The Best Bars in Oaxaca City, Mexico

In this town filled with mezcalerías, In Situ is considered one of the best, and it’s easy to see why. Even the most hardened mezcal snob will be impressed by the number (approaching 200) and quality of mezcals here, not to mention the encyclopedic knowledge of the staff. You can enjoy the spirit over two floors, and the bar also hosts regular tastings and mezcal-related events. You can rehydrate with a craft beer between spirits, with one even coming infused with agave.

This is another bar that takes its mezcal seriously, though with a more colorful and casual atmosphere. The decor is timeless and quirky, with splashes of gaudy bunting, glass-cabernet curios and mezcal paraphernalia. You’ll find a healthy selection of the smoky spirit, including a few homemade varieties, plus some top cocktails based around it. Head upstairs to the rooftop terrace, and sip your tipple while watching the sun dip under the surrounding sierra.

Lúpulo means hops, so it’s no surprise that beer takes center stage in this small, vibey bar. It actually has what they call a nano-brewery on site – even smaller than a micro-brewery – which produces a trio of seriously tasty ales. You can try all three on a taster board, accompanied by a choice of top-notch tapas and hot sandwiches. Don’t forget to grab a few bottles to take home.

Certainly one of the more sophisticated joints in town, this is the place to come if you’re itching for that perfect cocktail. Many are mezcal-based, of course, but the bar staff’s expert mixology skills can whip up any number of delish concoctions. There’s beautifully presented bar food, too, from beef carpaccio to grasshopper tacos, plus delicious, vegan-friendly roasted cauliflower.

With its achingly on-trend decor, the Expendio Tradición’s Instagram-friendly interiors are just a small part of its appeal. It’s grown-up cool, offering its discerning clientele a 360-degree experience of Oaxacan eating and drinking. It starts with top-shelf mezcals (of course) and continues to a menu that distills the best of regional cuisine into beautifully prepared dishes – including some made for sharing. Excellent service and regular low-key live music complete the package.

Regular bands belting out lively salsa, merengue and cumbia beats from an elevated stage set the tone to jive at this Oaxaca fun factory. Well-priced drinks include plenty of promotions on the long list of cocktails and beers. You have to pay a small cover on some nights, but the party only gets going around midnight and doesn’t end until the early hours. It’s a favorite for locals who come here to dance – bring your best moves only.

No list of best bars is complete without a dive bar, and Bar Ilegal puts a smudged cross in that box. It’s a central street-corner joint with a rock’n’roll soul, its own mezcal and some of the cheapest beers in town. Regular local live bands crank it to 11 at weekends, while an appreciative, tattooed and leather-clad clientele makes for a friendly, rough-around-the-edges atmosphere. Rock on.