BAJAN BARS
BAJAN BARS
here’s just so much to do in Barbados at night that you may need to rest up during the day just to be able to take it all in.
While most destinations tend to offer night activities that cater primarily to visitors, here in Barbados the majority of our night spots enjoy a friendly mix of visitors and locals together.
BARS THE CASBAH THE BOATYARD
For late night socialising and good live and DJ music, the seafront Harbour Lights on Bay Street is one of the top clubs among visitors and locals. This semi outdoor setting offers up live music on weekends and some week nights, and on certain nights the cover charge includes free drinks.
This is a west coast staple haunt. Fashioned after an English pub right down to the red phone booth outside, the Coach House always has a congenial atmosphere and there is usually something happening here. Good food and a rousing atmosphere make it a fun stop.
Nestled in the heart of ‘The Gap’ in St. Lawrence, the Ship Inn is one of the longest-standing hang-outs for live music, food, and socialising. There is an outdoor courtyard with a bar and band shell as well as an indoor pub where the bands most often perform. Live music nearly every night, late night eating and a cover charge.
This exquisite west coast nightclub and bar, nestled in the heart of Holetown, caters to those in search of sophistication and comfort. With its Moroccan charm, air-conditioned comfort, classy waiter service and silky throw cushions you could easily feel like royalty. Come dance the night away in the Casbah, or relax in the Baku Courtyard Bar and Brasserie where great food and magnificent mixes can be found.
Just outside of Bridgetown heading to the south coast is the popular beachfront Boatyard with its semi outdoor restaurant and courtyard bar. This is a famous happy hour haunt, especially with the locals. The happy hours are 6 pm and 10 pm and by the second happy bell, the courtyard, beachfront and bar are usually filled with patrons, particularly on Friday nights.
Live music on weekends includes top local bands and occasionally groups from the region. Fridays are their biggest night and Saturdays often feature ‘oldies’ music by local bands and DJs.
SPORTS BARS CROCODILE’S DEN McBRIDE’S PUB AND COOKHOUSE
The island’s newest on the sports bar scene, this North American-style south coast establishment has a pleasant, modern atmosphere with 12 live satellite TVs and three ten foot screens transmitting all the top sports action. Bubba’s has reasonably priced lunches and dinners in typical sports bar style, with everything from finger food and burgers to more high-end restaurant fare. Very popular with visitors and locals.
The west coast’s main night haunt, ‘Crock’ has a bar, lounge and games area that offers up a variety of board games as well as pool and darts. The satellite TV is set to sports and DJ ‘Crock’ has an almost infinite music collection that spans some six decades. The friendly atmosphere and amusingly titled drinks adds to the fun of this bar.
Owned and operated by the same people who brought you the popular Café Sol in St. Lawrence Gap, McBride’s is a sports bar style hang out fashioned after a typical Irish pub.
McBride’s offers good dining at reasonable prices, a casual, friendly atmosphere, a games room filled with activities including pool and darts, and live satellite TV tuned to sports.
‘HAUNTS’ WATERFRONT CAFÉ BOMBAS OISTINS FISH MARKET
This wharf-front restaurant has both indoor and sidewalk café seating where you can sit and watch the careenage action by day or night. Lunches and dinners are served with Caribbean flair and there is live jazz nightly. A nice little Bridgetown haunt.
This west coast beach front restaurant and bar is a popular hang-out for locals and visitors. The casual setting, a variety of table games and the inexpensive, fresh Caribbean food make it a west coast favourite.
Now here’s a novel hang out. On Friday nights the south coast fishing village of Oistins, particularly the fish market and car park, spring to life with action. This is ‘the’ place to go for fresh fish of all manner, cooked on the spot by seasoned local hawkers. Little rum shop-style kiosks line the periphery of the market so you can grab some drinks or pick up something to eat besides fish or even just enjoy an ice cream.
Oistins on Friday nights is the place for a bit of elbow-rubbing with the locals and often, DJ music pumping out the latest in reggae and dub’ music. It’s an outdoor, stand-around and just ‘pick-a-lime’ (relax and watch life pass by) kind of haunt.
THE ‘GAP’
The south coast St. Lawrence Gap teems with action right into the wee hours. Lined from end to end with restaurants, nightclubs and bars, an evening out in ‘The Gap’ is one filled with excitement.
Wayside venders ply on-the-spot grilled goodies along the sidewalks and there is a constant stream of people moving and ‘liming’ along the road side. You can saunter along the strip and choose from any number of eateries then hit any number of many bars and clubs. Many of the restaurants and bars feature live entertainment during the early part of the evening then the clubs spring to life after 9 to 10 pm with live music of their own.
2ND STREET, HOLETOWN
The west coast too has its own party central. As the restaurants in 2nd Street Holetown see their last dining guests out, late-night patrons are filing in to relax and enjoy some fine wine, exciting mixes and tasty snacks. You can 'lime' at Olives, The Mews and a number of other restaurants-turn-bars and enjoy the live entertainment on into the early hours of the morning. Here you will get a chance to meet some of the world's top chefs and hosts.