The coastal town of Tulum is best known for its Mayan ruins and white-sand beaches, which many people enjoy during the day. But, the fun in Tulum doesn’t end when the sun sets. The nightlife in Tulum is abuzz with parties and bottomless drinks.
In fact, there are so many Tulum nightclubs and bars that you might not have a chance to visit all of them. Tulum’s bars pride themselves on providing the best party atmosphere with a myriad of music genres ranging from reggae to EDM.
Find the best bars, clubs, and parties in Tulum right now so that you can spend less time researching and more time practicing your salsa.
Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Tulum when the sun goes down.
Tulum Bars
Some of the best bars in Tulum are in the pueblo and along the playa. Each bar listed is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar
Batey is the bar on everyone’s lips in Tulum. This Cuban-themed bar is in the town center and is most lively on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The bar serves up its specialty Mojitos with Guarapo (sugar cane juice) freshly pressed on-site. You can see staff freshly pressing it on the bar’s mascot, a custom-painted Volkswagen buggy.
Guests don’t just come here to enjoy the bar’s mascot and Mojitos. The bar also has live music and theater performances. Dance your heart out to rock, blues, reggae bands, and DJs throughout the night.
Santino Bar
Tulum’s main street is where all the locals hang out and enjoy themselves. That is why Santino Bar is right at the center of it.
Under the straw-lined roof of Satino Bar lies a lively night ahead. This restaurant and bar has a friendly atmosphere that will be alluring, especially to Reggaeton music fans.
Each night there’s live music, and the dancefloor usually gets packed with Reggaeton dancers. And to light up the night, there are often fire dancers, too.
Tip: Ladies can drink for free from 21:00 to 22:00.
Gitano
This impressive establishment has three locations in Tulum, New York, and Miami. In Tulum alone, they have three additional venues.
They are Gitano Tulum (restaurant), Gitano Tulum Beach Club, and the Tulum Jungle Bar. This Tulum bar only opened a few years ago but is already a party hotspot.
Bright neon lights and a huge hovering disco ball contrast with the jungle atmosphere it is set in. It is the place to be on Friday nights where live DJs spin the decks to keep the parties going right through until dawn.
Xibalbar
Xibalbar is a rooftop bar and a play on the word Xibalba. Xibalba, or “place of fright,” is the name of the underworld in ancient Mayan mythology.
While the bar plays into this theme a little bit, this name is more of an ironic joke. Xibalbar is quite the opposite. Here you’ll find cheerful crowds of people drinking and dancing to live DJs.
You can follow the pink neon sign to go to its hookah lounge. Here you can rent a hookah pipe while sipping on cocktails or eating a few snacks.
Taboo Tulum
Taboo Tulum is in the hotel zone where the Tulum parties are at their peak. This beach club and restaurant by day serves up Mediterranean cuisine along the Caribbean Sea beachfront.
As the day progresses, the restaurant becomes more lively. By nightfall, it is in full party mode. Enjoy a few drinks inside the wooden structure or out on the seashore.
There is live entertainment from performers, DJs, or musicians. Some are local, and some are international, but all are delightful.
Nomade
Nomade is an excellent place to stop by at sunset for some tacos and cocktails. Their beachfront setting allows you to enjoy proper sundowners with the Caribbean Sea ahead of you.
The place has a great ambiance reminiscent of a sort of Moroccan night. Mismatched carpets and tents line the shore, and twinkling candle lights along the trees create a fantastic, chilled atmosphere.
Nomade isn’t as lively as the other bars on the list and is very laid-back. The hippy vibe carries through to their cocktails, often infused with herbs, to give traditional drinks a contemporary twist.
Nana Rooftop Bar
This rooftop bar is in the town center, where evening life is buzzing and at total volume. It has a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere that will quickly put you at ease and in the party mood.
This bar is definitely not the place for a quiet evening. If you enjoy dancing to electronic and house music until the early hours of the morning, then this is the place to be.
Enjoy freshly-squeezed juice in your authentic Mexican cocktails with the bar’s secret ingredient, local Mezcal. Made from agave, this Mexican distilled spirit is similar to tequila but a bit stronger in taste.
I Scream Bar
This quirky bar knows that it needs something great to stand out against the rest of Tulum’s nightclubs and bars. It seems I Scream has found a new angle that helps it do just that.
This ice cream shop and bar is a vegan alternative. Not only that, but it is big on sustainability and recycling. So much so that it influenced the bar’s whole aesthetic and decor.
You can find this bar’s roof covered in old car doors, windshields, and tires. They use eco-friendly materials and solar panels to power the whole bar and ice cream shop.
Be sure to try out their special I Scream Shots with Mezcal and Tequila. I Scream Shop and Bar is definitely an interesting place to spend your hot Tulum nights and find other eco-conscious mates.
Pasito Tun Tun
Locals and tourists alike adore this popular bar in the pueblo. It serves an excellent atmosphere for hot nights with its outdoor back garden seating area.
Pasito Tun Tun is very laid-back, and while the bar is constantly crawling with people, the garden is usually more relaxed. It also has a front garden patio that welcomes you with open arms. This bar is a charming place with some fun and quirky pieces like their patio swing seats.
Work your way through their impressive Mezcal and cocktail drink list as you wait for the live performances from local bands and DJs. Artist’s sets usually only start after 22:00, so you’ll have plenty of time to get some drinks and snacks in before the party begins.
Clubs In Tulum
Tulum’s clubs are often where you’ll see most people end their nights after stopping at the bars. The clubs in Tulum often have live DJs or musical performances that keep the tunes coming until dawn.
Zamna Tulum
If you’re looking for a memorable night of partying, make sure Zamna Tulum is on your checklist. Their venue is huge and covers 11 hectares of forest land to accommodate big crowds.
Zamna hosts world-class events and concerts regularly. The Zamna Festival is a big event that immerses party-goers in a world of music and dance in the jungle.
Here, you can dance to EDM rhythms and techno beats by artists from all over the world. Better yet, you don’t have to wait for the annual Zamna Festival to come back around. There are plenty of concerts and live performances throughout the year.
Confessions
Confessions is where many people go for a real Tulum beach party. Its atmosphere is dynamic and an ideal place for Electronic and House music fans.
Dance in the jungle at this exotic bar and lounge, which has three venues. Find them in all of Mexico’s most prominent party spots- Tulum, Cabo, and Cancun. The jungle and beach offer the perfect backdrop to this party with local and international DJs every night.
Papaya Playa Project
This sustainable boutique hotel loosens up and comes alive at night. That is when the hotel transforms into a real Tulum nightclub.
Papaya Playa Project, or PPP as the locals call it, is incredibly energetic on Saturdays. The Saturday closest to a full moon is when the hotel hosts its renowned Full Moon parties.
These parties are a big bash with local and international DJs keeping the party going until about 03:00-04:00 in the morning.
The good thing is, if you’ve partied all night long, you can sleep it off in the Papaya Playa Project hotel or any of the Tulum beach hotels nearby.
La Zebra Hotel
Are you looking to spruce up your dance moves? La Zebra Hotel hosts a salsa night every Sunday with free lessons.
This hotel not only offers a beach escape but also gives guests a cultural experience of traditional Mexican dancing. You don’t have to be a guest at the La Zebra Hotel to enjoy salsa dancing. Everyone is welcome.
The best part is that the one-hour lesson before the dance celebration is absolutely free. A live band orchestrates the party in the main bar and restaurant. If you need a little time to catch your breath, their beach bar serves delicious handcrafted cocktails.
Casa Jaguar
This Caribbean nightclub is a restaurant by day and houses incredible jungle parties at night. Their parties start pretty late in the evening and run through until the early hours of the morning.
They set Thursday evenings aside to host Tulum’s biggest party of the week. The MC only starts the party late in the evening at around 23:00. This gives you enough time to enjoy a few drinks before dancing to your heart’s content.
What You Should Know About Things To Do In Tulum at Night
Before you visit Tulum, be sure to check out this Tulum travel guide so that you’re up to speed with everything you need to know about the town.
Best Time to Go Out
Parties start quite late in Tulum and tend to end in the early morning. The best time to go to a bar in Tulum is late in the afternoon to watch the sunset.
If you’re planning to visit a club, it’s better to go a bit later in the night when it’s more lively. At some clubs, the DJs only start their live sets around 23:00.
Where’s the Biggest Party?
The bars and clubs in Tulum take turns every night hosting the biggest parties. Mondays are usually quiet and used as rest days before the party continues again from Tuesday to Sunday.
In the first half of the week, the biggest parties are in the town center at Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar. On Thursdays and Fridays, the party moves over to the beach areas to Casa Jaguar and Gitano.
On Saturdays, you’ll find most party-goers at Papaya Playa Project for their Full Moon fiestas. Sundays are very relaxed, and most people go to La Zebra Hotel for some salsa dance classes.
More Tips & Advice
Here are a few additional tips and advice to keep in mind when partying through the night at Tulum’s hottest bars and clubs:
- Most clubs and bars are on the beach or in the jungle. So it’s best to avoid wearing high heels on these terrains.
- Don’t forget to bring bug spray and mosquito repellent when you go out at night. Your night might get soured if there are bugs constantly buzzing around you.
- Dress casual, but nice. Because most Tulum bars and clubs are close to the beach, they often have a relaxed Bohemian vibe. No need to dress up formally to salsa the night away.
- It’s not a requirement for guests to tip servers, but it is appreciated nonetheless. While some establishments accept US dollars, it’s better to use the local currency of Pesos. The exchange rate changes daily, so it’s best to check it regularly.
Final Thoughts on Tulum, Mexico Nightlife
It must be something in the salty air because you’ll find the best clubs in Tulum along the Hotel and Beach Zone. These hippy-chic clubs and bars stay open until late, so you’ll have plenty of time to go bar hopping.
Tulum offers a lively nightlife that never seems to sleep. From epic parties and festivals to more laid-back live entertainment, there is something fun for everyone.