Aruba nightbeat 2015

Nightbeat

Nightbeat

Eclectic Evenings and Electric Nights

by Susan Campbell From smooth and sultry to full-on and frenzied, this island has the nightlife you crave for celebrating tropical rhythms in style.

Even before the sun sinks beneath the waves, you can feel the shift. The energy level goes up a notch or two when happy hour begins as drink specials and music lure laid-back sun worshippers from their beach chairs to the dance floor. This is the time to socialize with like-minded locals and visitors, to meet old friends and make

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new ones, and to look back on the day. The vibe is casual and the mood is jovial, and, depending on the spot, sometimes what begins as raising a few at sundown lasts through the night as the live band and DJ appear. It’s just another day of celebrating being in paradise! Here are a few great places to start out the night.

Background photo by Andrea Zanchi. Top right photo courtesy of Palm Bar. Bottom photo by Luis Mejia

Get into the groove

Most resorts and hotels have something special in store for happy hour at their pool or beach bars so you don’t have to wander very far from the surf or even change into more than a cover-up to begin having fun. The Palm Bar at the Holiday Inn sets the bar high early, featuring a wide range of fine quality rum from all around the Caribbean. Over at Pure Beach at Divi Aruba Phoenix, they offer cool music along with tapas and cocktails on comfy couches in the sand. Sand Beach Lounge at Brickell Bay is another great surfside party spot that starts early with beach tennis tournaments and lasts until late with DJs; while MooMba Beach is a legendary island E

Palm Bar Pure Beach

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Nightbeat Señor Frog’s

Bingo! Cafe & Restaurant

Pinchos Grill & Bar

Piazza Italia

MooMba Beach

Iguana Cantina

accompanying cool cocktails like the Campari Spritz. And Señor Frog’s sets the bar as high as it goes as the place to go full-on loco! gathering spot for parties, beach tennis, and dancing barefoot in the sand. And after a round of golf at The Links at Divi, Mulligan’s is the spot to brag – or commiserate – about your score with good buddies.

Start early & stay for sustenance

There are lots of watering holes and casual spots off the beach where you might want to gather to mingle with locals or party with visitors; many of them serve tasty snacks or full meals and follow it up with entertainment later in the evening. Surfside near Oranjestad, the colorful and friendly new Arubaville is just such a spot. The new Hamaka and The West Deck on the boardwalk of the Linear Park are two other popular places to get together for drinks and eats.

Downtown Oranjestad has lots of friendly bar/restos, too. Local Store is not a shop but a fun casual pit stop, while Iguana Joe’s specializes in potent signature cocktails and great camaraderie.

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Over at Qué Pasa?, they offer an international twist on happy hour fun (think Mai Tais and Margaritas), and Cuba’s Cookin’ boasts the best Mojitos on the island served up with sultry Latin music.

The Dutch expats have their own favorite spots to gather, too. For futball it’s Eetcafé The Paddock, and for just getting together for drinks, food, and good company you’ll find the fun at Bingo!

Cafe & Restaurant, Café Chaos, and Café the Plaza. (You’ll soon learn that a Dutch-style café is a lot more than just a place to get coffee!)

The Palm Beach highrise strip has a welcoming party of food and drink establishments. There is hopping Smokey Joe’s with popular happy hours on J.E. Irausquin Blvd, and cool Iguana Cantina, and hip and trendy Sky Lounge at Paseo Herencia Mall, where the nightly waltzing water shows are worth a stop in their own right. New to the strip is Piazza Italia with their interesting take on happy hour, Italian-style, with free snacks and pasta Bottom right photo courtesy of Iguana Cantina. Other photos by Luis Mejia

Snazzy lounges & glam getaways

If you’re looking to get dressed up and go for elegant cocktails before or after dinner, there are many classy enclaves for that, too. The Greatroom at Aruba Marriott is a snazzy spot to start the evening with tapas and stylish signature cocktails. Or how about some fine wine to toast the night’s adventures? Mira Solo Martini & Wine Bar and Fusion Wine & Piano Bar both have impressive

Top left photo courtesy of Señor Frog’s. Right photo by Luis Mejia

wine lists. An elegant Asian lounge is another stylish alternative: try NextDoor, located next to Sushi-Ya and billed as a “bartini”. And if very creative drinks in an über-romantic atmosphere is what you’re after, stop into the Screaming Eagle’s bar where they’ll serve you dinner in a canopied bed! Then there’s the jazzy Sopranos Piano Bar where classic piano tunes and talented crooners set the mood.

Not to be missed for a fairy tale setting on a sparkling private pier is Pinchos Grill & Bar, while the sleek and sophisticated lounge at 7 West sets its stage with avant-garde neon lighting that’s simply enchanting. Then there’s the chic Blue E

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Nightbeat Gusto

bar at the Renaissance Marina Hotel that starts out as a trendy socializing emporium at cocktail hour and then morphs into a super hot spot at night. Talk about electric evenings!

Sing, dance & stay out late!

There are places for the dedicated party-patrol set, too. Get into some karaoke at the new DLounge (owned by one of Aruba’s well-known singers), where dancing is also on tap with live music and DJs. And if you need a little help with your salsa moves, join the locals on the largest wooden dance floor on the island at Club Hipsz. The instructors are from ArubaSalsa dance company and are more than happy to help. Gusto is a high-octane club that goes late into the night – later on weekends – with hip DJs. And many clubs offer special theme nights throughout the week; so just follow the blaring beat.

bus tour; it’s a wild way to celebrate a hot tropical night. The Carubbian Festival every Thursday night in San Nicolas is where they really show you how to kick it up a notch Carnival-style with parades and dancing in the streets. And while you’re there, don’t forget to drop into legendary San Nicolas landmark Charlie’s Bar for one of their trademark “Boozer Coladas”; this place is a time-honored tradition!

So you see, no matter what your aftersunset style or mood might be, this island has it covered. Cheers! K Carubbian Festival

Alternate party venues

You can also party hearty on wheels and preview some of the island’s best bars by boarding the Kukoo Kunuku party 120 Nights

Top photo courtesy of Gusto. Bottom photo by Luis Mejia