10 Best Nightlife in Aruba

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Contrary to its name, it's not a store but a bar, and a very local one at that. Live local bands, lots of resident partiers, and a laid-back, down-to-earth atmosphere make this the place to kick back and have fun, especially on weekends. Good prices on drinks, a huge selection of craft beers, local Aruban snacks like funchi fries (made from seasoned cornmeal or polenta with a crispy outside and a creamy inside), and over a dozen kinds of artisanal chicken wings attract the tourists, too.

It may not be on the beach, but Lucy's has the quintessential beach bar vibe; there is even a small man-made beach area outside replete with hammocks. By day it’s a lunch spot serving up burgers and hearty American fare, but it ramps up the vibe at happy hour with live music and creative drink specials until just after sundown. All-day Taco Tuesdays draw both locals and visitors alike, and they are also one of Aruba’s only spots that will cook up your fresh fish catch for you. They are dog friendly, too. 

Based on the famous Bulldog in the Netherlands, this one is all about partying hearty in the center of Paseo Herencia's courtyard with zany antics by the barkeeps and lots of dance action after the water shows end.