Hi Claire,

Here are my 2 cents on the local club scene.

The best evenings for the Jungle Night Club are Thursday and Saturday. On Thursday ladies do not pay admission before midnight (guys $10/900 JMD) and admission (1350 JMD?) on Saturday includes drinks. The club begins to get busy around midnight. There are two levels each with a dance floor. The upper level has an open-air feeling and leans more towards roots reggae/soul/R&B. The first floor is dark with spinning lights and more of a club atmosphere, and is heavy on dance hall music. Initially the scene is upstairs and then it transitions to the first floor ~1:30 am. I have never stayed until closing but I imagine it goes to at least 4:00 am. However, around 3:00 am the local scene heads to Scrub-A-Dub Carwash and Night Club. This is located slightly beyond down town and it is advisable to hire a driver that will remain with you at the club. A DJ spins excellent music here as well and there is a stage with dancing girls. (This is not a strip club although the girls dance for tips, sometimes provocatively. There is nothing that I have witnessed that is comparable in the U.S.) There is a rooftop lounge, pool with a megaslide, and grill. Before you know it the sun is rising. Hungry? Mi Yard on the near west end or one of the local spots in Whitehall are open 24 hours for food. Yes these places are safe, but use common sense. As the evening gets later and the more alcohol is consumed the chances for trouble increase, but this is universal and not particular to Jamaica.

There are other options for local club scenes. One that I have been impressed with in the past year is Bourbon Beach. They have an excellent DJ and a talented group of dancers. There is an open-air tiki bar, a good grill, and a large bonfire on the beach several nights a week. There is a mix of tourists, expats, and locals and it is also a good venue to begin your evening activities. It too picks up steam around midnight and ends ~1:30 am. A short walk from BB is Las Vegas Night Club. Most nights the scene is at the upstairs level where they have a DJ and a large stage with girl dancers. On occasion they will have live music on the first floor or a stage on the beach. Sometimes the music is too loud, the atmosphere too smoky, and it is too hot.

Other local options include American Pie and the Rooftop lounge, both of which are near the round-a-bout. Keep a watch out for brightly colored signs for upcoming live music events that are posted on poles all over town. Roots Bamboo is a popular spot for touring Reggae artists and good acts draw large crowds. Be aware that the featured artist is not likely to take to the stage until way past midnight. For all of the above be certain to spend some time checking out the road activities if it is the local scene you are truly seeking. Outside these venues you will encounter vendors of all types and, although they will initially try a hard sell, they are a hoot to talk to and get to know.

Besides the local club scene, there are many tourist-oriented venues that are popular. Seastar Inn on West End Rd on Saturday night has excellent local bands, a drumming session with native dancers that has a tribal theme, and a large buffet. Many hotels also have live entertainment in the early evening when the locals are napping in order to prepare for their night out!