The Best Bars in Tobago (with the best views) – Map Included!

This post was originally published on December 17, 2017 and updated on November 17, 2019. 

Town or country. Beach or waterfall. Indoors or outdoors. There’s no shortage of ideal spots for you to enjoy a drink in Tobago. Premium spirits and award-winning cocktails may be few and far between, but when you’re on an island dubbed ‘God’s real estate’, your local watering hole is pretty much only as good as its view. Here are the best bars in Tobago (and one bonus spot) that serve up their drinks with a side of million-dollar vistas. All for the price of one beer or cocktail. Cheers!

Paradise Point – Glasgow’s Bar (Parlatuvier)

Paradise Point a.k.a. Glasgow’s is one of those mandatory stops you have to make if you’re road tripping along the island’s north coast. The two-story bar is located high above the fishing village of Parlatuvier, offering a view of the bay that will almost literally take your breath away. Few vantage points offer such an uninterrupted bird’s eye view of any of the island’s idyllic coastal towns, so I highly recommend choosing Glasgow’s as a rest stop in either your going or your coming. Have a seat between two precocious parrots clucking away on the ground floor, or make your way up the narrow staircase to the top deck, where the sound of the wind chimes coupled with the cool breeze might very well lull you to sleep.

Speyside Overlooking Restaurant & Bar (Speyside)

Driving along Windward Road, it’s easy to write off Speyside Overlooking as just another ordinary roadside bar. The red, yellow, and green wooden facade visible from the street is small and unassuming, but cross the threshold and you enter a space much larger and much more refined than you could have expected. The wooden structure to the front pays homage to the establishment’s humble beginnings in 1996. However, it has since expanded to include a spacious, well-appointed restaurant that caters to everything from idle road trip stops to weddings. Whether by design or happenstance, the minimalist decor makes the focal point of the room the stunning sight of nature’s bright greens and vivid blues through the panel of windows that occupy the entire back wall. The owner, Toney, is a friendly guy who’ll happily sit and chat with you on a slow day so give yourself enough time to knock back a drink or two and soak in this priceless view of Speyside.

Waves Restaurant & Bar (Black Rock)

Drinks, views, and ambiance. That’s what you get at Waves Restaurant & Bar. While most of the best bars in Tobago boast a rootsy, barebones charm, Waves offers a chic alternative. At this trendy beachfront spot, you get excellent table service, stylish lounge areas, inventive cocktails and a panoramic vista you won’t ever tire of. Indeed, Waves is the kind of place you go to “enjoy” a few drinks not simply “grab” one. It’s perfect for a leisurely lunch before or after a beach excursion, but you also have the option to get dolled up for a night on the town and enjoy fine dining and stellar drinks under the stars.

Bonus: Arrive in time to watch the sunset over the horizon while sipping on one of their signature cocktails.

Renmars Restaurant & Bar (Pigeon Point)

There’s always a crowd at Renmars Restaurant & Bar. Not surprisingly though, because who doesn’t love the idea of being able to walk straight out of the water and up to a bar to order a beer or cocktail? Situated at Pigeon Point Heritage Park, just a few feet from the shoreline, Renmars has become somewhat of an institution among bars in Tobago over the years. With indoor and outdoor seating options, it’s a great place to grab a drink, listen to music, and look out at the Point’s startlingly blue waters and seemingly always blue sky.

Traditions Beach Bar & Grill (Pigeon Point)

Pigeon Point Heritage Park is lucky enough to have two great bars with two distinct selling points. While Renmars grants you easy access to the water, Traditions Beach Bar & Grill offers you the best view of the famous Pigeon Point Jetty. Whether you’re seated at the bar, or at one of the picnic benches stationed right outside, you’ll be able to take in the iconic thatched-roof hut against the dramatic backdrop of a bright blue sky. Or soak in the beauty of its silhouette against a brilliant sunset. Whichever you prefer. Throw in a delicious menu with everything from roti to pasta; a pool table that seems to always have a game going; and a steady flow of music that oozes island flavor, and you’ve got a great spot to spend a big chunk of your day at the beach.

Bonus: Traditions is also the only bar in Tobago serving up the most DELICIOUS mango chow shot. You absolutely have to try it. Especially if you’re there all day and have enough time to sleep it off under the shade of a tree.

Bago’s Beach Bar (Crown Point)

Located just a few feet from the water’s edge, this no-frills bar has all the vibes and quirky island charm you’d expect from a beach-front establishment that caters to both locals and visitors. Rough, painted concrete floors and mismatched furniture give it an almost homey feel. However, the collection of international license plates and strategically placed beer ads remind you that Bago Bar is definitely a place where people come to indulge in a drink or three. While the musical selections vary from soca and reggae to disco and soft rock (probably dependent on the mood of the proprietors), one thing always stays the same – the gorgeous front-seat view of Swallows Beach. It’s a wonderful sight to take in at any time of the day but I strongly recommend scheduling this stop into your early evening plans, just in time to see the sunset.

Bonus: Bago’s has a dining menu that includes an excellent steak dinner at a considerably reasonably price making it a lovely place to dine while you watch the sunset.

Anchor Bar & Grill (Mt. Irvine)

What the “bar” portion of Mt. Irvine’s Anchor Bar & Grill lacks in conventional aesthetic appeal it more than makes up for in beachfront views and rustic charm. The miniature wooden structure and it’s wooden furniture paints the most idyllic picture of small island beach vibes. From the makeshift bamboo and tarpaulin awning to the assortment of personalities convening around the open windows, Anchor is definitely a place you go to forget about your worries. During the day it’s a low-key watering hole for beachgoers but at night, it transforms into a hotspot with music blaring, fish frying and a quirky collection of beach boys, tourists and the after-work happy hour crew all unwinding and liming together.

Man on the Rock (Store Bay)

Housed in a small wooden structure perched just above Store Bay beach, Man on the Rock is one of those bars in Tobago that have mastered the art of making kitschy look cute. Colorful graffiti, football paraphernalia, off-color signage, and a sandy floor all come together in just the right way to make what could otherwise be considered a ‘basic bar’ feel like a unique brand of beach chic. The drinks menu is limited and occasionally you might not be able to get a beer because “the truck didn’t pass today” (true story). But the view of the bathers and boats bobbing on the surface of the mostly calm waters will appease you enough for you to enjoy any alternative drink options that are available.

Sunshine Bar (Bloody Bay)

Not all of Tobago’s spectacular views include the ocean. Some of the island’s most gorgeous scenery can be found within the lush greenery of the rain forest. Sunshine Bar in Bloody Bay is one of the few bars in Tobago that gives you a great view of just that. Sit on any one of the decks in this spacious, multilevel bar and enjoy a Stag, Carib or any other cold, bottled beer in stock. The chirping of the birds just outside makes it feel almost surreal, but the sight of the emerald green trees stretching out before you for miles is as real as they come.

Honorable Mention: The Nylon Pool

I know, I know…the Nylon Pool is a sandbar, not a bar-bar. But I’m taking the liberty of stretching the truth just a little bit, based on the sheer uniqueness of this experience. Picture it: sipping rum punch while standing in clear, waist-deep water miles away from the shoreline. Water that allegedly possesses the power to handsomely endow men, reverse the signs of aging in women, and grant couples a lifetime of happiness if they kiss beneath its surface. Note: All glass-bottom boat tours don’t offer complimentary drinks so ask before you purchase your ticket. If you’re fortunate enough to get that drink, enjoy at least one serving of rum punch while cooling off in the rejuvenating water. All I ask, is that you be responsible about disposing of your cup when you’re back on the boat.

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If you’re on the hunt for a bar in Tobago that serves up more than just alcohol – a location that delivers both good booze and gorgeous views – this list should get you off to a good start. Bookmark this post, however, because I’ll be adding more bars as soon as I discover a new gem!

Do you know of other bars in Tobago with awesome vibes and breathtaking vistas? Tell me in the comments. I’d love to check them out!

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