Nightbeat
Nightbeat
Good Vibrations by Susan Campbell Want to know where the bass is pumping, bars are shaking, and people are pulsating after dark? Follow our beat to find electric nightlife that’ll keep you grooving till dawn! A barhopping beach
Everything cool you could think of after dark is happening every night at Mambo Beach Blvd beside the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. It’s a one-stop spot for all kinds of nightlife fun including exciting musical concerts and shows on their grand outdoor stage. Switching up the vibe is a breeze there too. You’ll find chic and classy Madero Ocean Club as the nexus of the scene and Cabana Beach that does it stylishly as well. Steps away are happening venues like super party-hearty Wet & Wild, friendly local
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hangouts like Café 40B and Hemingway, and lively, fun Bikinis also all have their own unique style. Feeling mellow? Sashay down to the sand for a hit of bohemian Zen at Mood Beach then double back and go exotic chill at Bollywood Bar & Lounge. Mambo Beach Blvd is also an ideal oasis for daytime glass raising, seaside lounging, noshing, swimming, and shopping, and their crazy Sunday pool parties are legendary! More popular beach party places
We’re not done with surfside revelry yet! Now we head to Jan Thiel Beach where more good vibrations are always shaking up the sand. That’s where you’ll find local favorite Zanzibar (“Zanzi”) for all kinds
of musical nights ranging from electronic to unplugged, and dancing barefoot from bar to bar you can hit Papagayo Beach Club, Zest Beach Café, and Tinto without breaking a sweat. When you need a break, head to Mojito’s & Bites for a snack and to catch the sports scores too. Kokomo Beach is the place to be for the full moon every month; the blowouts there are epic and attract hundreds of full moon howlers! Piscadera Bay has swagger with Pirate Bay Beach Club that also attracts the party animals on weekends in droves. Out on the west coast, Coral Estate has a cool bar on a beach beside a cliff called Karakter, and it does have a lot of character! Perched above it is their gorgeous rooftop pool bar called Koraal for ideal sunset imbibing before the dancing begins below. Also perched above a beach on a fabulous pier closer to town you’ll find one of the island’s premier pioneering party hot spots called Blues Bar at Avila Beach Hotel. Their musicians are
perched as well – above the bar – and are famous for playing all that jazz, soul, and of course, blues! Pietermaai – an entire party district
You’ll need at least an entire night to enjoy all that this unique district has to offer. But try to get there before the sun goes down to enjoy the candy-colored restored historic buildings and the street art that makes it such a vibrant cultural hub. Everything is jam packed into a tiny grid of narrow streets and alleys by the sea and the eclectic selection of offerings really runs the gamut. First, you have chic and sophisticated Riviera style Saint Tropez centered around an infinity pool looking out on the sea with private cabanas and cool DJs and tapas at night. Also classy, though foremost for dinner, there’s Ginger and Kome for an upscale vibe to clink cocktails and grab small bites. And if you are still looking for laid-back, then that vibe lives at Miles Jazz Café, the ideal place to chill to some smooth !
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Nightbeat
Nightbeat
tunes. Some of the cool little boutique hotels like BijBlauw and Scuba Lodge have charming bars as well, sometimes with live music. When you’re ready to go really local, then go find some Dutch style bars that are called “brown cafes” like Café Old Dutch and Café De Tijd, which also now serves what locals will tell you are arguably the best ribs on the island. And for those who really appreciate top quality, handcrafted libations made with the freshest ingredients the new Luke’s Cocktailbar is the place. There’s also offbeat and downright out-there in Pietermaai too, like the crazy new Camel Beach where you never know what zaniness will occur, and Mundo Bizarro, which is exactly that: bizarre! The mishmash of odd items that make up their décor is worth a trip in itself.
Kandela Cigar Lounge
Beach Bar at Baoase Luxury Resort
Now let the music move you as the moon rises higher at Blue Bird Café and then rock out at Bar 27, a hot venue for live bands. Midnight munchies? Head to the new La Cantina del Patron, the island’s only real Spanish tapas bar, and it’s open late to help sate the party people. Rif Fort rocks and Punda vibes
Downtown Willemstad on both sides of the water also has some special nightlife quadrants and hideaways. Start with Rif Fort Village, the ancient stone fort that rocks with special events and live music in their courtyard Thursday to Saturday nights. You can also enjoy The Sopranos Sports Bar and Carnaval Casino for laternight revelry. And maybe cap the evening off with a quality stogie and digestif at Kandela Cigar Lounge.
Across the bridge, Thursday nights explode with fireworks and lots of nocturnal pleasures as part of the weekly Punda Vibes celebration. Music, arts, crafts, theater, pop-up bars, food stands, and more, bring everyone out into the streets. Also downtown you can get your reggae fix at Grand Cafe Mahaai, or join the trend-setting crowds dancing till dawn in sizzling hot clubs like Spoonz, Club Elevate, and The Alley bar/lounge. In Salinja you have the hip and happening Emporio Grand Café, and new to the scene is Sauc’é where urban karaoke is all the rage. Out in Zuikertuin, there are special dance nights at Omundo and Grand Café De Heeren, and new Prime Cuisine & Club has a stylish New York style bar. You must see where the original Curaçao – this island’s famous liqueur – is made! Visit Landhuis Chobolobo to see where the magic happens. Every month they hold gala events in their courtyard with local bites, signature cocktails, and music!
Blues Bar at Avila Beach Hotel
Of course, most hotel bars get the good vibrations going as early as sunset with lively happy hours and music to get you in the mood for an electric night out on the town. So you know where to start! There are all kinds of special nights, events, and celebrations to enjoy on this island all year long. To discover what’s going on, when and where, check out Curaçao Party Guide’s online calendar at www.curacaopartyguide.com. Cheers! "
Carnaval Casino Landhuis Chobolobo Live concert at Mambo Beach Blvd
BLUES:WHERE THE FOOD IS HOT& THE MUSIC COOL PENSTRAAT 130 (PIETERMAAI) +5999 - 4614377
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Top to bottom, photos courtesy of Baoase Luxury Resort, Kandela Cigar Lounge, and Carnaval Casino
Top to bottom, photos courtesy of Blues Bar, Landhuis Chobolobo, and Mambo Beach Blvd
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