Tijuana is a city with plenty of attractions. Despite the never-ending changes where one entertainment venues get built and open in a couple of months and restaurants that are gone in a few years, there are spaces that have the charm that made them famous in the past and still exist today. That only comes with time.

One of these places is restaurant La Vuelta. Established in 1936, it's one of those corners that still remind us of the old Tijuana. La Vuelta was, along Café La Especial (located in the Gómez Passage, on Revolution Avenue), one of the places of great Mexican gastronomic tradition for tourism. Many generations of Tijuanenses and Mexican-Americans have finished their night or weekends with the perfect after party in La Vuelta.

A good look at the furniture, genuinely vintage –probably over 40 years old- even the normal wear of the table's surface has its charm. Being in La Vuelta is like getting inside a time capsule of the old city's night life.

While the waiter fetches your order you can take a sit at the bar, a classic from an old dancing hall; the other option is taking a look at the unending trail of framed photographs recounting the history of Mexican art. There you will find Lola Beltrán, Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete and many more. A special detail of La Vuelta is that because of its "Mexicanity" it's visited by many nationals residing in the United States. This traditional Mexican food restaurant has become some sort of shelter against the growth of international gastronomy that has been dominating the market in Tijuana. La Vuelta has come to be a place to indulge with Mexican cuisine in a Mexican ambience.

A refreshing lemonade perfect for summer.

While the food's aroma and the music fills the place, in the table next to ours somebody is giving an Italian woman a crash course in Mexican culture while she drinks a Tecate. If the Mariachi is already playing take one of the tables located near the kiosk to listen to songs of the old Mexican "cancionero." The notes and lyrics of José Alfredo Jiménez and Juan Gabriel spring back to life.

We briefly talk with one of the owners, "Cuata" López, who told us about their plans of renovating the front to make the restaurant more attractive and to reactivate the area. You can feel her kindness toward the costumers the minute you walk in; when we talked to her she was at one of the tables chatting with some guests. In those little details lay the key to offering a warm service.

If one of these nights you're out partying give yourself the chance of arriving before dawn. There you can heal your pains with the music; even better if you have a group of friends with you, this is the perfect place. If you're enjoying the evening on Sixth Street finish it on a high note. La Vuelta is great for the perfect after party, Mariachi included.

La Vuelta

Revolution Avenue, 11th Street. #2004.

Tel (664) 684-2611

Map and directions.

Original Text: Binomio 1+4 Magazine

Translation: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com

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