Antigua and Barbuda / Bars/Nightlife

The best bars are concentrated around the two main tourist centres of Dickenson Bay and English Harbour and there are quite a few great spots where you can enjoy a sundowner, and some with live music where you can dance into the night. Much of the nightlife in Antigua centres on restaurants with bars which either have a DJ or a live band. Some of the beach bars go on into the evenings too. There are just a few nightclubs.

As you might expect, things are busiest at the weekends, and they are also generally livelier during the main winter season and during the regattas and festivals. This is particularly so around English Harbour in the summer, when some of the bars and restaurants close for a couple of months.

Here is a selection of the most popular bars on Antigua:

Dickenson Bay/Runaway Bay

The Beach, Dickenson Bay - A trendy and stylish beach bar/bistro/lounge at the heart of the island’s busiest beach. DJ and live music several nights a week - Tuesday nights for crab racing and calypso duo Frankie & Charlie.

Miller’s by the Sea, Fort James - A well-established beach bar and restaurant with a popular Happy Hour from 5pm-7pm and entertainment most evenings in season, including live calypso, reggae or jazz. Miller’s is large, so it needs a crowd to give it atmosphere.

Russell’s Bar and Seafood Restaurant, Fort James - An atmospheric setting within the walls of an early 18th Century British fort, complete with cannons. The proprietor Russell Hodge rebuilt the restaurant in 2005 and maintains the outer surrounds of the fort (it is worth looking around the inner part of the fort, though it is in an advanced state of disrepair). Views across St John’s Harbour and Fort Bay make it a great cocktail spot at sundown. Popular on Sunday evenings for its live jazz sessions.

St John’s

C&C Wine Bar, Redcliffe Quay - With its stone floors and brick walls this is a spot for lovers of South African wines - these are the only ones they stock, because the owners prefer them. Some spirits on offer too. Light snacks such as cheese or pâté plates available. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am, Friday evening barbecue.

The Coast Nightclub, Bar & Restaurant, Heritage Quay -  Set on the dockside in St John’s, with a seafood restaurant and two bars. Live bands on the open-air deck for dancing on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The air-conditioned club inside also features local house DJs. Open Tuesday to Sunday, admission free.

King’s Casino, Heritage Quay - Fully air-conditioned casino with live music most nights, has a sports lounge with 10ft screen. Open until the small hours.

Pizzas in Paradise, Redcliffe Quay -  A popular meeting spot in an 18th Century rum warehouse with stone walls and tall doors. Features a music library of more than 1,000 CDs and hosts a band every Thursday from 9pm.

Sticky Wicket, Coolidge - Air-conditioned sports and cocktail bar overlooking the Stanford Cricket Ground at the airport. Popular stopover after work; features photographs and artefacts of famous sportsmen and re-runs of famous sporting moments on the TV. Can visit after flight check-in.

Jolly Harbour Sports Bar & Restaurant, Jolly Harbour - Casual, lively bar with large screen satellite TV for sports events and open-air covered dining area serving Caribbean and international cuisine overlooking the marina. Nightly live entertainment in season - poolside barbecque and live steel band on Tuesday nights, Karaoke/comedy party on Saturday nights. Daily happy Hour, 5pm-7pm.

English Harbour

English Harbour comes to life during the winter season, particularly at the sailing events when the bars are open till all hours.

Abracadabra Restaurant & Disco Bar - An Italian restaurant set in an 18th Century stone building which plays dance music on an 8ft video screen when the dinner service is over. There is occasional live music with reggae, rock and jazz bands and the restaurant also, hosts special events. Attracts a lively, mixed crowd. It is the liveliest place at weekends.

Cactus Club  - Upstairs bar with a nice view of Falmouth Harbour. Three pool tables and live entertainment in season.

Last Lemming Bar & Restaurant - A waterfront setting below the yacht club, has a pool table, plus live band on Fridays and is popular with locals and visitors.

Life Bar - Located just outside Nelson’s Dockyard on a pontoon on the waterfront. It serves English fare but gathers a good crowd for its Happy Hour and 70s music.

The Mad Mongoose - Just across from the water of Falmouth Harbour, a colourful eatery and bar with satellite TV and pool table. Gets packed out with a party crowd in season and popular with yachties.

Trappas - Popular not only as a restaurant but also as a meeting spot, especially lively on weekends. Attracts a regular crowd of ex-pats and locals, and closes when the last person leaves. Fairly casual with a simple, rustic décor.

No trip to Antigua is complete without a visit to the Shirley Heights Lookout barbecue bash which is held every Sunday afternoon and evening. It has become something of a national tradition and attracts a good crowd of locals and visitors, who come to soak up the views and watch the sunset to the sounds of a steel band. Later on there is sometimes a reggae or a soca band.

Shirley Heights Lookout - There are two party nights, a quieter one on Thursdays with a live steel band and grilled food available from 4pm-8pm, entrance free. The big night is on Sundays, 4pm-10pm, when there is a barbecue and live steel band music from 4pm-7pm, followed by a live reggae/soca/calypso band from 7pm-10pm. The entry fee on Sundays is US$8 per person and is subject to change for special events.

BARBUDA

Lyme Bar, close to Codrington Lagoon – This isn’t just a bar, but a restaurant and nightclub too with dance nights held each weekend with guest DJs.

Contributors:  Deana Bellamy, Sara Macefield