Salón Los Ángeles

What it is. A dance hall that has been working since 1937, and the one the city's own phrase refers to: "Quien no conoce Los Ángeles, no conoce México" —if you do not know Los Ángeles, you do not know Mexico. It is not a club with recorded music: live orchestras play danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá and salsa on a wooden floor that has been in continuous use for nearly ninety years.

Who dances here. Couples who have come for decades, dance students, and visitors who turn up to watch. Danzón has its own etiquette —the dance is slow, the posture formal and the floor is taken seriously— so if you do not know the steps, it is normal to sit, order a drink and watch a set before trying. The hall has appeared in films and documentaries for exactly this reason.

Practical notes. Sessions run on set evenings rather than nightly, so check the schedule before going. Bring cash, dress neatly —this is a hall where people dress for dancing— and arrange a ride app for the way home: the address is Lerdo 206, in colonia Guerrero, a neighbourhood that is best not walked at night.