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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