The nightlife scene on St. Thomas is energetic, and bars are as abundant as trees, but it's almost impossible to pin down a list of the best. Each bar has such a unique character and clientele, that comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. The best bars on St. Thomas range from resort hangouts, to beach hideaways, to local dives, to raucous saloons, to elegant wine bars.
A high percentage of St. Thomas's best bars are in the East End, around the Red Hook area. Latitude 18, which overlooks American Yacht Harbor, books some of the best live bands on the island and boasts a swinging scene most nights - but particularly Thursday through Sunday. The Caribbean Saloon also has a great reputation for live music, but its vibe is younger, louder, and more rowdy than Latitude 18's. And Molly Malone's, which is just around the corner, offers a boisterous, convivial atmosphere like any good Irish pub on the mainland.
St. Thomas's hotels and resorts often have some of the best bars, which are frequented by guests and locals alike. For example Iggie's, at Bolongo Beach resort, boasts a palm-fringed, sand-dusted beach bar that attracts a clientele from all over the island.
Those looking for a more elegant, refined experience might want to try Epernay, a popular wine bar in Frenchtown, or Randy's, an Italian bistro tucked into a Raphune Hill shopping center. Both attract a mature, sophisticated crowd who want to sample the latest vintage vino or bubbly.
Changing gears again, the Hull Bay Hideaway is the quintessential open-air beach bar where you can sit barefoot at the bar with Northside locals while listening to live music into the wee hours.
And high in the hills above Charlotte Amalie sits St. Thomas's version of Cheers. Sib's Mountain Bar is one of those places where you can play pool with the locals, watch football on TV, and by the end of the evening everyone will know your name.
9C Vessup Lane, off Route 322
Restaurant and bar...
American Yacht Harbor
Rockin' sports bar and restaurant...
American Yacht Harbor
Boisterous Irish pub...
6500 Red Hook Plaza
Red Hook Plaza
Non-stop Caribbean party...
Rue de St. Barthelemy
Rue de St. Barthélemy, Frenchtown
Elegant Frenchtown watering hole...
10 Hull Bay
Laid-back beach bar...
7150 Bolongo
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
Popular beach resort bar...
Al Cohen's Plaza
Across from Havensight Mall
Drinks, pool, and sports...
4002 Raphune Hill
Al Cohen's Plaza between Tutu and Raphune Hill
Locals love it...
Route 35
Hyper-local hillside hangout...