Plazuela Machado is the main square of Mazatlán's historic center, surrounded by 19th-century buildings, restaurants, cafes and galleries. A cast iron bandstand sits in the middle, and the Angela Peralta Theater is next door. By day it is a calm place to walk and photograph the colonial facades, the children's fountain and the church of San José. In the evening the lights come on, restaurants set out tables and live music starts. On weekends the streets around the plaza close to cars, which leaves room to stroll between vendors, artists and performers.
How the square came to be
The plaza is tied to Juan Nepomuceno Machado, a wealthy merchant from the Philippines whom some consider a founding father of Mazatlán. In 1832 the Olas Altas dam was built, and large tracts of land dried up. Machado wanted to use part of that land for a large public plaza.
In the center is a cast iron gazebo, which works as the bandstand. It has been used for almost every kind of music: opera singers, banda, troubadours, jazz, tribute bands, hip hop, African dance and rock and roll. The square was fully restored in 2010.
The buildings around the plaza
Plazuela Machado is small and is bordered by Frías, Constitución, Carnaval and Sixto Osuna streets. It lies inside a historic area of about 20 blocks near the theater. The old houses here are colorful and trimmed with wrought iron and carved stone. The city's architecture shows French, Spanish and British colonial influence.
On the square you can photograph the children's fountain, the bandstand and the church of San José. Some of the older buildings are rough and weathered, and they show how much restoration the neighborhood still needs.
Restaurants and cafes fill the ground floors around the square. The kitchens are Italian, French and Mexican, alongside traditional dishes of the port. Pedro & Lola sits on the northwest corner. Art galleries opened on the square after the first restaurants. Today most spaces around it are taken, and new places are opening on the side streets.
An evening on the plaza
The plaza is open at all hours, but it is at its best after dark. The lights go on, and restaurants put chairs and tables out on the closed streets. Live music plays outside the restaurants. Families, vendors and diners share the space, and an art show sometimes appears among the stalls. Shops sell gifts and souvenirs, and the stalls and galleries offer jewelry and art.
For something sweet, walk up the main street that leads to the plaza. Ice cream de garrafa is sold there, in flavors such as yogurt and blueberries, guayaba and chicle. For breakfast, the Gaia bistrot is a morning stop near the square. El Cielo is a restaurant known for shrimp tacos.
Carnaval and Day of the Dead
Around the turn of the 20th century, Plazuela Machado was the focus of Carnaval. As downtown has been restored, the festivities have returned. During Carnaval a gastronomic fair runs every evening from Friday through Tuesday. Dishes include pescado zarandeado, which is barbecued fish, camarones con mango, which is mango shrimp, and marlín ahumada, which is smoked marlin.
At Day of the Dead, the plaza and the historic center are the hub for decorations, public ofrendas (altars) and community gatherings. The Callejoneada is a nighttime walking parade through the old town with people dressed as Catrinas and traditional banda music. Parades with dancers and skeleton costumes are often held near the plaza and the Angela Peralta Theater.
Walking on from the plaza
The plaza makes a good starting point for a walk through the city. From here you can head south on Avenida Carnaval, past cafes, bakeries and restaurants. At the Mirador la Marea you turn west and reach the coast and the Malecón.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Plazuela Machado?
It is in Mazatlán's historic center, at Constitución s/n, Centro. The Angela Peralta Theater is next to it.
When is the best time to visit Plazuela Machado?
Evening is the best time. The lights are on, restaurants set out tables and live music plays. By day the plaza is quieter, which suits walking and photos.
Is Plazuela Machado wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the entrance is wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair accessible parking lot. The parking is paid.
What can you eat and drink around Plazuela Machado?
Restaurants and cafes serve Italian, French and Mexican food and traditional dishes of the port. Ice cream is sold on the main street leading to the plaza. During Carnaval the gastronomic fair serves pescado zarandeado, mango shrimp and smoked marlin.
What festivals take place at Plazuela Machado?
The plaza is a center of Carnaval, with a gastronomic fair every evening from Friday through Tuesday. It is also the hub of Day of the Dead decorations, ofrendas and the Callejoneada parade.
