Palladium nightclub is Acapulco's top attraction for the party crowd

Photo by flickr/nammer

"Visiting Acapulco and not going to Palladium would be like going to Egypt and not seeing the pyramids," said Dustin Calhoun, who recently traveled from Chicago to Acapulco.

This sentiment is shared by the thousands of travelers each week who visit Acapulco's number one nightspot for the ultimate high-energy clubbing experience. Palladium nightclub, located on a sheer cliff in the exclusive Las Brisas area of Acapulco, has thrilled crowds for more than 15 years and seems to have even surpassed the La Quebrada Cliff Divers as this Pacific Coast resort town's top attraction. The club is just minutes from the popular Condesa Beach zone, where the road curves up into the hills after passing the Grand Hotel Acapulco.

The $9 million "superclub" clings to the rugged hillside and features a massive wall of windows (more than 200 feet long and about 30 feet tall) overlooking the entire city and the sparkling lights surrounding Acapulco Bay. The circular dance floor juts out into the sky overlooking the bay and rows of terraced seating surrounding the dance floor are backed by a wall of projection-screen TVs. The lower tables are reserved for VIPs and bottle service, but the upper tables and two main bars at the main level are accessible to everyone.

The sound system pumps out booming music that is impossibly crisp and clear and the lighting system is worthy of an Olympics grand opening ceremony. In fact, Palladium was recognized with the "Best Lighting System" award at the 2009 Club World Awards and has hosted many of the world's top DJs, including Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, Erick Morillo, Carl Cox and Danny Tenaglia.

The crowd is a mix of upscale singles and couples from Mexico City, Guadalajara, the U.S., Canada, Italy, France and around the world. Many world-famous celebrities have visited the club, including Johnny Depp, Marc Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Mariah Carey, Bono, Michael Jackson, Eva Longoria, Matthew McConaughey and Luis Miguel.

Though the club is known for its exclusive crowd and strict door policy, it's actually not as hard to get in as people may assume, since the club accommodates nearly 4000 customers. Patrons from the U.S. and elsewhere should remember to dress well, be nice to the doorman and be patient and they'll eventually get in. Considering that the open bar lasts until 4am and the club doesn't close until well past sunrise, there will still be plenty of time to enjoy the dance floor and have a good time.

There are special promotions throughout the week. Tuesday and Thursday, for instance, are Ladies Night and women pay only a small cover for all-you-can-drink until 4am. Every night is amazing, though, and Acapulco travelers should not miss this must-see nightspot.