Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
Photos by Mike Laking
Bar Frida, one of Puerto Vallarta’s oldest LGBTQ+ venues, recently moved to its most expansive location to date at Francisco I. Madero 418.
Opening at its new location on August 1, 2025, the restaurant/bar marked the occasion with a grand opening celebration featuring live performances from Jordon Carnegie, Freddy Otello Pacheco, Tonny Tk, Sargento and Patriz.
The new space, formerly occupied by The Salty Caesar and originally the longtime Gilmar Restaurant, is Bar Frida’s fifth location since opening in June 2001. It is more than double the size of its previous venue and features seating for 80 guests, 18 tables, outdoor patio seating and a remodeled interior.
“We are very happy,” said owner Tom Finley. “It’s a big move and it’s on a wonderful street.” Finley described the new venue as “our shining jewel,” adding, “We’ve come full circle, back to the area that we originally started. Oldest gay bar and proudly so.”
Adjustments Leading Up to the Move
In the months before the relocation, Bar Frida unified its kitchen and bar under one roof — eliminating the practice of issuing separate checks for food and drinks. Chef Alberto Cueva, who had run Frida’s Kitchen independently for 13 years, closed that operation on May 18, 2025, enabling the new integrated menu to launch with the opening of the new location.
“With Frida’s Kitchen closing, we will now consolidate the kitchen and the bar into one business,” Finley said earlier this year. “That will result in one check for meals and drinks instead of separate checks as in the past.”
Credit card payment, previously unavailable, is now accepted at the new site.
A Look Back: Bar Frida’s History
Bar Frida opened in June 2001, when Finley purchased the business license of a lesbian-owned bar on Lázaro Cárdenas Street and kept the name in homage to the artist Frida Kahlo. At the time, the area was considered less open to LGBTQ+ businesses, but the bar found a following in the Zona Romántica.
The bar relocated in 2009 to Avenue Insurgentes #301 — known as Bar Frida 2.0 — and remained there until the lease expired in 2020. Its third iteration opened on Lázaro Cárdenas #481 in October 2020. In October 2022, Bar Frida 4.0 opened at the corner of Naranjo and Venustiano Carranza, alongside Frida’s Kitchen.
Community Presence
Bar Frida has participated in local and regional LGBTQ+ events, including Guadalajara Pride as early as 2002. It marked its 24th anniversary in June 2025 with a celebration where Finley thanked customers for their continued support.
Finley has said the bar’s longevity is tied to maintaining a consistent environment. “It’s always been about offering a place where people can feel comfortable,” he said in a 2022 interview.
Looking Ahead
Now in its new home, Bar Frida has expanded its footprint while maintaining the approach it has followed for nearly a quarter-century. Murals from earlier locations have been incorporated into the décor, and Finley said the bar intends to keep its established style of service.
“It’s a big change, but we’re ready for it,” Finley said. “We’ve been here a long time, and this is the next step.”
This article is from our Fall 2025 print issue. You can view it here.
Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
