Mamut Cervecería

Mamut Cervecería is the brewpub where most downtown beer crawls start or end. It sits on Calle Tercera (Carrillo Puerto) at number 8161, between Avenida Revolución and Avenida Constitución, in the old building that once housed the Foreign Club. Guides describe it as the oldest craft brewery in the Centro, and its Untappd listing goes back to 2013. It suits almost everyone: beer nerds working through a flight, groups splitting pitchers and pizza, and families or couples who want a terrace over the street rather than a nightclub.

The vibe

The entrance is upstairs, which trips up first-timers who stand on the sidewalk looking for a storefront. Once you are up there are murals, the woolly mammoth that gives the place its name, and semi-covered terraces and a balcony that look down on Tercera. Reviewers describe the feel as relaxed and family-friendly in the afternoon, with more energy at night when a band is on. Guides list live music most weekends, and the venue flags itself as pet- and kid-friendly with outdoor seating.

What to expect

The tap list runs long. The brewery’s published downtown menu shows more than two dozen house beers, from easy drinkers like Tijuanita (a 4% Mexican lager), Dientes de Sable (a blonde) and Piquito de Oro (a pale lager) to Bandido porter, Sunrye rye IPA, a passion-fruit gose and Mastodonte, an imperial stout above 10%. Food is pizza first, then burgers, hot dogs, ribs, salads and fries; guides also mention a cazuela de pulpo worth ordering. A flight is the sensible way to start; a pitcher is the sensible way to continue if you are a group.

Prices and entry

No cover. Mamut’s own menu on Untappd lists 4-ounce tasters at 25 to 35 pesos, 16-ounce pours at 80 to 100 pesos and 1.8-liter pitchers at 150 to 250 pesos, which keeps it among the cheaper taprooms downtown. A 2024 beer guide noted a 20-peso discount before 6 p.m. and all day Tuesday; promotions change, so ask. Opening hours are not published consistently; the kitchen runs into late evening and the taproom is busiest from late afternoon on. Cards are accepted.

Getting there

Walk south on Revolución from the arch and turn right on Calle Tercera; the entrance is partway down the block toward Constitución, up a staircase above a pharmacy. It is roughly a fifteen-minute walk from the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing, or a short taxi ride. Norte Brewing’s taproom with the view is on the next street over (Calle Cuarta) and Border Psycho Cantina is on Revolución between Second and Third, so the three make an easy loop.

Good to know

• Mamut also pours at Mamut Pasaje, the tiny original space inside Pasaje Rodríguez, and at a larger pet-friendly spot in Playas de Tijuana on Paseo Ensenada.
• Growlers, crowlers and kegs are available to go.
• Weekend nights with a band get loud; go in the afternoon if you want to talk.
• Bring pesos for tips, and an ID if you plan to continue to the clubs afterward.

For more places like this, see our guides, and check the calendar for what is on this week.