The Terrace at the Spanish Cultural Center

The dance parties on the top floor of this beautiful, modern building directly behind the cathedral on the Zocalo are a spectacle. The young and beautiful of Mexico City and it's surrounding areas are out in their finery and, though I refrained, the drugs flowed like gin. On hot nights the open air dance floor is as refreshing as it is rambunctious. Techno and house are lords here, a change from the hip hop and pop that dominates dance clubs in the States. If your not used to it, it takes a few tries to get into the swing. The sound never end and neither does the dancing, which can be either a blast or a bore depending on your mood. While drinks are over priced, as is to be expected in both the venue and the neighborhood mix drinks still cap at about five American dollars, which is still comparatively inexpensive.
One of the other wonderful things about this weekly event is that parts of the Cultural Center are open for the beginning. I imagine it brings in many people who would never otherwise see some of the superb art on display. We certainly never would have found the tucked away gallery, and the few other small and interesting galleries on the street had we not been turned on to them by the dance party.
So make sure you get there early for a brief peek around the galleries and all so to beat the line (it goes around the block by midnight). And of course be ready for a walk through the metal detector and a pat down for men.