Go at your own risk to the infamous Roof Club, 11 West St. (tel. 876/715-5281). The most crowded and animated nightclub in Port Antonio, it lies one floor above street level in a boxy-looking industrial building in the heart of town. Inside, the venue is earthy, raunchy, crowded, and boozy, with enough secondhand ganja smoke to get virtually anyone high. Recorded (and more rarely, live) reggae and soca music blares at high volumes.
Expect a neo-psychedelic decor of mirrors, UV lighting, and free-form Day-Glo artwork. A visit here is not for the squeamish or the faint-hearted, and it's a good idea to come with a friend and/or ally. It's open nightly from around 6pm, but most of the genuine hanging out and crowding happens after 11pm, especially from Thursday through Sunday.
Less formalized and much more free-form would involve a hike along Port Antonio's eastern waterfront, Folly Road, known locally as the town's "Folly Strip." Here, a battered and mud-splattered row of rum shacks and jerk stands, each painted long ago in once-bright colors, play recorded music and try to show a foreign visitor a good time. A culinary "highlight" of the Folly Strip is Oliver's Vegetarian Restaurant (no phone), whose presentation might be nominally a bit more solid than some of its neighbors. If you opt for a visit to this strip, we recommend that you wrap up your evening by around 10pm.
The Tree Bar, on the grounds of Goblin Hill Villas at San San (tel. 876/925-8108), stands high on a hill commanding a panoramic view of 4 hectares (12 acres). The aptly named bar is wrapped around huge ficus trees, whose mammoth aerial roots dangle over the drinking area. Giant-leafed pothos vines climb down the trunks. It's the sort of eco-adventure place that should prove increasingly popular.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
