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Hot summer nights are about to get hotter. From sexy rooftop pool parties to epic outdoor music festivals to picnics by moonlight with live jazz or fireworks, Night+Day’s Best Summer Nights highlight primo nocturnal events for the beautiful, balmy evenings ahead.
Best Summer Nights in....
Best Summer Nights
Mexico City
Las Trajineras in Xochimilco Xochimilco
The Draw: The quintessential capitalino summer night pastime: a BYO floating gondola party in the canals of Xochimilco. The Scene: In the southern municipality of Xochimilco, canals are swarmed by partying boats of celebrating students, wedding parties, and tourists. The millennial tradition—before the Spanish drained the five lakes that once covered the valley, this is how the Aztecs got around—heats up as the sun goes down and doesn’t stop until the early hours. You can hire a trajinera or gondola (complete with gondolier) to ride the strip, and a floating mariachi band to supply music. Vessels come in three different sizes, with the largest seating up to 40 people, and you can expect inter-boat shenanigans. Whatever you do, don’t fall in the water. Hot Tip: While there are hundreds of kilometers of canals and dozens of embarcaderos, or piers, the most raucous is Nativitas. For a private party or romantic getaway, head to Cuemanco, a bird watcher’s paradise. You can bring your own alcohol and food, or take your chances on site.
Noches de Cantina Locations vary, Historical Center, 55.1719.3000
The Draw: A barstool to barstool tour—complete with a guide and a bus-full of drinking buddies—of Mexico City’s most famed cantinas. The Scene: Every Thursday night those looking for an introduction to the city’s nightlife can meander down to Bellas Artes for the 8pm Noches de Cantina launch. More than just a drinking party, the tour goes over the legends and history of the city’s turbulent ethanol-influenced past all the way back to the days of pulque. You’ll need all the highballs you can get your fists on to believe all that you hear. Hot Tip: Order a round of Don Julio reposado and toast to revolutionary Pancho Villa when passing through the Opera. Legend has it that the bullet hole in the ceiling came from his gun after he helped oust Huerta in 1915.
The Draw: The city’s most important cultural outlets open their doors after dark with guided visits, special workshops, and theatrical presentations. The Scene: Once a month, Mexico City opens its huge spread of museums to the public for a few evening hours. Walk between many of the more central located venues, or use the 35-pesos hop-on, hop-off tram. Local bars and restaurants (including the recently opened El Major, with its spectacular view of the Templo Mayor) offer evening specials to museum goers. Last Wed of month 7–10pm. Hot Tip: If you have to pick just one museum, the Museo Frans Mayer, dedicated to the decorative arts, is a good option. They’ll start your night off with a glass of wine and a guided visit.
