CDMX not only has history: it has discography. In its streets the modern bolero was born, legends like Chavela Vargas and José José José grew up, and scenes ranging from urban rock to new R&B flourished. Hymns such as Querida or La Negra Tomasa have been recorded here, and genres as much ours as mariachi and rap have been reinvented. That’s why there are vinyls that portray it better than any postcard and dozens of musical plans that make up its agenda. Whatever your favorite genre, artist or venue, there is something for you and you can check it out with this list of plans for music lovers in CDMX. Press play!
Visiting the two great musical temples in CDMX
When it comes to the best destinations for live music lovers in CDMX, there are two places everyone thinks of or should think of: the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Auditorio Nacional.
The former is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, with regular concerts on Sundays at noon, and also hosts performances by the National Opera Company or the Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra. The second has a different vibe. With 10,000 seats and an extensive billboard, in 2025 it will host concerts by artists such as Luis Miguel and André Rieu, symphonic shows and international tours by European orchestras.
Listening to an organ recital at the Metropolitan Cathedral
It’s not every day you can hear a Rossini mass or a Bach oratorio surrounded by baroque columns and vaulted ceilings. In the Metropolitan Cathedral, these works are played live thanks to the Metropolitan Cathedral Music Festival, a series that runs throughout 2025 with a monthly concert, free admission and world-class musicians.
The program includes sacred repertoire, choirs and moments in which the two monumental organs of the 18th century, considered among the largest in America, take center stage. It is one of those musical experiences that will remain etched in your memory, so don’t forget to make a note of it!
Travel through Mexico’s musical memory at the National Sound Archive
If you are a music fan and are looking for a different plan in CDMX, the Fonoteca Nacional is a must-see destination. This hidden gem in the historic Casa Alvarado houses more than 580,000 recordings, from phonograms and historical records to records and tapes. It also offers free concerts, interactive installations, guided tours and a Sound Garden. Admission is free and the level of melomania, very high. Ideal to discover songs, voices or sounds that do not appear in Spotify… At least in the first results.
Finding hidden gems in vinyl stores.
Not even a thousand playlists can beat a good chat with the owner of a record store. In CDMX there are still those places where time is measured in revolutions per minute and each shelf reflects the tastes of the person who set it up.
At La Roma Records, for example, you can find anything from a recently released record to a Japanese edition of seventies jazz. At Revancha, clutter is part of the charm: soul, psychedelia, Afrobeat and the odd odd oddity that pops up when you stop looking. The Rock and Roll Club is for classic rock fans, and Discodelic is a gold mine if you’re into bizarre cumbia or tropical grooves. Each store is a coordinate on the sound map of the city and getting lost in it, believe us, is always worth it.
Support the local scene in live music venues and bars.
Every band needs a first stage and every song, no matter how experimental, deserves a place to play loud. In CDMX, that place can be a basement, a club or an old house converted into mythical concert halls such as Foro Indie Rocks!, Zinco Jazz Club or House of Vans. There are also those bars where there are numbered seats and no big stage, but musicians just a few steps away and good acoustics. Parket & Lenox, Casa Franca… you know which ones we are talking about. And if not, it’s about time!
Going to a Candlelight concert by candlelight
If there is a way to pay tribute to the great artists of history, that is the one proposed by Candlelight. Taking songs we all know—because we grew up with them, sang them or hated them for a while and then loved them—and giving them a twist with classical arrangements. They do it with Queen, with Adele, with Vivaldi or with José José, and yes: in all cases, they sound different.
The stage is another plus. Thousands of candles, an emblematic CDMX location and that atmosphere that invites you to listen to your favorite music with a pause. A good plan? Sure. One of those gifts for music lovers that don’t end up forgotten in a drawer? Also.
🎟️ Check information and tickets here
Feel the high quality music in the HI-FI bars
There are places where sound is decoration and others where it is the center of everything. HI-FI bars, inspired by Japanese listening bars, are spaces where music is listened to calmly, with a drink in hand and without distractions.
At Tokyo Music Bar, vinyls are played behind a speakeasy-style bar, with a selection ranging from classic jazz to trip-hop, amplified by hi-fi equipment that turns each track into an experience. In Café de Nadie, they play boleros, soul or experimental electronica. Everything is designed for real listening, like the acoustics and lighting. And so, if you are one of those who still see music as a ritual, these bars will speak your language.
Follow the beat of your favorite DJ in the top clubs.
Some people check the weather to decide their plan. Others open the billboard of Yu Yu, Nisha, Departamento, 316 Centro or Bar Oriente and know exactly what night they can’t miss. Because when you’re a music lover, the DJ is not an extra. In these dens in CDMX, the booth is respected as an altar and welcomes names like Jane Fitz, Aurora Halal, DJ Python or Call Super, in addition to other national artists who put their own identity to techno, house or ambient. Because yes, here you can dance, but with a fine ear.
Go to your favorite festival
Are you also one of those who divide the year by festivals? That’s because you know that there are things that only happen live. A riff that sounds dirtier than on the album, a voice that breaks you or a show closer that leaves you speechless. CDMX has its own. The Pirchfork Music Festival, Vive Latino, Ceremonia or Corona Capital. The nice thing is that you don’t have to choose just one: your music-loving calendar can (and should) include several.
Attend We call it and enjoy some of the most iconic genres of music.
We call it Flamenco and We call it Jazz are experiences made for those who enjoy music without filters. In one, bulería, fandango or soleá are built to the beat of compás, taconeo and flamenco guitar; in the other, improvisation and syncopated rhythms guide the night, as in the classic stages of New Orleans. Two live musical events that put sound and talent at the forefront so that all you have to do is let yourself go.