14 Best Nightlife in Aruba

Owned by a lively expat Canadian couple, this popular watering hole in the back streets of Downtown has been attracting people from all over the world to sample their hospitality and over 50 types of craft beer. Live music Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights also attracts the crowds, and their pub food is to die for. Think seven-cheese mac 'n' cheese nights, crispy Nashville-style fried chicken with a kick, melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and mega-burgers so big you can hardly fit them in your mouth. But they haven't forgotten their homeland; authentic Quebec-style poutine and even vegan poutine are also both available there. Look for the big Canadian flag out front.

Under the same roof as Taste My Aruba but with a separate entrance, you’ll find this clandestine little spot named after the Spanish term for “lover” as the ideal canoodling spot for you and your significant other. It’s all about sharing and pairing food and drink with an ever-changing menu of internationally inspired tapas and craft cocktails specifically designed to enhance each dish. The vibe is bordello sexy, with low lighting to entice you to share your innermost secrets while you feed each other sensory delights. There’s also a full bar and often soft live flamenco music. Open until midnight on weekends and 11 pm weekdays.

Located steps away from the cool infinity pool of the Renaissance Marina Hotel, BLUE is one of the hippest social gathering spots on the island. It’s the place where young local professionals gather for happy hour during the week. Later it morphs into a hot, nightly DJ-driven scene bathed in blue and violet lights with a giant video wall and talented barkeeps serving upscale concoctions like their signature BLUE Solo Martini.

An impressive new multistory entertainment complex built from old shipping containers sits right behind the Local Market. The carnival-style atmosphere and high-octane music provided by either live bands or DJs create the backdrop for an eclectic choice of international fare via food truck-style kiosks; there are also multiple bars, a wine shop, a cigar store, and a tattoo and barber shack.

Night and day, this crazy colorful beach bar at the tip of De Palm Pier on busy Palm Beach is packed. Paint-spattered wooden tables and chairs on a plank floor under a massive palapa draw barefoot beachcombers in for frozen cocktails, cold beer, and casual fare where live music is king. There are karaoke nights, salsa nights, and daily food specials including breakfast. It’s an optimal spot to catch a magical sunset over the waves. 

These odd-combination sister spots are hard to miss on the Palm Beach strip with their colorful outdoor decor. They share a wide swath of the sidewalk, but they specialize in two very different things. Craft is best known as a quality coffee bar and breakfast spot; they serve breakfast until 4 pm with a legendary Saturday Live Music Brunch and Boogie Nights every Saturday that start at 10 pm. Lola, next door, is all about casual Mexican fare and margaritas at lunch, but turns into a full-on fiesta place late night. It’s a strange fusion of offerings but it works, and both spots are typically hopping, so make reservations—especially for dinner at Lola.

It’s worth it to sleuth out this delightful little alfresco cocktail lounge, located up the stairs from Amsterdam Manor’s pool, to enjoy their excellent cocktail offerings and the unparalleled view of the famed Fofoti tree on Eagle Beach at sunset. There's soft live music and a second happy hour at 9 pm, as well as a diverse selection of bites or hearty meals if you’re inclined to stay for dinner (think macadamia grouper, lamb cutlets, or vegan beef gnocchi).

This sophisticated alfresco emporium has totally transformed the courtyard of Plaza Daniel Leo into an exciting gathering spot, offering up cool tapas like Argentinian artisanal empanadas and a large selection of killer creative handcrafted cocktails and sangrias. It’s also a champagne and wine bar. There's a cheery tropical vibe, and beyond the bar and tables there are also oversized lounging swings if you want to imbibe in style. Daily happy hour is 4--6 pm with great music.

Aruba’s premier wild and crazy party bus outfit has been operating for almost two decades now, and they’ve added a new twist. Evenings, it’s all about shaking your maracas and bar-hopping through the town via their famous “Pub Krawl” tour or doing a dinner and bar-hop night that stops at the cool Casibari Grill in the outback for great BBQ, and then motors on for a wild tour to local party spots. But during the day, the bus morphs into one big happy family-friendly vehicle that offers a trip to the Casibari rock formations and Baby Beach in San Nicolas, or an “Animal Lover’s” outing that goes to the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary, Phillips Animal Garden, and the Butterfly Farm. Either way, their guides are fabulous entertainers night and day. Hotel pickup and drop-off included. No tours on Sunday. Private charters also available. Book direct by phone for a discount, or book a night tour at the same time as a day tour and receive $10 off.

As the central party spot on the busiest part of Palm Beach, this open-air bar is famous for its Sunday-night blowouts with big crowds of locals gathering to dance in the sand to live bands or DJs. The barkeeps are mixology masters, and happy hours are very popular. Check their website for current and upcoming special events. The attached restaurant is also a wonderful surf-side spot for breakfast (big buffet until noon), lunch, and dinner, and there are tables in the sand for romantic dinners before partying. You can also rent lounges and umbrellas on the beach and order from their bar menu. 

A very lively happy-hour spot with its cool swim-up pool bar, purebeach is the place to be, especially on Sundays for live music and dancing. They are also open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but day or night, they are known for killer Caribbean cocktails and creative international fare with weekly specials. There's also an oversize adult-only seafront whirlpool right beside it for romantic nights under the tropical stars with music. Steps from the sea, there are beachfront tables that are a great place to enjoy happy hour (5--6 pm) while watching the sunset.

With a theme loosely based on the famous HBO TV series, Sopranos has a fun atmosphere with live piano music nightly that encourages the crowd to join in a sing-along. Top-notch barkeeps shake up a big list of creative cocktails, and the top-shelf spirit list is impressive. It's loud and rowdy most nights, but nostalgic and low-key when there are no crowds. A DJ sometimes spins late into the night on weekends.

You’ll find this casual wooden-decked beach bar along Linear Park facing Governor’s Bay. Enjoy one of their special upside-down margaritas or incredible craft cocktails while you catch a stellar sunset and watch the cruise ships go by. After dark, the music takes it up a notch—sometimes live—and the atmosphere is fun and friendly. It’s as popular with locals as it is with visitors. Great Caribbean tapas and grilled specialties are also on tap.