There are two major parts of Tortola: the West End and Road Town. As the West End tends to be more focused on tourism, this article will focus on night life in that area.
It is assumed that the majority of tourists visit Tortola not for the rocking nightlife that they may find in St. John’s or St. Thomas. Rather, the majority of Tortola fans have discovered that the tropical paradise is anything but developed and, likewise, provides very little opportunity for gaudy entertainment; Tortola offers relaxed island living.
Whether you’ve traveled to the island by boat or plane, Tortola has at least one spot that is easily accessible without a taxi and sure to please: Pusser’s Landing. This world-renowned bar and restaurant is famous (or infamous) for its rum, which you order in degrees. A “Number One” rum comes with only one shot and is typically viewed as the drink of the younger, inexperienced visitor. However, at the opposite extreme, upon ordering a “Number Four”, the eyes of all within earshot grow wide with admiration and challenge. You’re in for a bitter sweet treat.
Pusser’s is located at the West End Moore. It is a two-story open-air restaurant that looks out over acres of floating Cats and Schooners. For those floating on in the bay, the restaurant is warm an inviting. For those on land, the pleasant boat lights highlight an otherwise classically warm evening in paradise.
Heading into the town of West End there’s a restaurant just past Guava Road known to the network of tourists as “The Main Restaurant” where you can partake the most sweet banana daiquiris while listening to live music. Calypso, the music of the islands, which is a combination of reggae and R&B, blasts through the streets. Locals assemble around the trunks of massive trees to spend and evening trading yarns and bobbing heads. The restaurant is never crowded – few things ever are in Tortola – so personal and quick service is a guarantee.
If you happen to visit Tortola on December 27th, look out for the Full Moon Party at Bomba’s Shack – a street party that brings visitors from all over the British Virgin Islands into the streets of West End. Look out for the tea, which you will find at all roadside stands – rumor has it that the stuff is laced with psychedelic mushrooms.
For those truly daring visitors, there’s a spot on the island foreboding to most: Look Out Mountain. Warning: Look Out Mountain should only be visited by those visitors that have hired a taxi to take them to the top; do not try to access this restaurant along the perilously steep and small roads in your rental vehicle. Along the way, you will see places in the side-rail where cars and trucks have barreled over the edge of the cliff and now rest atop trees 50 yards below.
Upon arriving at Look Out Mountain’s restaurant, you will undoubtedly wish you had brought more film for your camera. But don’t worry – they have back-ups in the gift shop. Stretching out around you in a 360 degree view are all of the islands of the British Virgin Islands. As the highest point in the islands, the restaurant boasts of an expensive many, tied in with a nice rooftop deck onto which you can take your beverage and party at the top of the world.
The sun goes down in Tortola at about 6:00pm. With the dark, life slows down – after all, it’s a life-defying task to drive over the steep and windy hills to get from one party-spot to the next. You can pretty much depend on going one place to catch a bite to eat, grab a drink and listen to the sounds of the island. Besides – you’re on island time: there’s no need to lift a finger, even to party.
