Mexico City has the biggest gay nightlife scene in the country, and most of it clusters in Zona Rosa around Calle Amberes and Calle Génova. On a weekend you can walk between a dozen venues in fifteen minutes — cantina-style bars, drag cabarets, bear hangouts and full-on dance clubs all sit within a few blocks of each other.
The anchors are the big clubs: Kinky Bar and the Cabaretito venues pull the biggest weekend crowds, while Nicho Bears and Vaqueros cover the bear and leather end. For something more local, La Purísima, El Almacén, Soberbia and El Marra (Marrakech Salón) in the Centro Histórico are institutions with drag shows most nights, and newer additions like Baby and Malva keep the scene turning over.
Most places open Thursday to Sunday and don't get busy until well after midnight. Covers are low or free, drinks are cheap by North American standards, and the crowd is friendly to visitors. For the full rundown see the Gay Mexico City Guide.