While salsa remains the dance of choice for newcomers to the scene, it's a very different beat at Latino night spots and Latin nights at mainstream clubs.

There might be some salsa early on, but high-energy merengue and bachatas, and contemporary fusions like Latin house and hip-hop merengue dominate.

Though most clubs open their doors around 10 p.m., it may be midnight before the dance floor is filled. The crowd dresses sharply: Virtually all the dance clubs ban jeans, sneakers, caps, and baggy clothes.

Three clubs in particular are about as close as you can get in Boston to a New York night of Latin dancing:

Vincent's 6 Billings St., Randolph. 781-986-4000. (Get directions).

Among established Latino clubs, the place to go on a Friday night is in Randolph. The music runs from salsa and merengue to house and bachata. It's big: capacity 600.

"Places like Vincent's tend to draw a mostly Latino crowd," said April Genovese, who runs the Wepa Wednesday in Cambridge. "But there are plenty of different nationalities there as well. You can go there if you don't know the dances and just want to enjoy the music."

The Roxy 279 Tremont St. 617-338-7699. (Get directions).

This large Theater District club launched its Thursday Latin night two years ago and has gained a devoted following. The crowd is a mix of Latinos, international students, and young professionals. The Roxy tends to play traditional Latin earlier in the evening, with Latin house later.

The Copa 1500 Broadway, Saugus. 781-233-7400.

At the Officer's Club in the Palace in Saugus, this spot is a Saturday mainstay. The night features several rooms of Latin DJs spinning a mix of salsa and other styles.

For a Dominican night out - meaning merengue and bachata, but little, if any, salsa - two clubs stand out:

Choices Tuesday-Sunday; 379 Somerville Ave., Somerville, 617-625-4975.

Estelle's Friday, Saturday; 888 Tremont St., Roxbury. 617-427-0200. (Get directions).

International clubs, such as M-80 and Club Joy, mix up Latin and Brazilian sounds with house and techno music. Wealthy international students are a large part of their clientele.

Avalon (Latin Lounge) Thursday upstairs; 15 Lansdowne St., Boston. 617-262-2424. (Get directions).

Big Easy (International Night) Tuesday; 1 Boylston Place, Boston. 617-351-7000. (Get directions).

Club Joy Tuesday, Sunday; 533 Washington St., Boston. 617-338-6999.

Il Panino (International Sundays) Latin house third floor, 295 Franklin St., Boston. 617-338-1000.

M-80 Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 969 Comm. Ave, Boston. 617-592-8804. (Get directions).

Wonderland Ballroom Sunday; 1290 North Shore Road, Revere. 781-289-3080. (Get directions).

On the less flashy side:

Cache Discotheque Wednesday-Sunday;224 Blossom St. Ext., Lynn. 781-592-3663. (Get directions).

Lombardo's (Metropolis) Friday, Saturday; 17 Porter St., East Boston. 617-567-5221. (Get directions).

Milky Way Lounge (Mango's) Saturday, 403 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617-524-0457.

NYC Jukebox (Noches de Coco's) Sunday; 279 Tremont St., Boston. 617-338-7699.