Bermuda Nightlife Guide: Bars and Live Entertainment in the Bermuda Islands

Spotlight

Bermuda

Nightlife

Despite its genteel rep, Bermuda has begun courting a more urban, urbane, youthful crowd. While it's not quite Spring Break redux, several happening pubs and clubs now complement the traditional cocktail venues where slinky chanteuses or pianists hold sway for the Fox Trot set. During high season, you'll find slinky live music, sultry beach parties, and sprawling street fairs nightly. Every Sunday, the Dockyard hosts Sunset Musicfest, a live jazz jam and bouncing barbecue, while Tuesday nights the Dockyard shops remain open late and more live music is on tap, as well as folkloric performances by Bermuda's Gombey dancers. On Wednesdays, Hamilton hosts the Harbour Nights street festival, closing Front Street (between Parliament and Queen Stets) for local crafts vendors and eateries to set up stands under twinkling lights, culminating in the Culture Fest Street Party on Court Street later. Flatts Village throws it own bash Thursdays, with more live entertainment and a smorgasbord of finger foods. Otherwise, we've covered the coolest hotspots, below, where an occasional famous face might swirl by, martini elegantly in hand.

Fairmont Southampton (101 South Shore Rd., Southampton; 441/238-8000; www.fairmont.com/southampton) has a lovely throwback lounge with coffered ceilings, plush leather sofas, art glass and seascapes; a trio plays nightly. Elbow Beach (60 South Shore Rd., Paget; 441/236-3535) counters with the Veranda, a clubby, library cum rum-and-cigar bar (dig the old posters of spirits and aperitifs); a pianist plays nightly, jazz vocalists often chime in, and there's free salsa instruction Wednesdays and $2 happy-hour tapas on Fridays (followed by a sizzling DJ). Mediterraneo (39 Church St., Hamilton; 441/296-9047) gets going at 10.30pm on weekends with tapas at the wine bar, local and international jazz singers, and writhing on a tiny but crowded dance floor. Mondays mean Martini Madness, with mixologists sending little samplers to lucky diners. Splash (Bermudiana Rd., Hamilton; 441/296-3849) calls itself a wine bar, lounge, and night club and attracts well-heeled loafers, both locals and visitors, to the closest thing Bermuda has to a sizzling singles scene. Deep at Elbow Beach (same address as above) replicates the look of Art Deco luxury liner with lots of blue walls, gauzy curtains, freestanding neoclassical columns, sparkle countertops, and even leather floors. The Beach (103 Front St., Hamilton; 441/292-0219; www.thebeachbermuda.com) bills itself as "The Shame of Front Street," but it's (mostly) good clean fun with a frat party atmosphere: DJs spinning nightly, slot machines, big-screen sports (with happy hours during major events).