We split time between Cancun and the US. Gran Mambo Cafe is always on our dance schedule.. at least one night a week. Open Wed-Sat nights 10:30-3. Thursdays is open bar where for 190/90 pesos men/women can drink cheap beer/liquor all night.
The music starts with a DJ and the live band starts about 12. Music is always excellent with mostly salsa, cumbia and some bachatta. As the evening progresses, more merengue/hip hop style gets mixed in. The bands are very good and generally include about 10 musicians/singers.
If you love salsa dancing, early is the time to come before the dance floor gets busy. Later, it gets pretty tight... Like cigarettes in a pack.
The wooden dance floor wraps around the stage and shows many signs of repairs past. Pick a good place without nails sticking up, holes or loose boards. Sound-wise, the DJ music sounds great everywhere. But because the stage is so wide, the time it takes for the music to travel from 1 side to the other can make the beat seem "out of time" and hard to follow when dancing on the far sides.
They generally reserve the good/close tables on busy nights for groups of 5-8 people. Otherwise, you'll be asked to sit in the 3rd or 4th tier seating.. but all seats have a great view of the stage.
Overall, they have excellent music, dancing and a fun time in a safe neighborhood. Any taxi can take you there, or take the R2 bus from the hotel zone and get off as if you're going to Walmart. Mambo Cafe is "kady-korner" from Walmart in the Hong Kong Plaza.
Other places we love to Latin dance in Cancun: Fridays at Carlos & Charlie's for Cuban Salsa. Sundays on Av Tulum about 1/2 block down from the Gov't building, in front of the 7-11 to dance Salsa, cumbia and son with the locals. read more