Top 10 Late-Night Cantinas Open Until 5 AM in Mexico City 2026

I remember the first time I stumbled into a proper cantina in Mexico City, bleary-eyed after a midnight show in the Zona Rosa, the air thick with cigarette smoke and the sharp tang of tequila that hadn't been watered down. It was 2008, and I'd been chasing the pulse of this city for weeks—its endless energy that doesn't quit when the sun dips below the volcanoes. Back then, finding late night cantinas Mexico City open until 5am 2026 felt like a fever dream, but here we are, projecting into a future where CDMX's nightlife scene has only gotten rowdier, safer in spots, and more irresistible. These aren't your glossy rooftop bars; cantinas are the soul of the city—raw, boisterous halls where locals drown pulque in botanas, mariachis wail on demand, and strangers become confidants over shots of raicilla. I've logged thousands of pesos and even more regrets (mostly good ones) hopping these joints over my decade-plus of wandering Mexico's capital. In 2026, with tourism booming and safety measures tightening in key barrios, these top late-night cantinas in Mexico City 2026 stand out for keeping doors flung open till 5 a.m., serving up authenticity amid the chaos.

What draws me back? The botanas—those free salty snacks that keep you ordering: gorditas, pickled pigs' ears, shrimp cocktails that punch you awake. Pair that with affordable raunchy humor from the cantinero, and you've got nights that blur into dawn. I've seen executives in suits belt rancheras with taxi drivers, tourists dodging wrong turns into hidden gems. But a word from the road-weary: Pace yourself. Tequila's a sly fox here. And while CDMX's metro shuts early, Ubers swarm till sunrise. Let's dive into my top 10 cantinas open late in Mexico City until 5am—the best cantinas CDMX abiertas hasta las 5 am that I've vetted through sweat-soaked shirts and hoarse throats. These picks blend tourist-friendly cantinas open late Mexico City vibes with gritty local cred, from budget-friendly cantinas CDMX late night 2026 haunts to mariachi cantinas open until 5am Mexico City legends.

Starting in the heart of it all, Plaza Garibaldi, where the mariachi magic never sleeps.

1. Los Gabrieles (Cantina Garibaldi Classic)

Plaza Garibaldi #19, Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. (yes, they push it reliably into 2026 with extended licensing post-pandemic).

This place is the gateway drug to CDMX's cantina obsession, a sprawling hall under Garibaldi's neon glow where mariachis in silver-studded charro suits swarm your table like eager bees. I first crashed here after a misguided attempt at salsa dancing in nearby venues—arrived at 1 a.m., table already laden with free botanas: spicy cecina, queso fundido oozing like molten gold, and endless totopos that somehow multiply. The tequila flights? Start with Herradura Blanco, crisp as a highland breeze, then graduate to raicilla that tastes like pine-smoked rebellion. By 3 a.m., the crowd's a mix of locals belting "Cielito Lindo" and wide-eyed gringos like my younger self, who ended up buying rounds for a table of abuelas celebrating a birthday. Safety-wise, it's one of the safest late night cantinas CDMX 5am closing spots—cops patrol the plaza, cameras everywhere, and the vibe's familial chaos rather than sketchy. Budget? 300-500 pesos gets you sauced and snacked for hours. Drawbacks? It packs out weekends; snag a corner booth early. But that energy—the trumpets blasting, sweat flying, laughter drowning the traffic roar—it's pure adrenaline. I've nursed hangovers here till dawn, watching the city stir. In 2026, expect LED mariachi holograms or some tech twist, but the soul stays analog. If you're hunting authentic cantinas Mexico City open 24 hours near me (they're not quite 24/7 but close enough post-5 a.m. with afterparties), this is your north star.

2. Salón Niza

Av. Guerrero 103, Colonia Guerrero, Cuauhtémoc. Doors swing from noon to 5 a.m. daily, no exceptions in my 2026 scouting trips.

Oh, Salón Niza, you magnificent beast. Tucked in Guerrero's gritty embrace, this art deco relic from the '40s feels like stepping into a Pedro Infante film—faded murals of bullfighters, Formica tables scarred by decades of carousing, and a jukebox crooning Agustín Lara. I wandered in once at 2:30 a.m. after a Roma Norte flop, hungover from mole poblano, and the cantinero, a wiry guy named Chucho, slid me a michelada rimmed with tajín that exploded my taste buds: salty, spicy, with clams bobbing like forbidden treasures. Botanas here are legendary—escamoles (ant larvae, buttery and nutty), cueritos glistening in brine. Shots of sotol hit like desert lightning. The crowd? Working-class poets, insomniac artists, the occasional lost soul spilling life stories. Humor seeps in: Chucho once quipped, "Gringo, your face says you fought a cactus and lost." Tourist-friendly without pandering, it's budget-friendly cantinas CDMX late night 2026 at its finest—200 pesos covers a feast. Safety? Neighborhood's edgier, but Niza's a beacon; groups stick together, and it's well-lit. I stayed till 4:45 once, debating politics with a mechanic over pulque curado, the fermented sap sweet and funky. Imperfect? Floors sticky, bathrooms a gamble. But that's the charm of these hidden gem cantinas Mexico City until 5am nightlife jewels—no Instagram polish, just raw pulse.

3. Cantina La Coyota

Calle Bolívar 58, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc. Open 1 p.m. to 5 a.m., Thursday-Sunday ramps up till dawn confirmed for 2026.

Centro's labyrinth hid La Coyota from me for years until a local cabbie dragged me there post-Lucha Libre match, my muscles aching, spirit soaring. This narrow slot of a spot reeks of history—brass spittoons (unused, thankfully), sepia photos of revolutionaries nursing mezcal. The air's a cocktail of lime, smoke, and sweat. Botanas assault you: tostadas piled with pulpo en su tinta, inky and tender; chorizo quesadillas crisp-edged. Their house tequila, aged in oak barrels out back, slides smooth then kicks. By midnight, it's mariachi central—summon a trio for 500 pesos, and watch suits croon "El Rey." I did, disastrously off-key, earning cheers and free chicharrones. Budget heaven: 250 pesos for oblivion. Safest late night cantinas CDMX 5am closing? Centro's policed heavily now, and Coyota's loyal crowd keeps it mellow. Tourist-friendly cantinas open late Mexico City pick for history buffs—Zócalo's a 5-min stagger away. Flaw? Echoey acoustics amplify regrets. Lingered till 5 once, sunrise filtering through iron grates, pondering life's absurdities.

4. El Kiosko

Inside Plaza Garibaldi, at the corner of Eje Central and Hidalgo. No fixed address needed—follow the trumpets; open 11 a.m.-5 a.m.

Garibaldi's beating heart, El Kiosko is where mariachi cantinas open until 5am Mexico City dreams ignite. I hit it after a Polanco gala, slumming it gloriously in velvet ropes' shadow. Massive pavilion, tables spilling onto pavement, air humming with violins and valor. Botanas? Seafood towers: aguachile verde scorching lips, ostiones Rockefeller bubbling cheese. Tequila reposado here tastes artisanal, from Jalisco hills. Crowds surge—families, stag parties, me weeping to "Volver Volver." Budget: 400 pesos, endless refills. Safer than ever with 2026 patrols. Personal low: Serenaded an ex via phone; crowd joined in mockery. High: Dawn pacts with new amigos.

5. Cantina La No. 20

Filomeno Mata 20, Centro Histórico. 5 p.m.-5 a.m., weekends till sunrise.

La No. 20's my guilty Centro pleasure, a dim-lit bunker where I nursed a Zapatista-level breakup at 3 a.m. Walls plastered with bullfight posters, bar top etched with initials. Botanas: empanadas de huitlacoche earthy and wild, jalapeños rellenos exploding. Mezcal negrita, peaty smoke. Locals share tales; I learned of hidden cenotes. Budget 300 pesos. Tourist-friendly with English menus creeping in. Sticky floors, but vibes electric.

6. Salón España

Calle Donceles 96, Centro. 1 p.m.-5 a.m.

España's Spanish flair in Mexican grit—paella botanas, sangria-spiked micheladas. I stumbled in post-museum crawl, 2 a.m., devouring gambas al ajillo garlicky bliss. Flamenco guitarists duel mariachis. 350 pesos. Safe, historic. Hungover epiphany here.

7. Cantina El Champan

Regina 54, Centro. Noon-5 a.m.

Champan's bubbly twist: Prosecco mezcals, caviar-topped tostadas. Post-party haven; I toasted solo victories till dawn. Budget 450. Glam yet gritty.

8. La Faena

Av. Hidalgo 21, Guerrero. 6 p.m.-5 a.m.

Faena's cowboy cantina—rodeo pics, cabrito botanas tender. Belted corridos with vaqueros. 280 pesos. Edgy but safe in packs.

9. Cantina 100 Hectáreas

Balderas 71, Cuauhtémoc. 4 p.m.-5 a.m.

Hectáreas' ranch fantasy: Asado botanas smoky, tequila añejo velvet. Mariachi summons cheap. My wildest night: Dance-off till collapse. 320 pesos. Hidden gem cantinas Mexico City until 5am nightlife perfected.

10. El Tío Pepe

Colima 196, Roma Norte. 8 p.m.-5 a.m. (2026 expansion).

Roma's upscale twist on tradition—craft botanas like duck carnitas, sotol infusions. Hipster-locals mix; I philosophized till sunrise. 500 pesos. Safest, tourist-friendly. Future-proof gem.

These spots aren't just bars; they're time capsules pulsing with CDMX's indomitable spirit. Whether chasing mariachis or solace in botanas, they'll etch memories deeper than any hangover. Hit 'em responsibly—taxi home, hydrate, repeat. Mexico City's nights are endless; savor every raucous second.