Four places that no longer exist and appear in Mentiras, La serie
This series, which premiered on a streaming platform, has sparked both controversy and a loyal following. Set in the 1980s, it features four iconic places that no longer exist.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
The premiere of Mentiras, La Serie just took place last Friday, June 13. The show is based on the beloved musical Mentiras, el musical, co-written by Manuel López Velarde. The stage version premiered on February 11, 2019, and it’s a comedy woven from the hits of the 1980s—songs by Yuri, Lupita D’Alessio, Emmanuel, and Dulce, among others. In short, it’s “a satire of the Mexican melodrama of the eighties.”
Gabriel Ripstein (born 1972), son of the legendary filmmaker Arturo Ripstein, directed the TV adaptation and also serves as a producer alongside Luis Gerardo Méndez. The cast of this musical-comedy-drama includes Belinda, Diana Bovio, Regina Blandón, Mariana Treviño, and Luis Gerardo Méndez. In brief, the story follows Daniela, Dulce, Yuri, and Lupita, who all meet at the funeral of Emmanuel Mijares (what a name, right?). Emmanuel has been murdered, and the four women soon discover that each had a romantic relationship with him—making them all suspects. The story unfolds through flashbacks and musical numbers.
Today, we’ll briefly revisit four iconic places featured in the series that no longer exist:
Carlos’n Charlie’s
After cheating off Yuri’s test, Emmanuel invites her for a beer at this spot. Carlos’n Charlie’s was a fun, irreverent, party-loving restaurant-bar chain. The places were filled with quirky signs and all kinds of decorations—perfect for a casual meal or night out.
At its peak, there were more than 50 locations. The one referenced in Mentiras was likely the classic branch on Avenida Reforma. Today, you can still find Carlos’n Charlie’s in Cancún, Cozumel, and even Las Vegas.
El Patio
Lupita discovers that Emmanuel is married to Dulce—who, in turn, is cheating on him with “El Puma.” Meanwhile, Daniela shocks Emmanuel with the news that she’s pregnant!
El Patio was an elegant, high-society nightclub that opened in 1938, where the cover charge was a small fortune—300 pesos back then. Legends like José José, Juan Gabriel, Lola Beltrán, Los Panchos, and Tin-Tan performed there.
It closed in 1994, and today, the site is nothing but rubble and a sad vacant lot. Food Police has covered this legendary club twice; in our second piece, we even reminisced about shooting scenes from the telenovela Soñadoras (1998–1999) there.
Mauna Loa
Emmanuel remembers having a business meeting at this little Polynesian corner in Mexico City. Mauna Loa opened in 1966 in the Zona Rosa (complete with flamingos!) before moving to Avenida San Jerónimo. The new venue was stunning, with a high thatched roof, dance floors, a disco, a totem, and even a waterfall.
It closed in 2002, and today a small shopping plaza stands there, next to the Total Play corporate building in San Jerónimo. Food Police also covered Mauna Loa—where we once wrote, “Three young dancers in grass skirts and tops swayed their hips like Polynesian goddesses (I think I even lost my appetite).”
Yuppi’s Sports Café
Emmanuel tells Dulce he celebrated his bachelor party there with his airline buddies. Though it closed in the early 2000s, Yuppi’s reopened in 2017. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, it was a lively sports bar filled with screens showing every kind of game, authentic sports memorabilia (jerseys, trophies, balls), and a loud, festive atmosphere. It was a popular hangout for young people—until its many branches slowly disappeared.
