Best 3 Bars in the BVI
Picture this: you’re sitting on a pristine beach, with the waves lapping at your feet, pelicans flying by and an ice-cold beverage in your hand. Sound pretty nice, right?
Here in the BVI, our happy hour time has a tendency to run all day with the saying “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!” We have many bars dotted around the islands in breathtaking locations. Here are my top 3 choices:
Willy T
The floating bar named the William Thornton, or more famously the Willy T, has been serving drinks to tourists and locals alike for as long as I can remember. Located in The Bight at Norman Island, Willy T encompasses a pirate theme, paying tribute to Norman Island which was the backdrop to the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Legend has it that the pirates would anchor in the Bight and station a lookout up on the mountain. As boats sailed by the pirates would ambush and loot them and then return to the Bight to celebrate their winnings.
Today Willy T offers lunch and dinner (reservations not required), and they often have freshly caught fish on the menu. Their drinks flow smoothly, laughter is heard all around and if you’re feeling brave enough you can jump in to cool off! Their variety of music invites you to get your dancing moves on and let loose! They have their own Willy T rum and the friendly bartenders will make sure you have a good time. Don’t forget to get a (temporary) tattoo! Tell Kyle or Mark that Susanna from Summer Heights sent you!
Stouts Lookout
Located on the top of Windy Hill, Tortola, Stouts Lookout overlooks Cane Garden Bay. This cute, wooden bar and restaurant offers a cool, laid back environment where one can relax and watch the charter boats come into their anchorage for the night. The view of the beach and of the sweeping hillside surrounding the bar is gorgeous. You can spot local flowers, see the birds flying by and sip your drink in peace. This bar often only has a few customers in it, so it is a perfect place to get away from the crowds. After sitting on the balcony and enjoying the view, you can make the short drive down to Cane Garden Bay beach and take a swim before watching the sunset.
Soggy Dollar Bar
This is home to the famous Painkiller drink and they describe the bar as a sunny spot for shady people. The Soggy Dollar is located in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke and can be accessed by either the ferry from Tortola or by a personal day charter boat. You can enjoy a cocktail while waist-high in beautiful, blue water or while trying your hand at the ring game. They have one of the best souvenir shops in the BVI and serve their painkiller drinks in reusable cups, which make a great memento. They offer lunch and have a small snack bar that serves ice cream and cakes for anyone who has a sweet tooth. Soggy Dollar has a live streaming webcam so you can wave to your friends and family back home while having the time of your life!
