History
Places that defined eras in Tijuana. This is history, not today's directory: each entry says whether the place still operates.
We only publish dates and facts that have a source. Community memories are labelled as memories until corroborated.
1928–1935 · Agua Caliente
Closed
The Agua Caliente casino and hotel complex opened in June 1928. In 1935, under the gambling ban pushed by President Lázaro Cárdenas, Tijuana's casinos were ordered to close.
The buildings became the Lázaro Cárdenas school complex. The minaret still stands on the school grounds.
Historical: the casino and hotel no longer exist.
Sources: Journal of San Diego History, 1983 · Times of San Diego, 2026 · SOHO Reflections, 2001
1947–2002 (jai alai) · Av. Revolución, between 7th and 8th
Jai alai: ended in 2002 · Building: now El Foro
The Frontón Palacio opened on February 28, 1947, on Avenida Revolución. Jai alai was played there until 2002.
In 2005 the building reopened as El Foro, for concerts and events.
The building still stands as El Foro; jai alai is history.
Sources: El Imparcial, 2025 · Discover Baja, 2021
1960s · Avenida Revolución
Current status unconfirmed
Mike's Bar, founded by Cuban expatriate Raúl "Socio" Crespo Villardel, was an Avenida Revolución rock club where bands like Los Dug Dug's played in the 1960s.
The original burned in 1968 and came back as a disco.
Its current status and exact address aren't confirmed.
Sources: San Diego Reader, 2006 · Wikipedia: Los Dug Dug's
Late 1980s – c. 2012 · Diego Rivera, Zona Río
Demolished
Baby Rock opened in the late '80s on Diego Rivera street in Zona Río: a multi-level, cave-themed disco described as a cousin of Acapulco's Baby'O.
Public Enemy (March 8, 1992) and a young Ricky Martin played there. Its facade was demolished in 2012.
Where it was: 1482 Calle Diego Rivera, Zona Río, off Paseo de los Héroes near the Lincoln statue
See historical location ↗ · approximate location
Historical: closed and demolished.
Sources: Frommer's (dirección) · Across the Border, 2008 · SanDiegoRed, 2023 · San Diego Reader, 2010
Eight years, per its co-founder · Tijuana (address to be confirmed)
Closed
A recollection by José Galicot, one of its founders: the OH! disco was for eight years the place to party for young people from Tijuana and Southern California, with visits from stars like Robin Williams and Madonna.
Historical: closed. Exact years and address to be confirmed.
Sources: ZETA, columna de José Galicot, 2025 · SanDiegoRed, 2021
Documented in 1989 and 2004 · Avenida Revolución, near the border crossing
Current status unconfirmed
18+ · History of an adult venue. This is a historical record, not a recommendation or a directory listing.
La Bambi appears in a 1989 account as an adult-entertainment bar on Avenida Revolución.
In 2004 its big "BAMBI!" neon sign was still one of the Revu's landmarks near the border.
Not confirmed whether it operates today. Not the "Club Bambi" in the Zona Norte that appears only in unverified directories.
Sources: San Diego Reader, 1989 · Modern Drunkard, 2004
At least 1989 · Avenida Revolución, near Seventh Street
Current status unconfirmed
18+ · History of an adult venue. This is a historical record, not a recommendation or a directory listing.
A 1989 account describes the Unicornio as an adult-entertainment bar in a basement room on Avenida Revolución, across from TJ Tilly's.
In the same account someone calls it "the oldest" of its kind in the area; that's a quote, not a confirmed fact.
Where it was: Avenida Revolución, across from the original Tijuana Tillie's, near Seventh Street (San Diego Reader, 1989)
Its exact era and whether it exists today aren't confirmed. Not El Unicornio Azul in Monterrey.
Sources: San Diego Reader, 1989 (ubicación)
At least 1989 – c. 2023 · Calle Coahuila, Zona Norte
Closed
18+ · History of an adult venue. This is a historical record, not a recommendation or a directory listing.
Adelitas appears in press accounts at least as early as 1989 as one of the best-known bars in Tijuana's tolerance zone, popular above all with U.S. visitors.
In February 2023 federal prosecutors (FGR) seized the property in an investigation into alleged human trafficking. Its alleged operator was arrested in March 2026 and held in pretrial detention; no verdict has been published.
According to the latest dated report we found (Excélsior, July 13, 2026), the property had not been returned and its legal fate was still being litigated.
Where it was: Calle Coahuila, Zona Norte (street number unconfirmed)
Closed since 2023, per El Imparcial (March 2026). We don't know the outcome of hearings after July 2026.
Sources: ZETA, 2021 (ubicación) · San Diego Reader, 1989 · Excélsior, 2024-08-29 · El Imparcial, 2026-03-14 · Excélsior, 2026-07-13
1989 – closed (closing date unconfirmed) · Pueblo Amigo, Zona Río
Closed
Señor Frog's opened in Tijuana in 1989, run by Grupo Anderson's, in the Pueblo Amigo shopping center, a few minutes from the San Ysidro crossing. It was a three-story restaurant and bar playing rock en español; in 2003 the San Diego Reader named it the best after-the-bullfights party. By 1996 it was already listed among the city's best-known discos.
Where it was: Vía Oriente 60, Pueblo Amigo shopping center, Zona Río (San Diego Reader, 2003)
See historical location ↗ · approximate location
Historical: closed. We didn't find the exact closing date.
Sources: SanDiegoRed, 2023 · San Diego Reader, 2003 · San Diego Reader, 1996 · VICE, 2020
Until 2015 · Calle Cuarta (Fourth Street), Zona Centro
Closed
18+ · History of an adult venue. This is a historical record, not a recommendation or a directory listing.
Madonas was a table-dance club on Calle Cuarta in Tijuana's Zona Centro. In April 2015 federal prosecutors (PGR) shut it down in an investigation into alleged human trafficking. It reopened, and in November 2015 the city approved a change of owner and name: The Office. A few weeks later the federal tax authority (SHCP) closed the business, according to ZETA.
Where it was: Calle Cuarta, Zona Centro (no street number in the source)
Closed according to ZETA (February 2016). We don't know what operates at the site today.
Sources: ZETA, 2016
Era to be confirmed · Calle Tercera (Third Street), Zona Centro
Closed
A seafood restaurant on Calle Tercera in Zona Centro where Banda Santo Tomás played live, according to a 2023 Newspot article.
The same article calls it "extinct".
Where it was: Calle Tercera, Zona Centro; exact number unconfirmed
Historical: closed. According to Newspot, in 2023 the site was occupied by an AutoZone. Years of operation to be confirmed.
Sources: Newspot, 2023
Places people asked about that don't have enough sources yet. Were you there?
Send us your memories and photos (only if they're yours or you have permission from whoever took them). We publish them as memories, with your permission, and corroborate them with other sources where we can.
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Photos of streets, areas and scenes (Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized). If a business sign is visible, the photo doesn't represent that business: Roman Eugeniusz (CC BY-SA 3.0) · RightCowLeftCoast (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Definitly not qualified (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Mark from san diego usa (CC BY 2.0) · Joshua Heller (CC BY 2.0) · Cynthinee (CC BY 2.0)
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