The party scene in Nassau just isn’t what it used to be!

The photo above is from my 24th birthday celebrations, seven years ago where we rented a limo, rode to dinner, and went clubbing into the wee hours of the morning!! WHAT A TIME! 

I could remember the Thursday through Sunday (sometimes Monday) runs my friends and I used to make. Bar hopping, club hopping, hitting up house parties and gatherings as if they were in endless supply. But today, it’s more than clear that our supply has definitely run out and…

[bctt tweet=”For the 30-something Nassauvian, there’s not that much to do around town ” username=”iamianthia”]

I could go to restaurants every weekend and get fat, find a “lounge” and sip my favorite drinks while listening to a DJ spin the same records and pretend that I’m having a good time, but I’m a partier…a bonafide-in the middle of the dance floor-hands in the air-wining down to the ground-drinks on deck-sweet sweat pouring dancer and partier. You may not have known that about me but I love a good party, I love to dance, I love to socialize, have a good cocktail, horribly sing to the top of my lungs to my fave tunes and wild out!! 

The Good Ol’ Days

Gone are the days when my friends and I would get the weekend started on a Friday evening at Blue Note, straight from the office! We’d buy rounds and rounds of drinks and escape the rigours of the workweek for a few hours. We’d then drive to Cocktails and Dreams (yes, I loved that place…DON’T JUDGE ME!) and workout to our favorite old school reggae and dancehall tunes. Saturdays at Charlie’s was LIT…although at that time we would’ve said “the bomb” or “off the chain!” Charlie’s was the spot; the melting pot of everyone from everywhere, from every background just wanting to party and have a good time.

I legit didn’t mind towing a line along Bay Street to get into Fluid because it was worth it! Walking down those steps to get into the lower level club only added to the excitement and you were guaranteed a great time. Don’t even get me started on my generation’s staple, Club Waterloo! That was the back home from school summer spot! The pool on the outside, the garden-esque area to the left and THE CHICKEN WINGS! They were hands down the best wings in town.

These spots were real life nightclubs; dedicated to a party, club atmosphere that wasn’t just a sports bar with a DJ, pretending to be a night club. There were lights, sound systems, fog machines, dress codes and pure entertainment, complimented by a crowd of people wanting to actually dance, meet people, talk and have fun. Thank God social media didn’t ruin any of that for us 30-somethings!

And then there was Bambu, The Balcony, Bahama Joes where there were great drinks, banging music and vibes all night! I swear I should’ve had a membership card to these spots for my unwavering loyalty.

Look at that…I just listed mad spots I had the option of hittin’ up on a Thursday, Friday Saturday, Sunday or even Monday night when I wanted to party hard, but today…

[bctt tweet=”Finding a good club in Nassau is like finding a needle in a haystack ” username=”iamianthia”]

With the exception of Bambu, all of these spots are, sadly, no longer in existence, and you could feel the void they left. No clubs. No parties. No fun. 

Where To Now?

Here I am on a Friday night wanting to party but my options are few and limited, so Club B.E.D is always the winner. I see “spots” popping up all over town, I guess with the intention of giving a club vibe to party goers but…nah, fam I’m good! I miss getting dressed up with my friends, piling up in my old Honda and jumping from spot to spot. Combined with the sheer boredom that’s Nassau these days, the way the streets are so scary, makes me want to stay at home even more.

I only hear the stories from my parents and older family members about The Zoo, The Palace and, my mommy’s favorite, The Ritz, but it sure does seem like they started the party revolution and us 30-somethings ended it!

It seems like Aura is the only real nightclub left on the island and Via (bar/lounge) is the only choice when you wanna chill out low key.

Do you miss the Nassau party scene? Where were your fave joints? Where do you go now? Reply in the comments section!