St Kitts / Bars/Nightlife

Nightlife tends to be a fairly low-key affair in St Kitts and the action, for travellers at least, is based mainly around the beach bars, a handful of restaurants and some of the hotels. The most happening spot on the island is the strip of beach bars along Frigate Bay beach (south), where tourists and islanders head in the late afternoon for a sundowner followed by a grilled supper and occasional live music. “The Strip” comes alive on Friday and Sunday evenings with live music and a bonfire at Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack and further action at the likes of the Monkey Bar, Oasis, Inons and Ziggy’s. At the weekends, families also head to Frigate Bay for the day (Sundays are very busy) and later on the party crowd takes over.

Of course there is plenty of action among the Kittitians themselves. One popular place with a nice atmosphere is the Sprat Net seafood restaurant up in Old Road to the north-west of Basseterre, which is popular on Friday nights. Another hot spot on Fridays is the Fish Fry next to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Here is a selection of recommended bars on St Kitts:

Bob & Elvis Party Bus, Frigate Bay - A unique St Kitts bar -crawl that sets out at sunset every Wednesday and Friday, an evening of fun aboard a modified Thomas International School Bus which has been kitted out with a bar and sound system. The bus stops at various bars and pubs along its route and includes a drink per stop. On- board, they serve unlimited “Purple Mu Foos” (the house special) in between stops. Also available for private parties and tours.

Bobsy’s Bar & Grill, Frigate Bay - Located at the summit of the hill going over to Frigate Bay, this is a popular eatery as well as a late night spot with occasional live music. DJs and karaoke on weekends. Happy Hour 5pm-7pm.

Buddies Beach Hut, Frigate Bay South - Popular beach bar and restaurant right at the top (northern) end of “The Strip”. Free beach chairs for customers. Open Tuesday-Sunday until midnight and Fridays until 4am when there is live music.

Inon’s Beach Bar and Grill, Frigate Bay South - A very simple shack plonked on the sand at the northern end of  “The Strip” on Frigate Bay beach, with wooden benches under a covered area. The dance  floor is made from wooden palettes. Most popular on Friday nights when a DJ draws in the party set. Attracts a local crowd, especially for the eye- popping and saucy moves in the dance-offs.

MaPau St Kitts Experience, Port Zante - Waterfront entertainment complex includes the MaPau Casino (slot machines and electronic casino gaming) with live entertainment and the Sweet Lime Restaurant & Bar, with karaoke every Thursday night.

Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack Bar & Grill, Frigate Bay South - Ultra-rustic, barefoot-style drinking hole, literally a collection of wooden shacks and picnic benches on the sand. The Shiggidy Shack heads up a string of beach bars on “Tthe Strip” on Frigate Bay beach. On Friday nights it attracts the after-work crowd of mostly locals, veterinary students from Ross University and ex-pats who gather to watch the sunset, followed by a grilled lobster supper from the open- air kitchen. Karaoke on Saturday nights, live band on Sunday afternoons and a bonfire with fire-eating and live music on Thursday nights. Full moon party with bonfire and music for dancing.

Ocean Terrace Inn/Fisherman’s Wharf, Basseterre - West Indian buffet every Friday night in Ocean Terrace Inn’s Waterfalls restaurant, with a live steel band and fashion show in season. Down on the waterfront is their popular seafood grill Fisherman’s Wharf, which gets lively on weekends with occasional live music. The Friday night Fish Fry takes place on the roadside next door.

PJ’s Restaurant & Bar, Frigate Bay North - Italian restaurant is popular for its pizzas, including the oddly-named Garbage Pizza (made with anything to hand in the kitchen) and as a late night liming spot. TV for sports events. Closed Mondays.

Rock Lobster Bar & Restaurant, Frigate Bay North - Seafood restaurant (with lobster speciality) in a cheery modern setting with some traditional West Indian touches, set back off the road on the north side of Frigate Bay. There are some tables and chairs out on the patio, so you can sit outside or at the bar tucked into a far corner – it gets a little cosy. Rock Lobster has a regular, late night ex-pat crowd on weekends. Open 5pm until… Closed Wednedays.

Shipwreck Bar & Grill, South Friar's Bay - The quintessential “barefoot” beach bar for “Nuf Nuf Niceness”, as their sign proudly proclaims. Quirky, slighty shabby-looking wooden structure, a favourite liming spot for an interesting mix of “barflies” from all walks of life. The roof is festooned with fishing nets containing all sorts of interesting oddments, from toy cars and Barbie dolls. Folk head there for late afternoon sundowners before moving on to the late night bars on Frigate Bay. Live entertainment on Sundays from 4pm. Moonlight bonfire party every full moon. Watch out for the “no see ums” (sand  flies) in the late afternoons.

Sprat Net, Old Road Town - Informal and simple, but hugely popular seafood eatery on the waterfront in Old Road to the north-west of Basseterre. Owned by local fishermen, brothers Jack and Marcus Spencer, the Sprat Net is open sided and has views to the sea and picnic benches under a corrugated tin roof. Serves freshly caught fish (pick your own) and lobster, plus chicken and ribs which are grilled to order. Although it is quite a way out along the west coast, and therefore a bit of a trek, the Sprat Net has become a favourite night spot. Live music on Fridays and Sundays in the winter season. Open from 6pm onwards. No credit cards.

The Blue Martini Piano Bar, St Kitts Marriott Resort - Live music every night and occasional concerts featuring international artistes. Open seven days a week from 8pm to 4am.

The Dock Bar at Timothy Beach Resort, Frigate Bay South- Live music, drink specials and a Caribbean buffet on Sunday evenings.

The Monkey Bar & Restaurant, Frigate Bay South - Run, over the last two decades, by proprietor Roy Gumbs, a Kittitian and former Commonwealth Middleweight Boxing Champion, the Monkey Bar is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. It sits in the midst of the string of bars on “The Strip”, an octagonal wooden bar attached to a raised, covered dining deck. It serves fresh lobster and other seafood dishes and is a very pleasant spot for a sundowner. On weekends the pace picks up with music played late into the night.

Ziggy’s Beach Bar, Frigate Bay South - Another favoured chill-out spot on “The Strip”. Simple beach hut with with a shaded area for relaxing and small wooden dance floor on the sand.