15 Best Bars in Aruba

Right between San Nicolas and Savaneta on the coastal route is the little neighborhood of Cura Cabai. There is a small beach, a fisherman’s pier, and Battata Beach Bar’s colorful alfresco food-and-drink emporium where the nightlife lives. Dancing in the sand is a thing during live music weekends and special lobster night events. Happy hours start early, often with great music, and always with stellar sunsets over the sea.

It’s hard to miss this alfresco two-story Latin club in the South Beach Mall area—your ears will find it before your feet do. Live bands and hot DJs are the thing here, but it's the flashing neon lights and so many beautiful people dancing salsa on the sidewalk that will make you want to join the action. The beverage offerings focus on spirits, with top shelf bottles always on tap. And though some of their premium cocktails can be eyebrow-raising pricey, there is a nightly double happy hour and specials on beer buckets.

It doesn’t get more old Wild West than this yeehaw crazy party spot, where dancing on the bar while singing karaoke is not only allowed but expected. It’s typically jam-packed with country music fans, and it seems everyone knows all the words to even the most obscure cowboy (and cowgirl) songs. The barkeeps keep the place hopping with killer shots, and even occasionally set the bar on fire—on purpose! Theme nights abound; the only thing missing is a mechanical bull. But if it gets too rowdy for you, sashay on to the secret sister bar next door called The Barn, created by the same owners. A classy speakeasy-style hideaway with a cigar bar in the back called the Toro Lounge, it offers rare bourbons, exotic rums, hand-crafted cocktails, and world class stogies, with mellow whiskey blues playing in the background.

Owned by a lively expat Canadian couple, this popular watering hole in the backstreets of Downtown has been attracting people from all over the world to sample their hospitality and over 50 types of craft beer. Live music on Thursday and Saturday open-mike nights also attract the crowds. 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.

Located steps away from the cool infinity pool of the Renaissance Wind Creek Resort 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.

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.

This sophisticated alfresco emporium has totally transformed the courtyard of Plaza Daniel Leo into an exciting gathering spot, offering up cool tapas and a large selection of killer creative handcrafted cocktails and sangrias. 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.

Sleuth out this exotic speakeasy-style tiki bar in the backstreets for the ultimate cocktail experience. The menu of libations is surreal, and the mixologists pull out all the stops to ensure every drink is a visual treat as well as a flavorful event. But if you don’t see something that moves you on the menu, they will craft an original cocktail just for you based on your preferences of spirits, flavors, and style. The top shelf is always on tap, and bottle service is available by reservation.

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.

This lively piano bar is loosely based on the old Sopranos television series decor-wise. Nightly live music with showstopping talent encourages the crowd to join in sing-alongs. Visitors are invited to take the mic, which they've been known to do. 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. 

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.

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.