J&B Salsa Club, Emiliano Zapata

I just returned from PV, where my girlfriend and I spent 3 evenings in attempts to find a salsa scene. It appears not to exist. The Trip Advisor review published on 5/11/07 is still so spot on that it deserves to be repeated here: "Cumbia and weird Rock and Roll Club By A Yahoo! Contributor, 05/11/07 I go to Puerto Vallarta at least once a year. Every time, I go to J&B hoping that the dancers have gotten better. They haven't. If you don't know anything about salsa, then you'll have fun here, but if you're looking for a real salsa club with real salsa music, this is not it. Atmosphere is fun and funky, from the giant palm trees to Elvis and Marilyn. It is not a "bad" part of town, but it is right next to a strip club. Very short cab ride from downtown. I recommend it if you're just looking for a fun night out, but if you want real salsa music, go to La Bodegita. If you want a real salsa dancer, bring your own!" Was this review helpful?

If you like salsa, cumbia, mambo, megrenge, J&B is the right place for you, the new authentic Cuban band is a guarantee of excellent music and plenty of fun. Tip, the band starts around midnight, dont go before.

I go to Puerto Vallarta at least once a year. Every time, I go to J&B hoping that the dancers have gotten better. They haven't. If you don't know anything about salsa, then you'll have fun here, but if you're looking for a real salsa club with real salsa music, this is not it. Atmosphere is fun and funky, from the giant palm trees to Elvis and Marilyn. It is not a "bad" part of town, but it is right next to a strip club. Very short cab ride from downtown. I recommend it if you're just looking for a fun night out, but if you want real salsa music, go to La Bodegita. If you want a real salsa dancer, bring your own!

Aside from La Bodeguita - best place to dance Cuban style or rueda - J&B was a dancer's paradise. As always, as a single female traveler it takes a while for the local dancers to ask one to dance, but once I got onto the dance floor I was going all night. I found one dancer, an older gentleman, that I rate among the best 3 dancers I've danced with in my life; excellent, smooth lead, no ridiculous millenium style moves, and a perfect gentleman. Once locals get beyond the fact that a GRINGA can move, I was dancing with folks that I will keep in contact with for a long time... Of course, as in all salsa clubs, the crowd shows up late. ...and watch out for the slippery floor!

Friendly staff,nice roomy dance floor,great music,waves of people dancing until the wee hours most nights, couple and single dancing,nice mix of locals and tourists,dress however you feel......fun fun fun!

We walked in and felt like Baby in Dirty Dancing when she carries the watermelon--everyone there is an amazing dancer and the music is fantastic. However, we also weren't afraid to dance. Everyone was extremely friendly. It is definitely better for late-night. It looks a little divey compared with what you may expect, but safe and fun. We were there every night, dancing until 4 or 5 a.m. and met several of the dancers that are the regulars. So fun!!

I had the best time ever! People were very nice, music was excellent, I found some of the best dancers ever, drinks were perfect, I would definantly go back and spend all night dancing. J&B became my favorite spot in Vallarta!

JB is not a beautiful tourist nightclub. Rumberos, unlike gringos who don't frequent salsa nightclubs, know that the important thing in a nightclub is finding someone to dance with. It is very true that JB is usually 1/3 full except for Fridays or Saturday nights after 11pm. This is the place to go when all you want to do is dance. It is a sort of after hours salsa and cumbia club. Best dancers go there on Thursdays from what I remember but they sometimes show up on the weekend as well. The club is not the best looking place but it is not a dump. I know dumps. I have been involved in the salsa scene for over 25 years. If you are a tourist that is just looking for a nice place to go dancing but you are not a dancer per se this is not the place for you. The band is not a straight ahead salsa band but they do play a few good numbers along with the expected 5 cumbias to 1 salsa. The dj does a little better. About 2 to 1 and will do a nice long set if you request it. The dance floor is very good size. However beware it is slippery. This is good if you have been warned and some spots are not as slippery as others. If you are a real dancer you will be able to handle it but you might want to have some rubber bottom shoes as back up in a bag. You can easily know after one song if you will need them. I like the slippery floor because I love to dance and have found some good dancers there on occasion who also have no problem with it. There is a nightclub near the River (Rio Lerma) called Casa Blanca which has a Cuban Band and of course there is Bodeguita del Medio which is a good place to have a good Cuban dinner and hear a real Cuban Band as well as have a Mojito. JB is best if you are a serious die hard dancer, otherwise try the other places mentioned here and you won't be disappointed like the other post above. JB is a place for locals and for Latino or serious Gringo salseros. Not a place for picky salseros or those expecting too much from a club for locals.