Nightbeat
Nightbeat
And the Beat Goes On… by Susan Campbell and Ade Fingal Once the beach day draws to a close, just follow your ears to discover where the parties are just getting started! The music is eclectic, electric, and energetic, and there’s something for every nightlife style and mood – from smooth and romantic to full-on, dynamic dance mode. So let’s go!
Slide into a surfside groove
You need not venture far beyond your lounge chair to get into a barefoot boogie mode once the surfside bars begin to launch their happy hour offerings. Live music or DJs, drinks specials, and great camaraderie abound at spots like Pure Beach at the Divi Aruba Phoenix that also serves trendy tapas on classy couches in the sand. Don’t miss their alfresco karaoke night on Wednesdays! Bugaloe Beach Bar on Palm Beach has daily double happy hours and some of the best live bands on the island at night. Another seaside favorite is MooMba Beach Bar, home to beach tennis fun by day, and great dance parties, especially on Sundays. Also surfside in Oranjestad, is The West Deck, a fun and funky enclave that specializes in cool cocktails like upside down Beer-rita’s. Two spots, also on the sand,
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Background photo of Pinchos Grill & Bar by Luis Mejia
that have a definite South Beach vibe with VIP bottle service, private cabanas, and small bites are Sand Beach Lounge in front of Brickell Bay that has all kinds of cool themed events. The second one is Reflexions near downtown Oranjestad on its own beach with a trendy lounge atmosphere by day, and a hot party scene at night. Then there is Pinchos Grill & Bar on a lovely-lit pier with signature drinks and live music on weekends. And Arubaville on Laguna Bay is a colorful and inviting oasis that often offers up live music parties as well. Go local and casual
There’s no need to get too gussied up to feel at home at these friendly stomping grounds. Local Store is one of them. It’s a bar, not a store, and serves up local
fare and a great offering of craft beers. Sidebar Bistro, in the Renaissance Marketplace is another, with an incredible selection of handcrafted barrel-aged bourbon cocktails, and sometimes they have live music. Dutch pub-style Café Chaos nearby has live bands rocking the joint on Saturday nights, and also definitely Dutch is Eetcafé The Paddock just off the marina. Inside, you’ll always find a lively crowd of Dutch expats enjoying late night happy hour and tunes. In Noord, just off the Palm Beach tourist strip, you’ll find Café 080 a down-toearth indoor/outdoor bar with great food that’s famous for impromptu dancing. Also in Noord is Barney’s known for its “Flintstone-sized” portions and killer karaoke Fridays. Bingo! Cafe & Restaurant is another local Noord favorite that sometimes adds live music to the mix as well. !
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