Nightlife

Until fairly recently, a "rushed" day on Grand Cayman meant spending most of your time on Seven Mile Beach, perhaps doing a little shopping, and then sipping sunset drinks, followed by a long, leisurely dinner. To some extent, that custom still prevails.

Yet, lately, the choice of after-dark diversions has slowly but steadily grown. Weekends are sacred in the Cayman Islands, and the locals party hard; relaxation is taken very seriously. Of course, Grand Cayman hardly rivals Puerto Rico or Aruba for nightlife supremacy in the Caribbean, and unlike those two other islands, there's no gambling in the Caymans. The party-till-dawn crowd should travel elsewhere, since most venues are shut tight by 1am, and liquor licensing laws are strict in the Cayman Islands.

Often, some of the best bars on the island are attached to restaurants, so you can dine, drink, and party all in the same place.

The live-entertainment scene changes on a nightly basis. One club might be jumping with a live band one night, and then be calm, with no live entertainment, the following evening. Someone at your hotel's reception desk can usually tell you what the hot spots are on any given evening. Otherwise, grab a copy of the Caymanian Compass (www.caycompass.com), available at most hotels, which runs a comprehensive list on Fridays of entertainment choices for the weekend. If you want to see where the locals go, don't dismiss some of our more offbeat and low-key recommendations, including Antica Gelateria.