A Perfect All-Nighter

A Perfect All-Nighter

Want to take advantage of everything Aruba has to offer? Here's an action-packed guide to things to do from sundown to sunup.

Check out the Sunset Salute, accompanied by live music, at the Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort's Sunset Bar. If you want to dance like the locals, stick around for the merengue lessons.

Papiamento Restaurant is an Aruba institution and one of the most delightful dining experiences on the island. Be sure to sit in the courtyard under the illuminated trees. The sizzling stone menu offerings are fun, but remember that the food continues to cook while on the stone -- so if you like your steak rare or your seafood tender, take it off quickly. The staff are attentive and the food portions are huge; think twice before ordering an appetizer. But save room for the chocolate cake, which is nothing short of superb.

At 9 PM Monday through Saturday, check out Let's Go Latin -- a dazzling revue of singing and dancing -- at the Renaissance's Crystal Theater. Afterward, head to the trendy Garufa Cigar & Cocktail Lounge for live jazz, a cognac, and perhaps a stogie. The chic bar stools are so comfortable you may not want to leave.

The dance floor keeps getting hotter at the next stop, Mambo Jambo, well into the night. If you want to stick with Latin, head over to Cuba's Cookin'. This cozy little hideaway features live music every night and is normally packed with people belting back mojitos and enjoying the vibe.

When you just can't dance any longer, head for the 24-hour Crystal Casino, where you can give your feet a break and put on your thinking cap at the blackjack table.

By sunrise, you should be on the beach -- any beach. Afterward, sip coffee, scan the local papers (or download international ones), and sink your toes into the sand at MooMba Beach Bar & Restaurant (between the Holiday Inn and the Marriott Surf Club), where you can people-watch over breakfast, beginning at 8 AM.