Nightlife in St. Lucia: Beach Bars, Live Music, and More

While many travelers visit St. Lucia for its iconic mountain views and luxury resorts, the island's excellent array of beachside bars and live music are a few more reasons to book a flight to this Eastern Caribbean island. If clubbing is your thing, you're not entirely in luck (unless you visit Rehab in Rodney Bay), but if seaside cocktails and island vibes are what you're after, a trip to St. Lucia is just the thing.

Seaside Bars

There's no shortage of luxury resorts on St. Lucia, so it's only right that there is no shortage of chic seaside bars for well-heeled visitors to enjoy the ambiance and a few cocktails.

• Dasheene: Located in the favorite vacation destination of Soufriere, Dasheene serves up award-winning St. Lucian cuisine with a breathtaking view, overlooking the Pitons at Ladera Resort. Simply not to be missed. Head to the restaurant on a weekend night for live music (known to play many other days of the week during peak season, as well.)
• The Palm Court Bar & Lounge: Also, in Soufriere, this bar at Sugar Beach Viceroy serves up some delicious cocktails and a daily afternoon tea that is not to be missed. Stick around for the blazing azure and magenta sunset later in the evening—the gorgeous terrace is one of the best places to observe this nightly technicolor spectacle on the island.
• DOOlittle’s Restaurant + Bar: Head over to Marigot Bay to visit this spot, the setting for one of the filming spots for the 1967 film, "Doctor Doolittle," the restaurant transitions from a bustling dinner atmosphere to a laid-back bar scene as the night progresses. Also, in Marigot Bay, the Hurricane Hole Bar & Restaurant is another seaside institution serving up a perfect blend of alcohol and Caribbean ambiance.

Beach Bars

A little more low-key than our previous selections, these institutions are situated directly on the beach--and offer a fantastic view for sunsets in the evening. But you needn't wait until nightfall to indulge in the frozen cocktails on the menu—a rum punch is never more refreshing than while sunbathing in the heat of the tropics.

• Bayside Beach Bar: This bar located in Sugar Beach Viceroy is a must-visit: The sand, the views, and the surf make this excursion to Soufriere more than worth your while.
• Anse Chastanet is home to two immensely appealing beach bars, including the Trou Au Diable (also known as the Beach Grill) and the Jungle-Beach Grill, located just down the coast. We recommend hitting up both spots in one night. Start your evening at the Beach Grill and then head down to the second beach of Anse Mamin to enjoy another frozen concoction while watching the waves at the outdoor setting of the Jungle-Beach Grill.
• Head to the Naked Fisherman on Sunday night to watch the sunset and let loose with some Ibiza-style vibes. Live music is played on the last day of the week, and visitors are encouraged to dance in the sand. Thursday is another significant night to visit the beach bar, as it is when the weekly barbecue is held, drawing locals and tourists alike. Visitors should consult the institution's schedule before visiting to keep an eye out for Creole seafood boils and lobster lunches to attend during their stay.

Live Music and Events

The Naked Fisherman isn't the only place on the island to catch some live music. Check out our top options for music-lovers below, with weekly performances being held all over the island, from swanky art spaces to rum caves. Weekends are a major time in St. Lucia for weekly events and festivities that are held on the island, appealing to tourists and locals alike.

• Head to Sugar Beats at Cane Bar every Thursday night to catch some live music in a decadent modern art space with some stellar cocktails. The bar's sophisticated elegance requires appropriate sophistication on behalf of its clientele. Resort-chic attire is enforced: No jeans or flip flops allowed. Though a jacket isn't required, we suggest you dress up for the occasion—the louder, the better. You are in the tropics, after all.
• Be sure to check out the town of Gros Islet, which hosts a Friday street party as well as the Anse La Raye Fish Fry to commemorate the beginning of the weekend. The Dennery Seafood Fiesta, alternately, occurs on Saturday nights.
• Also occurring on the first night of the weekend, Matthews St. Lucia hosts Steel Pan Fridays, and Ti Bananne Caribbean Bistro & Bar serves up a Friday night BBQ (the latter of which has live music playing during happy hour.)
• A weekly Sunday barbeque at Hummingbird Beach is popular with locals and is a great scene for visitors to check out, too.
• Sign up for some rum tasting at the Rum Cave at Marigot Bay, and get the chance to appreciate some live musical performances while you sip, as well.
• Rodney Bay is a nightlife capital on the island, and lovers of nightclubs are encouraged to check out Rehab, named after the Amy Winehouse song. But even if you decide not to check into Rehab voluntarily, visitors should cruise the strip on Rodney Bay and see what appeals. (We recommend the perennial favorite Harbor Bar, a seaside institution that appeals to tourists and locals alike.)

Tips for Going Out in St. Lucia

• Travelers looking for a late-night in town should arrange their pick-up time and location with their taxi drivers beforehand. (And confirm the fare in advance, too, as taxi prices are subject to change based on distance, number of passengers, and other variables.) Uber does not exist on St. Lucia, and, though the island boasts excellent public transportation with its Minibus service, many routes are discontinued later in the evening.
• Though it's up to your discretion, the local standard for tipping in St. Lucia is 10 percent. As always, check your bar or restaurant bill beforehand to ensure gratuity hasn't already been included. If you're interested in tipping more, go right ahead. When it comes to generosity, it's always the more, the merrier.
• The drinking age in St. Lucia is 18, and you can walk in the street with an open container.