For nightlife, there’s no shortage of cabarets, cocktail bars and restaurants serving local and world dishes. For gamblers, there are 11 casinos, some of them open day and night.

When the sun goes down, a whole different side of Aruba comes to life. Many hotels have large theaters featuring live entertainment that is imported from the US and Central America.

Garufa Cigar & Cocktail Lounge
Perfect for a relaxing evening out or an after dinner cocktail in a cozy atmosphere. Listen to soft music from harp, piano or saxophone. Offers the freshest cigars, the finest single malts, cognacs and portwines. Open Monday through Saturday 5 pm till 2 am.

Salt 'n Pepper
Home of the the island's best tapas. Three or four of these appetizers are large enough to make a main course. If you bring in a set of original salt and pepper shakers for the owners to keep, you get your first glass of wine free with your dinner. Sangria, consumed in an alfresco courtyard, is the usual drink of choice, and the bar stays open until 1 am.

Mumbo Jumbo
Located in the Royal Plaza Mall, L. G. Smith Boulevard, is sultry and relaxing. Expect a cosmopolitan blend of Dutch and Latino visitors, and lots of Latin rhythms. The volume is kept at a tolerable level for wallflowers and anyone who wants to have a conversation. There's an array of specialty drinks; imagine coconut shells, very colorful straws, and large fruit. Hours are from sunset until between 2 and 3am, depending on the night of the week.

Havana Beach Club
After 8pm, it transforms into one of the island's busiest nightclubs, with recorded or live salsa music and lots of high-energy exhibitionism on the dance floor. It's open every night until 5am. The cover ranges from $6 to $10.

Iguana Joe's Caribbean Bar & Grill
Enjoys an equal vogue among visitors and islanders. It's known for its huge array of specialty drinks, including "Pink Iguana," "Grandma Joe's Pink Lemonade," and the aptly named "Lethal Lizard," the latter packing four shots of liquor served in a half-liter carafe. Patrons come here to drink and have a good time, and they can also eat here, ordering fresh salads, pastas, fresh mahi-mahi, sizzling fajitas, and rich homemade desserts.