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Aruba Nightlife |
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Nightlife on Aruba offers a change of pace from the island's daytime activities. Aruba prides itself on its strikingly gorgeous scenery and near-perfect temperature, and when the sun goes down, many travelers are spent from the day's activities. But the ever-energetic traveler will find that Aruban nightlife is more than fire-eating shows and limbo contests. Those events are usually reserved for hotels and resorts. Aruba also offers a lively club and party bus scene. To find out what is happening in Aruba, pick up one of the island's free publications. These colorful pamphlets, usually available at your hotel's activities desk, offer free drinks and discounts on admission to certain attractions. Remember – the legal age for going to a club and consuming alcohol in Aruba is 18. Night Clubs/ BarsAruba's club and bar scene can keep even the most lively of nightlife Connoisseurs entertained. Carlos & Charlie's in Oranjestad is a favorite amongst visitors to Aruba. Party buses, in fact, usually stop here as one of their"rest-stops." Enjoy mixed drinks as you listen to American classics from the'60s,'70s, and'80s. Don't expect to be immersed in local Aruban culture, though. If something more posh is your style, visit the nearby Garufa Cigar and Cocktail Lounge to enjoy sophisticated ambiance with a jazz backdrop. Tantra and Caf� Bahia provide a more local feel to Aruban nightlife and clubbing. Caf� Bahia is popular among both locals and tourists for dinner and dancing. On Tuesday night, a cruise ship band provides the entertainment by playing local favorites. The chic crowd comes every Friday night for happy hour. Located in the Royal Plaza Mall, Tantra is an energetic place for house and trance music lovers to dance the night away for just $5 (USD). If karaoke sounds like fun, pick Choose-A-Name, also located in the mall. In fact, Royal Plaza Mall has several spots to quench your thirst for nightlife. Mambo Jambo starts hopping after 9:00 p.m. Enjoy specialty drinks while merengue, socarengue, and other Latin-Caribbean rhythms soothe your soul. Oranjestad is not the only place that likes to party. Sirocco Lounge is an open-air cigar bar located in Palm Beach on the Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino. This is a cigar lover's dream. The Lounge plays jazz every night except Sunday. Moomba Beach sits between the Holiday Inn and the Marriott Ocean Club, and is perfect for the extra-casual visitor who lives by this place's slogan:" No shirt, no shoes, no problem." Shows/CasinosIf clubbing isn't your style, take advantage of Aruba's live shows. Local and international talent spice up the nightlife with a variety of shows, from the familiarity of American sounds to those with an Aruban feel. Catch a theatrical showing of Grease, with or without dinner arrangements; you can even eat during the show. Located near Palm Beach, the Allegro Aruba is a beautiful structure amongst an equally beautiful
backdrop. At the Allegro Aruba, each show also has a dinner buffet option. For example, the Frenesi
Latin Show has an adjoining seafood buffet, while Circus in the Sky offers its audience a Caribbean
buffet. Most of Aruba's Broadway- and Las Vegas-themed performances are found at Allegro Aruba
Casino. Check the free publications or your hotel's front desk for more information.
The Crystal Theater in Oranjestad is home to the largest stage production in the Caribbean: Let's Go Latin, a musical performance complete with dancers and acrobats. It has received great reviews. Order your tickets online to receive a $4 discount. Reservations are welcome, and most shows prefer that you book early and reserve your seats online. For some good family fun, visit the Black Hog Saloon. In addition to being home to the world's largest miniature golf course, the Black Hog Saloon holds a Black Hog BBQ bash every Tuesday and Thursday. For $35 (USD) for adults, and $20 (USD) for kids, you get unlimited barbecue food, unlimited draft beer (soft drinks for the kids), and a free paddleboat ride. In addition, there is live entertainment with a Harley motorcycle show. Party Buses/CruisesSome people just can't stay in one place; they prefer more"moving" entertainment. For these" partiers on the go," Aruba offers plenty of options to party on foot, land, or sea. Even though these party methods are very loose, reservations are still necessary. Party buses allow you to stay safe as you party on the road and enjoy a diverse sampling of Aruba nightlife. Kukoo Kunuku operates from 6:00 p.m. to midnight every Monday through Saturday. This open-air, hand-painted 1957 Chevy Paranda bus is highly-rated and provides travelers with the safest way to bar hop. For $55 (USD), you are picked up from your hotel between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. After a champagne toast at the California Lighthouse, you are whisked away in the colorful bus. The bus stops for dinner, which includes one complimentary drink. You then stop at three different bars, where the first drink is complimentary and the rest are discounted. At midnight, guests are returned to their hotels. The Kukoo Kunuku party bus advises you to write your name, hotel, and room number on a piece of paper – just in case you can't remember them at the end of the night. If you are looking for a shorter and less expensive bus ride, try Banana Bus. For $39 (USD), you get five drinks and can dance the night away. De Palm Tours offers several different party tours. Every Thursday, the Fiesta Hopper, an open-air party bus tour, stops at some of the island's hot spots for free drinks. De Palm Tours offers a variety of day and evening cruises. Every Wednesday and Friday, the Fantasy Dinner and Dance Cruise stops at a restaurant in Seaport Marina for a candlelight dinner. Also on Wednesday, the Latin Night Fever cruise incorporates a viewing of"Let's Go Latin." Le Dome on the Ocean provides dinner, while Wicked Party Wild Fiesta takes you to a celebration on a private island complete with open bar, music, and dancing. Check with De Palm Tours for scheduling. Other cruises provide dinner, partying, or both. TATTOO party cruises happen every Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. The TATTOO is the largest triple-deck ship in the Caribbean. In addition to crew shows, these cruises offer the Fiesta Food Buffet, open until 11:00 p.m. and featuring everything from BBQ chicken breast to Fettuccine Primavera – all for just $49 (USD). They serve $1 (USD) drinks at the standard bar and $2 (USD) at the premium bar. There are plenty of guest contests and prizes, and at midnight you can swing off the rope swing into the water or slide down a three-story water slide. Reservations are necessary. For a more budget-conscious cruise, try Aruba Adventures' Caribbean BBQ sunset cruise, complete with its own Caribbean steel band drummer and house D.J. The cruise boat is the largest motorized Catamaran in the Caribbean. Prices range from $20 (USD) to $49 (USD). If money is no object, but romance is, try an intimate dinner cruise for two with Morning Star. You can enjoy a fine bottle of champagne and a five-course dinner in the elegant saloon or the romantic cockpit – all candle-lit, of course. Couples with wedding bells in their plans can purchase a special wedding package complete with dinner, ceremony, flower bouquet for the bride, and a boutonni�re for the groom. These prices range from $100 (USD) to $620 (USD). Night SailingJolly Pirates offers a"Sunset Sail" every Monday and Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For $26 (USD),"sailors" can enjoy an open bar and a rope swing a la TATTOO party cruise. Aruba Adventures offers a pair of sailing opportunities to satisfy your nautical desires for just $20 - $35 (USD). Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Mi Dushi Sundown Safari offers a variety of water activities. Take a quick dip, jump from the rope swing, or just sunbathe. For a shorter sunset cruise, the Mi Dushi Sunset Cruise offers a premium-grade open bar and Caribbean snacks. Pelican Adventures also offers a variety of afternoon and night cruises. You can choose either a shorter sunset cruise or a longer dinner cruise.
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