Inside Mexico City’s Underground Club Scene: A Local Outsider’s Week
I didn’t go to Mexico City looking for anything. Not a lesson, not a guidebook story, not a transformation. But five days later, I had just experienced something most people will never talk about, and many will never feel.
This isn’t a guide. If you’re looking for names and prices, there are apps for that. This is just what I lived. If you’ve been inside the mist of CDMX nightlife, you’ll recognize it. If not, maybe you’ll get lucky one day.
Tuesday – Departamento
Three floors. Three completely different vibes. The middle one hit the hardest pure reggaetón, the OG kind, sweaty and tight. It was packed, but I’d rather be surrounded by movement than by emptiness. On a Tuesday, the crowd was a mix of vacationers, out-of-towners, and a few scattered locals. The real ones, the ones who party as a ritual, don’t usually show up midweek. But still, it set the tone. CDMX doesn’t wait for the weekend to move.
Wednesday – Midweek
One DJ. House all night. Older crowd, 25+, which I loved. People who’ve already figured out their rhythm. The selection wasn’t mind-blowing, but the place was curated, and there was respect for the music. That alone separates it from most scenes. No bottle shows. No influencers, just music, and motion.
Thursday – Panem
This was the group night—boys, girls, and bottle service. Panem is all about social flow: eye contact, shared glances, pictures, and being seen. It’s one of the most talked-about spots in the city right now, and for good reason. We started the night at Medusa Room a private pre-party with open bar, house music, and stunning architecture designed with acoustics in mind. Then came Panem itself, delivering everything it promised. The night moved just right.
Friday – Cometa Disco
The crown jewel. This wasn’t a club it was a temple. You start in a garden with cocktails and chatter. Then, when you’re ready, you move into the rave. And when I say rave, I mean it in every way. The best-designed place I’ve seen, not just in Mexico but even beyond.
Cometa is also 25+, and it really shows how seven years of legal partying can teach someone the ethics of a party. It felt like the PGA pros only. Everyone knew what to do. No chaos, no mess. Just a crowd in sync with the rhythm and the space.
The venue itself is impressive: a catacomb in the back, where tribute is paid to the DJ. And if you’re dancing on the floor, the place rewards you with amazing sound, air conditioning, and even bursts of scent bombs. Every detail is accounted for. That’s why they take the gold medal as the city's best temple.
What stood out to me what really marked the city is how the nightlife here doesn’t play by the same rules as Europe or the U.S. There are no long, orderly lines. No respect for punctuality. In CDMX, there’s only the chain , a bouncer, a gatekeeper, and the unspoken rule: you must be on the list. There's no "first come, first served" you either know someone or act like you belong. You don’t ask if you can enter you say you’re on the list, clearly and confidently. Because here, it’s not just about showing up early it’s about showing up as someone.
It’s about power. Showing your date that you matter. That you don’t wait. That you enter first. That’s not just universal ego that’s CDMX culture. That’s part of the ritual.
And once you’re inside? The service is insane. I didn’t pour a single drink myself the entire week. The moment my glass hit halfway, someone was already asking what I wanted next. The waiters don’t just serve you they treat you like a king. Respectfully, professionally. Of course, it helps when you tip well before and after. Enough to be remembered. Enough to be honored.
And you? If you want to really get it to really enjoy what a place like Cometa or CDMX nightlife has to offer you need more than just energy. You need to start discovering music on your own, stepping away from the mainstream, and developing a personal taste. It’s the only way to unlock the deeper layers of the scene. Because one night, that underground DJ might drop your favorite gatekept track and when that happens, you’ll go wild. That’s what the scene is for. I didn’t go to party. I went to witness. I went to see how the music lives, how it breathes, how it wraps itself around people who know exactly what to do with it.
This isn’t a guide. But if you get it, you get it.
