Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
Iconic gay bar opens its biggest location yet on August 1
Bar Frida, one of Puerto Vallarta’s oldest gay bars, will open at its new home at Fco. I. Madero 418, on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 4 p.m. with live performances from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. featuring Jordon Carnegie, Freddy Otello Pacheco, Tonny Tk, Sargento and Patriz.
Founded in June 2001, the bar opened its doors on Lázaro Cárdenas Street—now the site of Reinas Bar—as Bar Frida 1.0, when owner Tom Finley purchased a license from a lesbian-owned bar and maintained the name in homage to Frida Kahlo. Initially situated in an area perceived as decidedly non‑LGBTQ, Finley’s bold decision helped pioneer acceptance in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica
Bar Frida 2.0 moved in 2009 to Avenue Insurgentes #301 and remained there for 11 years until the lease expired in 2020. Bar Frida 3.0 opened at Lázaro Cárdenas #481 in October 2020, then relocated to its current 4.0 location at Naranjo and Venustiano Carranza in October 2022, alongside Frida’s Kitchen
Owner Tom Finley, who celebrated his 80th birthday recently, began visiting Puerto Vallarta in the late 1970s; he moved full‑time in 1998 from Vancouver and took over Bar Frida in 2001. His business partner—and later spouse—Luis Mendez joined in 2002; they lived and worked side by side until Mendez’s death in August 2022. Finley vowed to continue the bar in his partner’s memory, dedicating the 4.0 move to him
As Bar Frida opens their new home – which once housed The Salty Caesar and originally long‑time Gilmar restaurant – Finley noted it is its biggest yet.
Finley said: “We are 75 percent ready, though it may look rough today as we continue to move in and get things ready. … We will be ready.”
The new venue features 20 tables, seating for up to 80 people, plus outdoor seating, and is the largest space from previous locations.
Reflecting on the move and the bar’s legacy, he said: “We’ve come full circle, back to the area that we originally started. Oldest gay bar and proudly so. The new location is our shining jewel.”
Long‑standing murals from Bar Frida’s past homes will be featured throughout the new site, linking its storied history to its future.
The grand opening will include all‑day drink specials: well brands two for 100 pesos, premium brands two for 120 pesos, top shelf two for 150 pesos, Frida tequila three for 100 pesos, beers for 25 pesos (premium 40 pesos), and food specials like pizza slices or sliders for 40 pesos.
Founded by Finley in an area that once resisted LGBTQ businesses, Bar Frida became one of the first gay bars in Puerto Vallarta to engage with Mexican patrons bilingually—and was invited to participate in Guadalajara Pride as early as 2002. Known for its affordability, community‑centered vibe and a jukebox blending English and Spanish favorites, it earned a reputation as an authentic cantina and local institution.
Bar Frida is poised to celebrate a quarter‑century of history—anchored by Finley’s vision, community, and a legacy of inclusivity that has helped shape Puerto Vallarta’s LGBTQ+ scene.
Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
