Once upon a time, the Bulldog Café was the master and mistress of the rock nightlife scene. Today, that dictatorship has ended, yielding the throne to El Imperial. The place is famous for its nights of excess and fun starring rock, little-known bands, and EDM mixed by local and international DJs alike.
The crowd that frequents this Roma neighborhood staple ranges from college age to early 30s with the occasional veteran mixed in and the vibes vary depending on the headliner. No matter what you’re wearing, you’ll have to show ID and pay a cover at the door. Once you’re in, you’ll see that hipsters, yuppies, and metal heads can exist in harmony.
There are some tables, but it’s more likely that you’ll stand and walk around checking out the spot from top to bottom (literally, because you can’t leave without going upstairs to check out who’s playing in El Room). Drinks are not pretentious here: beer, Jack and Cokes, and Cuba Libres are most common.
Sure, you’ll meet some character from the Mexican indie scene grabbing a drink or some radio DJ spinning discs while some brave soul gets up to dance on the El Room pole.
Long live debauchery!