Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Good Vibrations by Susan Campbell After sunset there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on inside the cocktail shakers and on the dance floors of this island, simply follow the rhythms to find all the action…
Seven nights a week, One Happy Island turns into One Party Island, beginning with lively happy hours that often have live music. The dock bars like Pelican Pier Bar, Piet’s, and Bugaloe, and the beach bars like MooMba and Oceanside Bar & Grill get the revelry started early, and you’ll physically feel the night moving in as the neon lights begin to compete with the tropical stars all over the island. Live and DJ-driven music begins wafting out upon the air like a siren call, drawing those with a need to dance and let loose out into the streets. And a good place to start is the Palm Beach hotel bars.
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Where to slip into the evening
A wonderful place to toast the sunset is the multilevel Divi Bar & Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba. They have a fab view of the sun sinking into the sea and they offer a nightly tradition of serving their special sunset drink then, too. Right next door you’ll find Aruba Marriott’s Great Room, another classy escape to clink glasses toward the impending evening’s fun, often with live music, and the Hilton Aruba’s Mira Solo Martini & Wine Bar offers a sophisticated spot to enjoy cocktails before heading out.
If you’re a rum lover, then sample some of the world’s finest at Holiday Inn’s Palm Bar. Just off the beach boardwalk, you’ll find an inviting enclave perched at the Hyatt Regency; their Alfresco Bar is an ideal retreat to start slow, and maybe even return later for a nightcap since it’s open until 1 a.m.! Once you’re primed for more action, head on to Pure Beach at the Divi Aruba Phoenix to kick up some sand at their surfside galas on the beach. Classy white couches and tiki lights set the stage. Then off to the stretch of street in front of the hotels that locals call “the strip” for some serious carousing! The Palm Beach scene
The varied choices of nightlife vibe along this corridor might have you reeling at first; it’s a colorful sensory overload. So head to Paseo Herencia’s courtyard to enjoy some free entertainment while you sit down to plan your party route. They have a lovely liquid fireworks show four times a night, and you might want to enjoy them from the unique Wet Bar that has a “floating dance floor.” This place
really gets going later too, so you might want to circle back for late night action. Feel like joining fiesta? Head into Palm Beach Plaza Mall to Kalin’s for great Mexican eats, live mariachi on Fridays, happy hours every day from 5 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m. and live bands on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Or wander the strip to find the spot that fits your current mood. Choose from friendly local haunts like Craft, or South Beach style action like Sand Bar. There are plenty of places to get you in the moving mode. In the mood to sing along? Then Sopranos’ rollicking piano bar is where it’s happening. And for more live music simply follow your ears to find Hard Rock Café where their band will be tearing it up in their outdoor courtyard. Laid-back lounging and softer musical vibes can be found at +297, a classy lounge and VIP party suite that ramps up later with DJs. But the hottest late night party venue on the strip is Gusto. Stunning light shows and hot DJs – it’s a take-no-prisoners scene, and the well-heeled crowd adorns the dance floor until the wee hours. !
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Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Just off the strip in Noord you’ll find some local haunts like Café 080, a popular hangout for Dutch expats. You’ll also find Bingo! Café & Restaurant, a fun and very friendly local bar/restaurant well worth discovering. It’s like Aruba’s Dutch version of Cheers where everybody knows your name, or they will, by the time you leave. The drinks and the company will surely delight, but it’s the quality of the food that will surely surprise! Also just off the strip, you’ll find the new Legends Pub, a warm and welcoming American style watering hole with great food and all kinds of special nights like trivia, sports events, and live music. And their Bloody Marys are becoming legendary in their own right! Bingo! Café & Restaurant
Downtown happenings
On your way to downtown Oranjestad from the highrise strip there are a few stops well worth making for after dark delights. Start with the bar lounge at Screaming Eagle where their barkeeps make some of the best signature cocktails around. (Note that they also serve dinner in canopied beds for a return visit idea with your special someone.) Then slip over to the Alhambra Mall’s Fusion for fine wine by the glass, tasty tapas, and live music. Close by, you’ll find the brand new weird and funky Heart Music Bar, an offbeat emporium that’s also a small radio station (Heart Radio 106.7FM). And at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, Mulligan’s often has killer karaoke on tap. On the way into town is the brand new Ten 11 Lounge for upscale happy hours, tapas, and barista drinks. Try their fabulous signature martinis to fuel you up for a rousing night out! In downtown Oranjestad, you must stop into Renaissance Marina Hotel for a bevy of great bar experiences that are all under one roof! First, there’s trendy Blue Bar – a lively indoor-outdoor lounge and
Legends Pub
infinity pool with giant video walls (home to the annual Electric Music Festival). Right beside it, their signature dining spot L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House has now added a nightly DJ to their offerings. Later, the party moves next door to The Lounge, Midnight Grill with entertainment and a select menu available until 6 a.m. (Basically when the cows come home!) It’s part of their glitzy Crystal Casino, which is open 24/7. Outside and across the street, it’s impossible to miss the cow, the dinosaur, and the car on a big red roof on the marina where Eetcafé The Paddock promises a rollicking good time Dutch expat style. (Be forewarned if there is a futball game on and the Netherlands is playing, it’s a zoo of orange fans!) Also seek out 7 West’s cool lounge, and later, their zany party bar called HotShotz, open seasonally, for all kinds of shooter specials and music where the parties can go very late! You can also check out some hidden gems behind the main grid downtown like Bistro De Suikertuin (means “sugar garden” in Dutch) with a lovely secret courtyard behind their cheery yellow
historic house restaurant. Enjoy happy hour there with excellent signature cocktails. They have something called “High Wine” service (like high tea only with wine). Deeper into town you’ll also find Maroc, an inviting new Middle Eastern style lounge for tapas and wine. And you’ll find more fine fruit of the vine at The Wine Room nearby. It’s an intimate venue for connoisseurs and has special tastings on Saturdays. Do seek out the new Alfie’s in the backstreets as well; it’s a laid-back and friendly hangout run by two expat Canadians. Look for the big Canadian flag out front; they even serve poutine, Quebec’s famous specialty, and they have great live music every Friday. ! Gusto
Kalin’s
Crystal Casino
Ten 11 Lounge
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Clockwise from top left, photos courtesy of Bingo! Café & Restaurant, Ten 11 Lounge, and Legends Pub
Photo byleft photo courtesy of Kalin’s. Top right photo courtesy of Gusto. Bottom right photo by Steve Keith Bottom
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Nightbeat But the real anchor of Oranjestad nightlife is beside the marina. That’s where you’ll find scads of cool clubs and fun gathering places side-by-side at the Renaissance Marketplace. Choose from sizzling live Latin music at Cuba’s Cookin’, craft bourbon cocktails at Sidebar, and whatever wild and crazy thing is happening at Café the Plaza, all within steps of each other. And next door to Sushi-Ya there’s a lovely lounge called NextDoor! You can also often enjoy free live bands, cultural outdoor shows, and pop-up festivals in the Wilhelmina Park Square. Not far from the marina, follow the boardwalk to The West Deck for unique “beer-ritas” and great local snacks by the sea, and the new Surfside Beach Bar is also fast becoming a local favorite! Across the street look for Café Chaos – always a lively local watering hole with live music. Farther down, look for the twinkling lights over the water to find Pinchos Grill & Bar, one of the most romantic pier bar/ grills in town. It’s an ideal setting to toast to a perfect evening out. They even have a lover’s swing!
Hit the road or get outta town!
You can also head to the main street in San Nicolas on Thursday nights to take part in the crazy mini carnival called the Carubbian Festival. If you do, don’t forget to stop by the famous Charlie’s Bar for a Boozer Colada! And nearby, Baby Beach has a new bar in the works with an infinity pool and a VIP club theme at JADS Dive Center. But if you’d rather not drive or cab it, we have the ideal mode of night owl transport. Take a bar tour aboard the colorful Kukoo Kunuku party bus that takes you all over to the island’s most fun and crazy places. Choose from their Pub Krawl tour, their Dinner and Nightlife tour, or the new more genteel journey called “Wine On Down the Road” where you stop at some of Aruba’s best dining spots for special tapas paired with fine wines. Cheers! " Pinchos Grill & Bar
Kukoo Kunuku
Charlie’s Bar
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Bottom left photo by Luis Mejia. Top right photo courtesy of Pinchos Grill & Bar. Bottom right photo courtesy of Kukoo Kunuku