Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Curaçao After Dark by Chadia Hammoud & Susan Campbell Once the tropical sun sets, this island becomes a colorful kaleidoscope of pleasurable pastimes secreted away and scattered about in a vast network of neighborhoods and seaside retreats. But no worries if you don’t know where to start – we know where the nightlife lives! So follow our lead to unearth Curaçao’s most popular after-dark delights and party emporiums… Willemstad’s nocturnal wonderland
When the historic Handelskade lights up to cast a rainbow of reflections on the waters, it’s time to ease into an enchanted evening in downtown Otrobanda. Beautifully restored colonial buildings host cozy enclaves like Kura Hulanda’s courtyard or historic sites like The Rif Fort – an ancient bastion of defense overlooking the sea that’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fort complex houses many shops and cafés and their Rif Fort Bar looking
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down on the sea lays claim to having the largest cocktails on the island. Cool off with one of their signature frozen mojitos and then fuel up for a party night with some of their unique shooters like the incredible Hulk! On the other side of the swinging bridge, Punda has favorite local waterside terraces like Pampus and Iguana Café – both provide a perfect perch to watch the ships as the sun goes down. They both often feature live music on weekend evenings as well.
Photo by © Chaim Frank Photo by
Downtown dance clubs
New Pietermaai pleasures
When it’s time to really pump up the late night action, there are electric clubs and cool hot spots right downtown, too. DE Kroeg (Dutch for “bar”) is on a permanently docked ship located in Waaigat in central Punda where their salsa events and techno parties really rock the boat! Hip hop, techno, and house rules at Club Private – a trendy nightclub where party people let loose on Friday and Saturday nights. Cinco is also a spot for late night revelry with a hip lounge and a highenergy dance floor with VIP service near the Navy base “Parera” open for “insanity” on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. But one of the biggest party-hearty spots downtown is Bermuda – an indoor/outdoor Caribbean discothèque set in a beautifully restored heritage building.
A once upscale address and then derelict downtown district called Pietermaai has recently risen from the depths of decay to become a completely regentrified neighborhood that is laying claim to being the new hipster pocket of Punda. An eclectic array of shops, bars, galleries, and cafés have popped up there to make it a must-visit quarter by day. By night, clubs like Mundo Bizarro, Miles Jazz Café, and a new wine bar called Silver offer cool cocktails and entertainment for a discerning local and international crowd. Scuba Lodge – a snazzy boutique dive resort in the neigborhood, has a lovely Ocean Bar for seaside dining or casual snacks and cocktails by sunset. They have live music on Sundays and special barbecues on Thursdays.
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Nightbeat
Nightbeat
And taking it over-the-top chic is the Saint Tropez Oceanclub, with a French Riviera vibe, VIP bottle service, and a luxurious, infinity lounge pool inviting the beautiful people to mingle seaside while moving to today’s trendiest tunes. Surfside celebrations and beachside blow-outs
If bopping barefoot in the sand to live bands and hot DJs while consuming cold beer and stiff drinks is your desire, then there’s no dearth of surfside spots to do so on this island either. Kick off your shoes and party at the new Curaçao Beach Boulevard (BLVD) complex with late night shopping, dining, and party spots that also has adjoining high octane revelry emporiums flanking it. There you can bar-hop from vibe to vibe, depending on your mood and the day of the week. On one end you have Cabana Beach hosting a seaside sports bar, beachfront pool, and of course, lots of cabanas. Then within Curaçao Beach Boulevard you have New York, a new restaurant, bar, and pool. Sashay a few steps farther down the sand and you are at Sea Aquarium Beach, home to Mambo, Hemingway, and Wet & Wild, all historically epic hot spot beach bars and restos that have made this section of the island renowned for nightlife. Also there now is Vegas 360 boasting some of the island’s most profound mixologists – watch them shake their things for delicious drinks that are out of this world! Bites, beats, bubbly, and more… it’s all happening there every night of the week with special theme parties and lots of action, always! Jan Thiel Beach has also started becoming known as a seaside nightlife haven, just east of downtown, the area has recently become an upscale residential 80 Nights
neighborhood with all the amenities and entertainment venues to accommodate it. A fairly new modern beachfront Papagayo Plaza includes shops and high-end lounges like Papagayo Beachclub with an infinity saltwater pool overlooking the sea. Next door, at Zest Beach Café and Zanzibar (locals call it “Zanzis”) the party pumps up after the sun goes down with live music and all kinds of theme events. Also popular is their “unplugged night” every Thursday when local talent entertains without technology. Then there’s Tinto featuring live Argentinean tango every last Thursday of the month. But regardless what night you visit Jan Thiel, there’s always something special going on. Pirate Bay is another beachside blowout spot on Sunday nights when live reggae bands hit the stage and invite lots of barefoot swaying in the sand along one of the longest piers on the island. Then there’s also a new surfside celebration spot called Kokomo Beach at Vaersenbaai. A lovely swim and dine escape by day, this place morphs into an über hot outdoor music events venue at night. Their past grand galas under the stars have included Woodstock, Summerlove, Doomsday, and Amnesia festivals, plus their monthly full moon parties are quickly becoming legendary! Photo by Bigstock
And last, but not least, about 20 minutes from downtown, the famous Landhuis Brievengat – first built in 1750 – has been restored once again as a unique venue. The former plantation house had been the epicenter of live entertainment two decades ago, closed and then fell into disrepair, until it was recently reborn in 2013 to host big live music events and theme parties. Of course, there are also the resort bars, lounges and the glittering casinos to enjoy after dark, and the new Sambil Mall (opening soon) will have all kinds of nightly entertainment including firstrun movies in state-of-the-art cinemas. As for those in search of adult entertainment any night of the week, head over to Campo Alegre’s VIP lounge bar. Tuesday is Ladies Night.
And don’t be shy to expand your libation horizons when out on the town by ordering some of this island’s signature cocktails. Curaçao – home of the famous blue liqueur that now comes in a rainbow array of bright colors and flavors – has always been a barkeep’s favorite choice to create stunning drinks long before it became fashionable. So ask for the local specialties wherever you go to sample some of the most creative drinks in the Caribbean. Cheers!
Note: Establishment hours and nights of live music and entertainment might vary throughout the year; check their respective websites for updated information. Top photo courtesy of Campo Alegre. Bottom photo by Bigstock
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