Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Evening Escapades by Susan Campbell Enchanted tropical nights, rousing parties, romantic lounging, and fun and friendly bar socializing abound on this island; you simply have to know where to go once the stars come out to play.
Curaçao’s party scene is colorful and varied, but it’s scattered all over the island. You really have to seek out where the night moves and where the happy hours rock, but fortunately we’ve done all the legwork for you. So simply follow our lead to find all the fun! The party-people neighborhood
Let’s start in Pietermaai, a surefire socializing spot and the trendiest neighborhood on the island. It has so much to offer in such a small quartier with a fascinating array of dining and nightlife venues all stacked beside each other. Begin before the sun sets with some chic French Riviera style lounging at the Saint Tropez Ocean Club on the sea; luxe cabanas and an infinity pool set the stage for DJs and dancing later. Or take a happy hour dip at the new fun and friendly City Beach 88, where they rock it out later for barefoot boogying in the sand. Or savor a seaside cocktail at BijBlauw Bar or Scuba Lounge while you watch the sun set over the waves. Later, explore the narrow streets and alleys full of colorful colonial buildings to find a setting that suits your mood and style.
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Enjoy some smooth tunes at Miles Jazz Café or marvel at the surreal décor of Mundo Bizarro. Many of the dining locations have classy lounges attached like Kome or enchanting outdoor courtyards like Ginger. You’ll also find rollicking casual watering holes full of lively locals at bars like Eetcafé Old Dutch. Feeling peckish after a few? Head to the area’s first authentic tapas bar, La Cantina del Patron, for a late night bite. Of course, you shouldn’t miss the most famous Pietermaai landmark: Blues Bar at the Avila Beach Hotel is the island’s legendary pier venue known for live jazz bands perched right over their bar! (They serve fab food too!) And for spirited live music of every ilk, Bar 27 is the place to be for rock, blues, funk, soul, country, reggae, Latin, and local tunes. For those who take their mixology seriously, head to Luke’s Cocktail Bar at the edge of the district for some of the most creative handcrafted drinks on the island. Surfside party central
There’s always a celebration of something at the lively beachfront destination, Mambo Beach Blvd. It’s an entire complex of bars, restaurants, shops, and more that often offers live events on a beautiful beach with the chic Madero Ocean Club as the anchor of it all.
Enjoy classy cocktails and bottle service by day, then barefoot bop from one hangout to another as the night wears on. You’ll find a wide selection of venues like Wet & Wild, Club X Mambo, Café 40B, Hemingway, and Bollywood Lounge to name just a few. Or duck inside to the new Club Live 973 (run by the radio station) for an electric dance party. And the big Sunday blowout parties with great DJs at Cabana Beach are famous island-wide. Downtown delights
Punda, Otrobanda, and the surrounding neighborhoods of Salinja and Zuikertuin all have party-hearty places secreted away. Some are harder to find than others (ask a local for directions), but some are in popular landmark sites like the Rif Fort Village. The courtyard of the old fort is the nexus for all kinds of live music and events, and the surrounding bars like Kandela Cigar Lounge, The Sopranos Sports Bar, and the Carnaval Casino invite you to tarry later. Punda also has its own weekly celebration every Thursday, called Punda Vibes. It’s an outdoor extravaganza of color and culture, local food, drinks, music, dance, and more. Plus, to cap off the evening with a bang they do a fabulous fireworks display over the bridge. E
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Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Beach Bar at Baoase Luxury Resort
Madero Ocean Club at Mambo Beach Blvd
Landhuis Chobolobo
If you need to get your dance fix on, follow the beats to Grand Café Mahaai for reggae or house music in hot dance clubs like Spoonz and The Alley, which has been renamed as its Dutch translation “De Steeg.” In Salinja, new urban bars like Magnate Lounge and Club Vanilla can be found as well as Emporio Grand Café, a dancetill-you-drop spot. Plus, there’s the new Le’Ciel that brings cocktails and hookahs to an ethereal perch elevated over the street nearby in Caracasbaaiweg. The Zuikertuin region entertains as well with traditional local socializing haunts such as Omundo and De Heeren, and Prime Cuisine & Club brings a New York lounge-style vibe to the island. If you’re looking for creative designer shooters and urban karaoke, then Sauc’é Shots
Bar is the coolest scene to look out for! Of course, you must visit the distillery where the island’s famous Curaçao liqueur is made. Landhuis Chobolobo is the factory, and they have monthly party events in the courtyard of their magnificent restored mansion. Set a course for some secret spots
Party people in the know often head to Jan Thiel Beach for a great night out with a choice of many different vibes all side by side. Local favorite Zanzibar, better known simply as “Zanzi,” attracts night revelers in droves and they really mix it up musically. Just steps away you can hit Papagayo Beach Club for more upscale lounging, while Zest Beach Café and Tinto have their own inimitable style in the sand. When you need to fuel up for
more dancing, head to Mojito’s & Bites nearby for delicious delights, and then head back to the fun. “There’s a place called Kokomo” as the song goes, but this one is at Vaersenbaai, and their beach is famous for an epic monthly howl-at-the-full-moon party! The Pirate Bay Beach Club in Piscadera also typically has a rollicking crowd with live music on weekends. And then there is Karakter at the beautiful Oasis Coral Estate with an infinity pool and a rooftop bar called Koraal located over a scenic cliff on the sea that is well worth the drive.
There is something going on every night of the week all year round on this island, and the best way to find out what and where is to visit Curaçao Party Guide’s website and online calendar of events: www.curaçaopartyguide.com. Enjoy your escapades! K
Blues Bar at Avila Beach Hotel
Carnaval Casino
BLUES: JAZZ ON THE ROCKS & SOUL IN YOUR FOOD +5999 - 4614377 78 Nights
From top left, photos courtesy of Baoase Luxury Resort, Landhuis Chobolobo, and Carnaval Casino
Top to bottom, photos courtesy of Mambo Beach Blvd/Madero Ocean Club and Blues Bar
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