Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 138

First Class Karma Lounge ( 297-588-7928), in the Aventura Mall,

draws a large well-dressed crowd with its Martini and Chivas Regal Bars.
Near by, on the second level behind the Renaissance, La Fiesta (

297-
583-5896) has no real dance floor, but patrons dance on the wrap-around
balcony and near the long bar.
Café Bahia ( 297-588-9982), on Weststraat across from the Royal Plaza

Mall, opens its dance floor with disco music around 10 pm, after the main
dinner service wraps up. Across the street, Iguana Joe's (

297-582-
5889), serves excellent drink specials in a wild and colorful space. Just
down the street, Carlos & Charlie's ( 297-582-0355) is always packed

with party-bus people, vacationers and locals who are drawn by the wide
variety of music and the generous drink specials. Try a Mother Margarita,
served in a 28-ounce souvenir glass.
A popular nightclub is in the Royal Plaza Mall on L.G. Smith Blvd -
Mambo Jambo

297-583-3632), a laid-back open-air place with a
Latin-Caribbean flavor and music. Choose a Name (

(

297-588-6200),
behind Royal Plaza Mall on Havenstraat, is famous for terrific live music
and stiff specialty drinks. Jimmy's Place (

297-582-2550), a block off
Caya Betico Croes (Main Street) at the corner of Kuisweg and Digicel, is
known for its delicious food and caters to business people during the early
evening. Around midnight, the Place draws a mixed straight and gay
crowd with creative drinks and live music.
Jazz lovers and cigar connoisseurs head to Garufa (

297-582-3677), a
swanky place with a classy humidor. It serves premium liquors and
liqueurs. Located across the street from El Gaucho Restaurant at
Wilhelminastraat 63.
Café Havana ( 297-582-0152 ), on L.G. Smith Blvd. near the waterfront,

and Cuba's Cookin' (

297-588-0627), at Weststraat 37, are the places to
find hot, hot, hot salsa and meringue music. To cool down, ask for a mojita,
which is made with mint, sugar and rum.
Out on Palm Beach, between the Radisson and Aruba Grand hotels, the
Kokoa Bar ( 297-586-2050) is popular with sandy tourists looking for a

party. Happy hour runs from 3-5pm, but the crowd lingers until around
10 pm. After that, everyone meanders over to the palapas at MoomBa
Beach Bar and Grill (

297-586-5365), where the action continues late

into the night.
Elsewhere on the island , Le Soleil Lounge at Tierra del Sol Resort &
Country Club ( 297-586-7800) is a relaxed and surprisingly casual place

to enjoy drinks and quiet conversation. Bikers keep Black Hog filled to
overflowing most evenings. It's located at Adventure Golf, across from La
Cabana Resort (

297-587-6625).