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Casinos
A few casinos are open 24 hours a day. In most, the opening hours are 11 a.m.
for slots and 1 p.m. through early morning for table games. Hours vary seasonally,
so check before making plans. No one under 18 is allowed in the casinos. The
larger casinos feature live first class entertainment imported from other countries
such as the United States and Latin America.
Stellaris Casino
The Marriott L.G. Smith Blvd. 101
Tel: 297/8-69000
is one of the island's most popular.
Casino Masquerade
Located at the Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort Casino
J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 81, Palm Beach
Tel: 297/8-66555
This is one of the newest casinos on Aruba. Located in the lower lobby of the
hotel, it is open from 10am - 4am daily. It offers blackjack, single deck, roulette,
Caribbean stud, craps, and "Let It Ride."
Crystal Casino
Located at the Aruba Sonesta Resort Casino at Seaport Village
Tel: 297/8-36000
Open daily 24 hours.
The 14,000-square-foot casino offers 11 blackjack tables, 270 slot machines,
four roulette tables, three Caribbean stud-poker tables, two craps tables, one
mini -baccarat table, and three full size baccarat tables. It has luxurious
furnishings, ornate mouldings, marble, and crystal chandeliers.
Wyndham Hotel and Resort Casino
J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 77
Tel: 297/8-64466
One of the newest casinos on the island.
Copacabana
Casino
Hyatt Regency Aruba
J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 85
Tel: 297/8-61234
Also a recent addition to the casino scene. It is an enormous complex with a
Carnival in Rio theme and live entertainment.
Royal Cabana
Casino
J. E. Irausquin Blvd.
Tel: 250 297/8-79000
Located at the La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort Casino. This casino is known
for its multi theme three-in-one restaurant and its showcase cabaret theatre
and nightclub, with Las Vegas-style revues, female impersonators, and comedy
series on the weekend. The largest casino on Aruba, it offers 33 tables and
games, plus 320 slot machines.
Cinema
Seaport Cinema
Seaport Market Place
Tel: 297/8-30318
The complex has six theatres showing the latest American movies in English.
Shows
The Cabaret
Royale
(Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino, J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 77, Palm Beach,
Tel: 297/8-64466) has an entertaining Cuban review (with a bit of flesh) Tuesday
through Saturday at 9 PM. Dinner (seating at 7:30) and the show cost $34; $20
gets you two cocktails (starting at 8:30) and admission to the show.
The Tropicana Showroom(J.E. Irausquin Blvd. Tel: 250, 297/8-77000 ext.
731 or 727), the Royal Cabana Casino's cabaret theatre and nightclub, features
first-class Las Vegas-style revues, usually showcasing female impersonators,
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9 PM and Wednesday and Friday at
10 PM; the cost is $35 per person. Dinner/show combinations are available ($119
for two people).
Twinklebone's House Of Roast Beef (Noord 124, Noord, Tel: 297/8-26780)
serves succulent prime rib and the like, but it's best known for the fun, impromptu
cabaret of Carnival music put on by the staff every night but Sunday. Some customers
find it hokey; others eat it up.
Bars
Iguana Joe's (Royal Plaza Mall, L.G. Smith Blvd. 94, Oranjestad, Tel: 297/8-39373)
has a creative reptilian-theme decor and a colour scheme featuring such planter's
punch colours as lime and grape.
Kukoo Kunuku
Tel: 297/8-62010
a psychedelically painted '57 Chevy bus. Weeknights, as many as 40 passengers
board to make the rounds of six local bars from sundown to midnight, with a
stop for dinner. Group and private charter rates are available; these include
hotel pick up and drop off.
Mambo Jambos
2nd floor, Royal Plaza Mall, L.G. Smith Blvd. 94, Oranjestad
Tel: 297/8-33632
Painted in sunset colours, with parrots painted on the ceiling. It offers several
house-specialty drinks and a gift shop.
Dance Clubs
Café Bahia
Weststraat 7, Oranjestad
Tel: 297/8-89982
An elegant spiral staircase leads up to a bar and dance floor backed by a mural
of colourful cacti against a blue, cloud-smattered Aruban sky. Locals and tourists
drink Balashi cocktails and salsa to music provided by island bands.
E-Zone
(Bayside Mall, Weststraat 5, Oranjestad, Tel: 297/9-36784) has a huge dance
floor, walls decorated with hair-dryer tubes and slinkies, bartenders in hard
hats, and a cosy VIP lounge.
La Fiesta
(Aventura Mall, Plaza Daniel Leo, Tel: 297/8-35896), an upscale indoor-outdoor
space, serves cocktails and attracts a casual yet classy crowd.
Havana Club
(L.G. Smith Blvd. 1, Tel: 297/8-80557) has purple walls adorned with gold-framed
mirrors, antique lanterns, and dried flowers. The two oversize dance floors
are often packed on weekends; Wednesday Ladies' Night draws a crowd of about
3,000. The music alternates between pop, rock, and international hits; local
bands sometimes play. Escape from the crowds by taking refuge on a patio complete
with a bar, a mini-swimming pool, and a private stretch of beach.
Music Clubs
Cellar
(Klipstraat 2, Oranjestad, Tel: 297/8-28567) live bands perform Monday and
Thursday-Saturday; the music du jour might be blues, jazz, funk, reggae, or
rock.
Garufa Cocktail
Lounge
(Wilhelminastraat 63, Oranjestad, Tel: 297/8-27205 or 297/8-23677). For jazz
and local music try the This cosy cigar bar serves as a comfortable lounge for
customers awaiting a table at El Gaucho Steakhouse (Tel: 297/8-27205 or 297/8-23677),
across the street (you're issued a beeper so that the restaurant can notify
you when your table is ready).
Theme Nights
Theme nights for some reason are extremely popular on Aruba. If you are staying
at one of the major resorts you may find them unavoidable, but just get into
the spirit of the occasion and you might just find yourself enjoying it!
There are more than 30 theme nights offered during the course of a week. Each
one features a buffet dinner, entertainment (usually of the limbo, steel-band,
stilt-walking, variety), and dancing. The top groups tend to rotate among the
resorts.
Clubs that host
theme nights are: Aruba Extravaganza
Manchebo Beach Resort
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 55, Eagle Beach
Tel: 297/8-23444
Havana Tropical
Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 77
Palm Beach, Tel: 297/8-64466
Caribbean Beach BBQ
Aruba Sonesta Resorts at Seaport Village
L.G. Smith Blvd. 9, Oranjestad
Tel: 297/8-36000
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