Login | Register  
    • Share

    Trinidad's Nightlife & Entertainment Scene
    Fonclaire performs at the San Fernando Jazz Festival
    Photographer: Mark Lyndersay
    Related Images
    • A big wet fete!Coco Lounge, one of many bars and nightclubs on Ariapita Avenue in WoodbrookThe lights illuminate the new National Academy for the Performing ArtsA DJ at the boardPatrice Roberts performs the Machel Montano AC concertPopular local MC and comedian Tommy JosephParty time in TrinidadLocal party-goers pack Zen Nightclub each weekendTime to leggo: partying in TrinidadVersatile soca artist Kees Dieffenthaller of KES the BandThe Shiv Shakti Dance CompanyA panman beats a steel panSoca artist Machel Montano whips the crowd in to a frenzySitarist and composer Mungal PatasarLimbo night at the Best Village competitionKees Dieffenthaller of KES the BandThe Astor Johnson Repertory Company
    Related Stories
     

     

     

    Resources
    Add a comment
    Trinidad's Nightlife & Entertainment Scene

    Something for Every Taste:
    A Guide to Trinidad's Nightlife & Entertainment

     

    Trinidadians take their entertainment very, very seriously. As Trinidad’s cosmopolitan population has grown more affluent, nightlife and entertainment choices have grown to meet the growing demand, with a range of settings and activities to keep you entertained all night long. The multitude of bars, nightclubs and lounges, roadside watering holes, multi-level VIP clubs with dazzling lights and sizzling cocktails, shows exactly how serious a business partying is to Trinis. What would you like, small lime or a big fête? Do you have the stamina to hop from lime to club to bar to club to late night doubles and back? Whatever. Trinidad has no shortage of entertainment options. And if you just want to enjoy a movie, a play or a concert, you’re covered there too. There’s no shortage of possibilities – find your niche and dive in!
     

     

    Arts & Culture


    For those in to the arts there are nearly always music, theatre, and dance performances at several venues to be enjoyed. Theatre, dance and concerts find homes at Queen’s Hall and the newly-completed National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. The CLR James Auditorium at Cipriani Labour College in Valsayn has become a popular theatre venue, and the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St. Augustine a more serious one. In south Trinidad, the main performance space is Naparima Bowl in San Fernando. See our Arts & Culture section for more information. 
     


    Bars & Lounges

     

    Around Port of Spain

    You’d be hard pressed to find any corner of Trinidad without at least a basic roadside bar where you can perhaps shoot pool and sing karaoke while downing a six-pack.
     
    The district of St. James has been called “the city that never sleeps” because of its thumping music, sidewalk vendors and straightforward, down-to-earth drinking dens. You’ll find loads of bars along the Western Main Road. Of these, the most famous is the signature Smokey and Bunty's, a legendary liming spot where regular characters who are an evening’s entertainment all by themselves, particularly around Carnival time (hint: be on the look out for "Saucy Pow"). Hereford’s Bar also has its charms: at their infamous Hard Wine Thursdays, you can sample their “horny goat weed.”

    Beyond the basics, there are upscale bars and lounges with swanky interiors, good food (whether you’re looking just for finger food or a good meal) and scintillating signature drinks. Some feature big-screen TVs showing popular sports games; karaoke nights; games areas with pool tables and dart boards; and special themed nights featuring performances from contemporary rock, reggae, soca, jazz, world and fusion bands.

    Around Port of Spain, Ariapita Avenue – sometimes just called “The Avenue” – is a microcosm of the bar and lounge experience in Trinidad, but there are popular hangouts in all the major towns like St Augustine, Trincity, Arima, Chaguanas and San Fernando. Hotels have modern and well-equipped bars and lounges, often with great ambiance. 

    So if you're in Port of Spain and your taste runs more towards the swanky lounge, the sports bar and the night club, head towards Woodbrook. Cutters and live entertainment can be found at Sweet Lime on Ariapita Avenue, next door to the Ma Pau casino. The food, entertainment and atmosphere of Zanzibar, one major road over in MovieTowne, make it a favourite sports bar for group limes, and you can take in a movie or a show at the on-site cineplex and Fiesta Plaza.
     
    Other night spots on the Ariapita Avenue strip include the Corner Bar, Studio, Coco Lounge, the Squeeze, Shakers, and Satchmo’s. At More Vino, you will find wines from around the world and fresh sushi. The neighbouring Drink! Wine Bar features DJs on Friday nights. La Casa de Ibiza, Woodford Café and Trotters serve live and televised entertainment with the food. Not far away, Aura serves cocktails, wines and cutters in elegant surroundings, and Minglers and Earth provide cosy indoor seating and picnic-table style pavement seating along Cipriani Boulevard.
     
    But this only scratches the surface. What about the elegant bars and lounges at hotels like the Kapok (Maraval), the Carlton Savannah and Hilton (St. Ann’s), or the Hyatt Regency (Port of Spain water front).
     
    If you’ve got your dancing shoes, take them to the 51° nightclub, where karaoke starts the party off on a Thursday evening. The Zen Nightclub is noted for four levels of dance floors and bars, including a special VIP level. Katalyst has a nightclub interior with an attractive deck outside; likewise, Club Alchemy has merged the night club and lounge experience. It will cost you $80 to $175 to get into a nightclub, though most clubs run regular free entry and free drinks promotions.
     
    If you still have time and energy, fêtes, parties and live concerts featuring local and international acts might be staged in large outdoor venues like the Queen’s Park Savannah at any time, especially around carnival.
     

    Highlights of South, East and Central

    The futuristic Space La Nouba nightclub is a is the place to be in the Southland. The interior, designed by renowned masman Brian McFarlane, hosts popular drinks-inclusive Champagne Fridays and themed party nights. Privé (an exclusive nightclub with guest-list-only entry) and the 110 Jazz and Calypso Lounge are also popular.
     
    Along the east-west corridor, Trincity Mall’s restaurants and bars include the very popular Bootleggers and J. Malone’s. Discerning limers might also drift towards Trevor’s Edge in St. Augustine or Sandbaggers in Trincity.


    Films & Movies


    You can catch the most recent movies at several cinemas, including two multiplexes at MovieTowne, at Invader's Bay in Port of Spain and Price Plaza in Chaguanas; Caribbean Cinemas 8 in Trincity; and the new Digicel     Imax in Port of Spain. MovieTowne hosts the Trinidad and Tobago and European Film Festivals in September and October. Classic and independent films are also screened by the Studio Film Club, UWI Campus Film Classics, and at film festivals (including the Trinidad & Tobago and European Film Festivals). The single-screen Globe (Port of Spain) and Palladium (Tunapuna) offer double features and cheap seats. 
     


    Party Time: Hit the Clubs


    Trinidadians love to party, and like to do it in very fine style. And once they’ve started, they don’t like to stop. This party market has fuelled the growth of mega-clubs whose various levels and special VIP areas are packed out all weekend. The more exclusive ones maintain strict dress codes, operate with invitation lists, and usually require ID for entry. But no matter where you are in the country, there is a nightclub you can find to dance the night away.
     
    It’s not only about partying, though. Some of the biggest nightclubs have evolved into spaces that present concerts with local music stars and big-name international pop, R&B, and house music acts.

    When the market for the party or concert is too large for even the biggest clubs, mega-concerts move to huge arenas like the Queen’s Park Oval, the Centre of Excellence, the Jean Pierre Complex, the National Stadium or the Queen’s Park Savannah. They often offer general and VIP (or VVIP!) tickets, with the pricier passes providing you with all-inclusive food and drink. These big party and concert events are concentrated around Carnival time, public holidays, and school vacations.
     
     

    Featured Bars & Clubs

    Your rating: None Average: 4 (4 votes)
    Share

     

    blog comments powered by Disqus

    Bookmark and Share