Antigua
Entertainment

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While most islands rely on hotels for evening entertainment, Antigua is somewhat different. Antiguans like their nightlife, so there are actual nightclubs on the island. Don't expect to head out after dinner and be home by the bewitching hour. Instead, take a nap after dinner, and then head out much later because that's when the real action begins.

If you're near St. John's in the evening, Julians is a wonderful bet for an evening out. Go for dinner and stay for the live entertainment, drinks and dancing. For the very young and hip tourists (and locals), probably the biggest dance club is Ribbit, a club so large that there are several rooms for dancing and several bars. As you enter, they stamp your hand so you can come and go, then send you through a metal detector. So put on your trendiest, skin-tight attire and join in the fun. The owners frown on jeans, halters, short or very casual clothing on weekends. If you're over thirty, you may feel a bit over-the-hill.

Another hot spot is Cats, a glitzy Manhattan-style club where you can dance the night away in air-conditioned comfort. Also try the Web, a local dance club, better known by locals than visitors.

There are many bars throughout the island like the Big Banana at Redcliffe Quay in downtown St. John's which has bands a couple nights a week. At TiTis restaurant at the Galleon Beach Club in English Harbour, the sailing crowd enjoys reggae sounds once a week and a weekly treat by local favorite Laurie Stevens. He'll sing, strum and entertain you until the wee hours. Not to be missed is Shirley Heights, an 18th century fortification near English Harbour, that really jams on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. This is THE place for barbecue, drinks and music.

The trendiest place on the island is Abracadabras in English Harbour. Come for a creative Italian meal and stay for the action. After 11p the party crowd comes out of the woodwork to dance and drink the night away on the deck to the Euro sounds. Any age will mix well here, but you've got to be cool. Then there's The Dry Dock at the corner of Falmouth Harbour and the main strip running into Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour. This restaurant/club is struggling for an identity but does draw a good crowd from time to time. While in the Falmouth Harbour area, Friday nights are sizzling at both the Mad Mongoose and the Last Lemming, just yards from one another. The crowd is thirty and under at the Mongoose and a mix of every age at the Last Lemming. Best arrival time is around 10p.

Aside from big buffets, Spinnikers and Millers by the Sea are both popular bars with live music nightly. Southern Cross in English Harbour is also a hangout for the yacht set. They serve plenty of drinks and northern Italian cuisine. This is not a party place, thus more suitable for a romantic and low key night out.

For a different sort of entertainment, Antigua has two main casinos with gaming tables plus several others offering slots only. Look for these in the departure lounge area at the V.C. Byrd International Airport. In town, there's the Kings Casino, which boasts the world's largest slot machine. There's also the more sophisticated and European-inspired St. James Club. The casino at the Royal Antiguan Resort has many slot machines, but no tables.

Throughout the year you'll find specialty entertainment. Each spring the island plays host to Antigua Sailing Week when sailors from all over the map converge here for a huge week-long regatta. It's great sport for the sailors as well as the spectators. Book your accommodations early for this one. You don't know what hard partying is until you've spent this week in Antigua. Speaking of sailing, an entertaining day can be had at the Antigua Yacht Club every Thursday when members and visitors race yachts and join for drinks. Call the club to confirm. Schedules depend on weather and turnout.

There's also the Antigua Tennis Week, hosted each year by the Curtain Bluff Resort, which pulls in some tennis greats and massive fans.

Some call it boredom, some call it more important than politics, but in Antigua, cricket is the all-important activity. Just ask anyone on the island or check the local newspaper listings to find a match.

Friday nights are a blast for the sports-minded at Temo's, a bar, tennis and squash club. On Friday, all are invited to throw their hat in the ring for an evening of round-robin tennis. It's casual and comfortable. Most players (all levels) have a few beers before and after the game. Temos is in English Harbour on Falmouth Harbour between Last Lemming and Mad Mongoose.

For more sophisticated tastes, visit the Antigua Community Players, which sponsor musical programs and original plays and productions. There's also a local dance troupe called the Antigua Dance Theatre that occasionally gives impressive public performances.

Check out the hotel evening scene in the Dickenson Bay area when you're making your plans. There's always plenty of lounge entertainment and dress is always casual. While in the area, peek into Putters, an up and coming singles spot that attracts all ages.