12 of the best bars in Barbados
There’s loads to see and do during the day in Barbados, whether it be the gorgeous beaches or perhaps a tour of a rum distillery, but things are just as exciting when the sun goes down, with a rich and varied nightlife to explore.
The majority of the activity takes place at St. Lawrence Gap on the island’s south coast (or ‘The Gap’, as it’s also known), but there’s also a concentration of high-end bars located on the west coast (the ‘Platinum Coast’).
So whether it’s a chilled out cocktail bar or a lively street party you’re after, here are twelve of the best bars in Barbados.
Scarlet – Payne’s Bay, St James
This swanky cocktail bar/restaurant is located right on the west coast of the island, overlooking the gorgeous Payne’s Bay.
The bar itself is found inside an old chattel house (a small, moveable wooden house), with classy décor featuring pop art prints of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Steve McQueen.
The drinks menu features a long list of cocktails, and there’s a great selection of Asian and local dishes to snack on too.
Harbour Lights Barbados – Marine Villa, Bay Street
This large open-air club is found right on the beach, just to the south of Bridgetown. They hold a number of events, such as the Beach Extravaganza Dinner Show every Monday and Wednesday, with live music, fire-eating, acrobats, limbo dancing and plenty of audience participation!
On other nights it’s your standard club night, and the place to be after the Oistin’s Fish Fry on a Friday night!
Café Sol – St Lawrence Gap, Christchurch
This margarita bar is located in the heart of the St. Lawrence Gap hotspot and is lively without being too rowdy.
Earlier on, they also serve a great selection of Mexican food and offer happy hour deals on drinks between 5-7pm and 10pm-12pm.
And if you’re not into margaritas, don’t worry, as they also have loads of other cocktails, with different drinks offers every night.
The Tiki Bar – Hastings, Christ Church
This open air venue serves up great fresh food, including locally caught fish, and a huge array of 68 house cocktails!
The piña coladas in particular come highly recommended, and their location right on Rockley Beach makes it the perfect place to chill out for a quiet drink.
Bert’s Bar – Rockley, Christ Church
No matter how much you’re having a great time in Barbados, you don’t want to miss the big game while you’re away, so be sure to check out Bert’s.
It’s owned by the owner of a Canadian hockey team, and while their games take priority, they show all the major sporting events and also serve up a mean banana daiquiri.
And if you’re hungry try out one of their authentic stone-fire pizzas.
Lime Bar – Limegrove, Holetown
If there’s one word to sum up the Lime Bar on the west coast, it would be ‘style’. Their team of spirit connoisseurs take the time craft you the perfectly balanced cocktail whether it be a mojito, martini, or one of their own creations.
They also have a number of live music nights which are always worth checking out.
Red Door Lounge – Mango Bay Hotel, Holetown
This sophisticated cocktail bar in Holetown offers regular live DJ sets, a slight hipster vibe, and great drinks of course.
Their signature cocktails include the Red Door Mule, which consists of white rum, fresh lime, wild berries and ginger, topped with ginger beer.
The Mews – 2nd Street, Holetown
Attached to the excellent restaurant of the same name, The Mews have a great selection of drinks on offer, as well as their own house band, Saphire, who play a mixture of jazz, hip-hop, reggae and soca every Wednesday and Friday.
The Cliff Beach Club – Derricks, St James
On the rocks of the Platinum Coast, you’ll find the Cliff Beach Club, next to its sister restaurant. Its unique oceanside location makes it the perfect place to sit and watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand!
Cove – St. Lawrence Gap, Worthing
Formerly known as the Reggae Lounge, this buzzing nightclub plays a wide range of music, hosts a number of weekly events, and is located in the heart of the St. Lawrence Gap area.
The Old Jam Inn – St. Lawrence Gap, Oistins
Another Gap hotspot, the Old Jamm Inn is the home of live music, with regular performances from reggae, acoustic and DJ acts as well as sizzling local soca.
As you can see, for such a small island, Barbados has a rich and varied nightlife, and this is only just scratching the surface!
Make sure to check out as much of the island as you can, and try not to just keep going back to the hotel bar when there are so many great places out there to discover!