Joe’s Oyster Bar in Mazatlan, Mexico provides the perfect place to relax and unwind after spending the day exploring the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Whether you’re in town on business or as part of a beach vacation, Joe’s Oyster Bar has everything you need to feel at home during your stay in Mazatlan. Located right on Playa Blanca Beach, it’s easy to stop by on your way back from playing in the sand and surf.
What makes Joe’s Oyster Bar so special?
Joe’s is one of the most popular bars on the malecon and it’s no wonder why. With its laid back atmosphere and beautiful view of the islands, Joe’s is ideal for those looking to relax and unwind from a long week. Sit outside along the malecon with a cocktail or two, soak up some sun, and take in all that Mazatlan has to offer. One visit to Joe’s Oyster Bar will have you hooked!
History, then and now
First, a little background: Joe’s Oyster Bar is an American bar that’s been serving Mexico and its visitors since 1962. It sits right on Playa Gaviotas, a beach known for its own vibrant community with colorful umbrellas dotting its sands. If you walk up the stairs and onto the second floor of the restaurant, you can get a clear view of the Pacific Ocean. If you have time before or after your meal, be sure to walk down the stairs and take a stroll along the beach. You might just find some treasures hidden beneath the sand!
What We Had
Aguachile, buckets of beer, ceviche. Our meal was composed entirely of seafood delicacies. We started with aguachile, a cold ceviche made of shrimp, octopus, squid and red onion doused in lime juice. This was served along with some chips that were more like large crackers made of saltines. So far so good! There’s an awesome banda playing right now, the week-long Semana del Moto is just around the corner, Semana Santa (Holy Week) starts next week and the Golden Zone kicks off on May 5th.
How To Get There
Joe’s Oyster Bar is located between Hotel Playa Mazatlan and Hotel Gavianas in the zona dorada. To get there, you can either drive or take a taxi from your hotel. They are open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 am. If you want to stay at hotel playa Mazatlan check out my post on that here
The Beach
And everyone knows that only one thing is better than drinking beer on a beach: drinking beer on a beach while listening to live music. Joe’s Oyster Bar has created just such an ambiance with its outdoor setting, where you can grab an icy cold Pacifico, kick back and relax on a comfortable recliner, enjoy some live music with other local expats, or dance if that’s more your style.
banda on the beach
Saturdays during Semana del Moto (Moto Week) are particularly exciting at Joe’s. In addition to great live music, a variety of local vendors will be selling clothing, hats, bags, shirts, artwork…the list goes on! And during Semana Santa (Holy Week), it’s not uncommon for people from as far away as Los Mochis (100+ miles south) to come visit Joe’s on their days off!
Night Life
When Joe’s Oyster Bar turns into a nightclub, it stays open until 4:00 AM. This is a great way for you to get out of your hotel room and have some fun on your trip. It’s easy to do when you have a place like Joe’s all set up for you. Don’t sit around in your hotel all night—get out there and enjoy yourself!
Summary
Joe’s Oyster Bar is, quite simply, a great place. It has good food, an ocean view, attentive service (everyone speaks English), reasonable prices and clean bathrooms. And yes, it’s relatively close to everything else in town. Yes, it’s popular with tourists. But does that make it any less great? No! In fact, the golden zone is even more appealing because you can watch the sun set over the Pacific from your table.