Aruba
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Aruba - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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27 Recommendations
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1. Alfie's 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.
Dominicanessenstraat 10, Oranjestad, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-568--5440Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations recommended for a table between 6 and 8:30 pm -
2. Amante Tapas Aruba
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.
Wilhelminastraat 57, Oranjestad, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-588--1600Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential. -
3. BLUE
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.
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4. Bochincha Container Yard
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.
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5. Bugaloe Bar & Grill
This colorful beach bar at the tip of De Palm Pier on busy Palm Beach is hopping night and day with visitors and locals alike. 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. The revelry starts as early as happy hour and continues well into the night. Karaoke nights, salsa nights, and even a crazy fish night on Monday mean there’s always something wild and fun going on here. It’s also an optimal spot to catch a magical sunset over the waves.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Bugaloe Beach Bar and Grill
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.
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7. Craft and Lola
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.
J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 348A, Palm Beach, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-743--9522 -
8. Horizons Lounge
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).
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9. Hoya Cocktail Bar
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.
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10. Kukoo Kunuku Party Bus & Day Tours
Bars/PubsAruba’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.
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11. MooMba Beach Bar & Restaurant
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.
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12. purebeach
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.
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13. Sopranos Piano Bar
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.
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14. The West Deck Island Grill Beach Bar
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.
L. G. Smith Blvd at Governor's Bay Beach, Oranjestad, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-587–2667 -
15. 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill
Though this massive circular alfresco bar in the middle of Renaissance Marketplace might resemble Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, it’s not part of the franchise—though it certainly evokes the same vibe with two daily happy hours. Think large frozen tropical cocktails, island music, and typical beach-bar fare like wings, tacos, and burgers. Surprisingly, it’s also a great spot to try some locally inspired fare like snack platters of pastechi and Dutch krokets and individual portions of keshi yena, which is considered Aruba’s national dish.
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16. Apotek Speakeasy
It’s no longer a well-kept secret that Aruba has a Prohibition-style speakeasy, and discerning drinkers are flocking to this Downtown hideaway. Themed like an old-fashioned apothecary—promising to handcraft potent libations to cure whatever ails you—their dedicated barkeeps are more chemists and mixologists than drink slingers, and they really put on a show while using carefully curated ingredients to create complicated libations that impress. The place is tiny, so reservations are a must, but it is well worth the extra effort if you’re a true cocktail connoisseur. Curated private experiences can also be reserved like "A Night with Cupid" or "Sip and Savor Pairings" on different nights of the week.
Klipstraat 2, Oranjestad, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-561--1563Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
17. Carnival
Most of the main events during the annual Carnival take place in Oranjestad, but San Nicolas is considered to be the birthplace of the island’s Carnival traditions. Celebrations include a lighting parade, music competitions, and a mini-grand parade the day before the big one in Oranjestad. And this is the only location for Jouvert Morning, the annual sunrise road march that starts at 4 am—another reason the town was dubbed “Sunrise City.” The new Carnival Village in the heart of town hosts many more events year-round, and on weekend nights you'll often have small bands outside the colorful little food truck--style kiosks for local's night out. You can also grab some great local food and cold beer there during the day after 11 am; there's always at least one of them open.
Savaneta, n/a Aruba, Aruba -
18. Coco Loco Beach Bar and Restaurant
Just past Costa Linda Beach Resort, traveling toward the high-rise area, keep your eyes peeled for this colorful stand-alone beach shack that pops up out of nowhere on Eagle Beach. If you see a life-sized Captain Morgan outside, you’ll know you’re in the right spot! It’s the quintessential colorful Caribbean-style beach bar by day, offering up snacks and tropical drinks, even shaved ice and fresh coconut water. As the sun begins to set it comes to life as a hot party spot, luring folks to come dance barefoot in the sand to DJ-driven or live music. Beach lounges and umbrellas are available during the day if you want to take advantage of that prime Eagle Beach real estate while you indulge.
J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 67A, Eagle Beach, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-280--8081 -
19. Eet-Café The Paddock
It's impossible to miss the big red roof just off the marina, especially since there is a large Holstein cow on top of it! But that’s the point. Wild, crazy, and whimsical is their claim to fame, and there’s no better spot in town to catch Dutch futball if you’re seeking the craziest orange-clad die-hard fans. Though it’s a popular tourist lunch spot during the day, this joint really morphs into party-hearty mode at night, full of carousing locals and visitors alike enjoying the great deals on drinks via the late-night happy hours and dollar-beer specials. There are great views of the marina from the outdoor terrace.
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20. Garufa Cocktail Lounge
After closing a few years back, and hosting a few temporary pop-up bars, this legendary little cigar lounge reopened in 2019. Look for the mustard and white colonial building with the Juliette balcony to find a friendly gang of locals and visitors enjoying top-shelf spirits, creative signature cocktails, tapas, and quality cigars. A powerful smoke-extractor system helps keep the air clear and late night happy hour runs from 9 to 11 pm.
Wilhelminastraat 63, Oranjestad, n/a Aruba, Aruba297-582–7205
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