After a long day at the beach you'll be fully rested to enjoy a fun evening going out. Curacao's nightlife has something for everyone. You can enjoy live music on one of the many restaurant terraces or beaches, taste the typical atmosphere in a local bar, jump on the dance floor in nightclubs and discos, try your luck at the casinos, or go for endless salsa dancing.
Photo by: Renaissance Mall & Rif Fort
Before taking you to any other nightlife option, we like to show you our favorite endless salsa dance happening, starting 7 PM every Friday night. The program is called Drink, Dine, and Dance with Gino & Friends and takes place in between the almost 100 year old walls of the historic Rif Fort.
The stage is located in between The Royal Dutch Cheesery, Ristorante di Zabbia, Douwe Egberts Café, Don's Ice Cream Shop, and Rif Fort Bar & Terrace (Happy hour Friday and Saturday from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm). If you're not brave enough to shake your booty to the salsa beats, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the music and watch the dancing, while having an excellent dinner or cocktail at one of the above restaurants or bars.
Besides Gino & Friends, Rif Fort Stage offers many other live music performances. Sax with the DJ provides a relaxing blend of funk and jazz every Thursday evening from 7:30 to 10:30 PM and Axel Pikero gives you Soul Sessions on Saturday evenings. Both perform on the Rif Fort Stage.
Restaurants & Bars
On Sunday or Wednesday evening, go to Iguana Cafe at the Handelskade for live music starting at 7 PM. Enjoy a cocktail while watching Willemstad's old buildings and pontoon bridge illuminated with colorful lights and ships entering and leaving the harbor.
Photo by: Calvin Lee
Visit the Pirate's Nest on Monday evening at Caracas Bay to listen to the tunes of Michael Anthony on the sax at 5 PM (happy hour) or 8 PM.
Would you rather dance? Then go to Restaurant Brakkeput Mei Mei and take a free salsa lesson after your Monday evening dinner.
Mix with the locals on Tuesday or Thursday evenings at Omundo in Suikertuintje where Curacao's most talented musicians start performing at 10 PM. Take your chance on the dance floor on a mix of classics and today's hits with a touch of salsa.
Photo by: Omundo
Curacao's weekend already starts on Thursday evening with lots of entertainment going on in Pietermaai District, the coolest and trendiest area of the island where historic homes have been restored and turned into restaurants and bars.
Avila's Blues Bar offers grilled specialties with beautiful sunsets and live jazz & blues music. In case you want to enjoy a smaller perfect seaside setting full of tasteful food and delicious drinks, see what the boutique hotel BijBlauw has to offer. They often have live music on Thursday evenings.
Are you in for more nightlife action? Try Bar 27 located in Pietermaai District, Curacao's only Rock 'n Roll bar inspired by the great musicians from the Forever 27 Club.
Go back to the Pietermaai District on Friday and Saturday evening to get a little bit loco loco at Mundo Bizarro. The atmosphere and funky decor of Mundo Bizarro is worth seeing on its own... Throw in great food, live music, and dancing and this place becomes a must-go! Make sure to make reservations.
Photo by: Mundo Bizarro
Miles Jazz Cafe is located in the same street as Mundo Bizarro. Good musicians play here almost every night from reggae, to rock, to blues, to Jazz... Something for everyone! Whether or not you started your night at Miles, you should definitely end it there! Sit inside or out while you chill out with your favorite beverage and hang with the locals to talk about the Curacao music scene or island happenings late into the night or early into the morning.
Beaches
The single most frequent recommendation you probably get when asking about fun nightlife in Curacao is probably to go to Hemingway, Madero Ocean Club (Mambo Beach Blvd), Wet & Wild, and Cabana Beach.
It's best to go there on a Friday evening, Saturday evening, or Sunday evening. Start at Hemingway (bar & restaurant at Lions Dive & Beach Resort) with live music and then slowly move westward around 9 PM, as the large crowd moves to the nearby Madero Ocean Club, Wet & Wild, and Cabana Beach. There will be DJ set ups on the beach, live music, a good discount on alcoholic beverages, and lots of dancing going on.
Make sure you're aware of any special nightlife events going on at Madero Ocean Club! They have a huge main stage and host all kind of events from concerts to parties and fashion shows.
Photo by: Cabana
Another nice beach nightlife place to go to is Jan Thiel beach, with Papagayo Beach Club, Zest Beach Cafe, Tinto, Zanzibar and Mojito's and Bites.
Every Wednesday evening local artists perform at Zanzibar's Unplugged Beach Sessions. On Friday evening from 5 PM on there is ‘N’Joy FRIDAY!’ at Zanzibar with great music, grill, campfire and special offers on drinks. On Saturdays from 5 PM on, local bands and DJ Thomas perform at Zanzibar.
Another evening not to forget is Tinto's Latin Flavor, which takes place every last Thursday evening of the month. Latin dance shows start at 7:30 PM.
Just steps away from the beach on the first floor of Papagayo Beach Plaza you'll find Mojito's and Bites where they serve great bites and Mojitos in twenty different flavors. Their weekly events are: on Thursday evening La Fiesta Thursday where you can dance salsa, bachata, and merengue on Friday evening there is either live music or a jukebox party with music on request, and on Saturday evening Urban Night with lots of latin music by DJ Carlito & MC Hype.
Photo by: Tinto
Kokomo beach, with its surfers look, is most famous for its monthly Full Moon Party. It's the largest (18+) beach party in the Caribbean where more than 3000 party people gather to drink, laugh and dance on the beach. The party starts at 10 PM and lasts till 5 AM.
Check Kokomo's website for the Full Moon Party's exact date and other nightlife events.
Pirates Bay Beach Club & Restaurant is located at Piscadera Bay. Here you can have dinner with your feet in the sand and enjoy live music on evening Friday evening starting at 6 PM. Every Saturday evening there is a Latin Pirates of the Caribbean Dance Workshops, which takes place between 9 and 10 PM, followed by swinging to the Latin beats. Every Sunday evening there is live reggae music which starts at 7 PM.
Night Clubs & Local Bars
Are you not tired yet? ....then head to one of the late night dancing hot spots. All clubs, bars, and discos have special events, but since they change from week to week, it's best to check either PasaBon or the Curacao Party Guide.
If you like house music then go to The Alley Bar Lounge in Punda. With it's excellent DJ’s, cocktails and perfect setting The Alley is great for a night out and about for young and old. Doors open at 10 PM.
Located in a ship in Punda's Waaigat you'll find DE Kroeg, which means 'the bar' in Dutch. They have many different events ranging from techno to salsa parties.
Photo by: The Alley Bar Lounge
Check out The Hangover Party Bar at the Fokkerweg close to Salina in case you're in for a big disco party and an epic hangover.
At Kaya Henriquez in Salina you'll find the local nightclub Club Elevate with parties ranging from Hip Hop to Rhythm and Blues.
For wild parties, the best DJs of the island and great cocktails, go to Grand Cafe Emporio at the Caracasbaaiweg in Salina.
Getting a little tired? ....it's time for BED. No, not that bed, BED stands for Beyond, Entertainment, and Dancing. The American style lounge and nightclub is located in Salina and offers different areas with dance floors where DJs or live music bands perform. The club is set up with 360 degrees panoramic visuals with landscapes, motion graphics and mapping shows.
Photo by: BED
If you truly like to experience Curacao nightlife and meet the locals in their own environment, visit a local bar. Probably the best local bar to go to is the Netto Bar, one of the oldest bars on Curacao located in the Ortobanda side of Willemstad. It's not the best neighborhood, so be savvy. But once you get there be sure to meet all the regulars sitting at the tables out front. Have a blast, drinking their famous green rum and dancing on the street!
Casinos
If you prefer doing a bit of gambling instead of dancing the night away, you will find that there are numerous possibilities.
There are 12 casinos on the island featuring slot machines, bingo, live gaming tables, bars, restaurants, and even live shows. Most casinos offer a free drink and snack to the players. The casinos stay open until around 2 or 4 a.m., and often have a dress code despite their relaxed atmosphere. The legal gambling age on Curacao is 18+.
The biggest and best casinos in Curacao are:
The Carnaval Casino (Renaissance Curacao Resort) located in Otrobanda, with a carnival decor and waitstaff often dressed up in carnival costumes. It's the largest casino on the island with 19 table games and 335 gaming and video poker machines.
The Casino Awasa Sports & Race Book (Otrobanda Hotel) in Otrobanda. One of the only casinos that has it all. Here you can pull the slots, bet on sports, roll the dices, or play cards.
The Emerald Casino (Curacao Marriott Beach Resort) in Piscadera, is one of the most beautiful casinos in Curacao, where you can enjoy a wide spectrum of games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, and Poker.
Photo by: Carnaval Casino
Other casinos are: Curacao Casino (Hilton Curacao), Diamond Beach Casino (Papagayo Beach Resort), Downtown Casino (San Marco Hotel), Hill Ross Casino (Trupial Inn Hotel), Holland Casino (Airport Hotel), Howard Johnson Plaza Casino (Howard Johnson Curacao Plaza), Royal Casino (Plaza Hotel), Sunscape Casino (Sunscape Curacao), and the Veneto Casino (Holiday Beach Resort).
PLEASE NOTE that all the above information was accurate when published but may change without notice. Make sure you check out the Curacao Party Guide for the latest updates on nightlife events going on in Curacao. You can also pick up your copy of the weekly dining and entertainment guide PasaBon at any shop or restaurant, or log on their website to find out what is happening where.
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