Piano Bars in the area including El Faro (The Lighthouse) in Marina Ixtapa, located on top of the lighthouse with a beautiful view of Ixtapa. Kopado’s Bar, in the Ixtapa commercial area behind hotel row, often has live music.

Check out Che Mangiamo at Marina Ixtapa, upstairs from Fisher’s Restaurant. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.

Night Owls should visit the popular Discos in Ixtapa: Señor Frogs, El Alebrije and Christine (with an upscale dress code) in Ixtapa.

Many hotels in Ixtapa have weekly shows or themes such as Mexican, Tropical, International and Pre-Hispanic nights. Please check with the individual hotels for information on these events.

Don’t miss the Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival! The festival runs a full week every spring… Visit http://www.zihuafest.info for full information