12 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The colorful and creative reptilian-themed decor makes this a favorite hangout for cruise visitors who want to enjoy the view of the port from the second-floor balcony while enjoying sangria and massive frozen cocktails. Dinner is served, and the food deserves recognition (especially the jerk chicken and coconut shrimp), but the bar is the real draw as people come to people-watch and sample the potent drink list, especially their signature Pink Iguana.

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.