St. John's, Newfoundland – Bars and Clubs

A Primer To Get You Ready for a Night Downtown!

Sep 13, 2008

St. John's is one of the best cities, if not THE best, in which to get a little loose on any given night of the week!

Newfoundland has long had a reputation for kitchen parties, dark rum, and wonderful music and company - a reputation wholly deserved. With more bars per capita than any other city in North America, you'll be sure to find a good time hiding in any number of fine, and not so fine, establishments!

Traditional Live Music and Local Beer

The signature sound of Newfoundland brings to mind a celtic flavour of jam band - a few portly fellows deep in their cups singing lively arrangements for a boisterous and engaged crowd - another conception with a bit of truth. If it is traditional music that you're interested in, look no further than O' Reilly's on George Street. With live music nearly every single day by local artists and bands coupled with traditional decor it truly feels like you've stepped into a little piece of Ireland, and St. John's is as close as you can get to that regional flavour in North America. Rob Cook and Fergus O'Byrne are regular performers at O'Reilly's and there is always a good crowd on nearly every night of the week, though weekends can be very, very busy.

Other options for those travellers or newcomers interested in more traditional fare would be Trapper John's on George - a local staple also known for their ceremony of "screeching in" those not native to Newfoundland in order to make them honourary citizens of the Rock - as well as Bridie Molloy's. All three of these establishments are great places to draw a pint and enjoy the evening!

Dance, House, and After-Hours Bars

The most popular establishments in the city for the younger set looking for a bit of clubbing would most likely be Etomik, Konfusion, Peddlers, Junctions, and Liquid for all of you body rockers. Etomik, Konfusion, and Peddlers specialize primarily in Top 40 pop and dance charting hits, drawing large crowds of people who simply want to dance the night away. Liquid is perhaps a more savvy choice for those who are deeply into electronica, trance, or house - they regularly showcase local DJ's with serious talent as well as out of town professionals who bring the club down. Liquid Ice, as well as Junctions, are also famous for being after-hours bars that stay open well into the morning, closing at around six or seven o'clock. Junctions in particular is also host to several live acts, ranging from rock to punk to heavy metal.

Other Avenues

For those tourists and travellers looking for an edge of sophistication and class, The Martini Bar above Peddlers on George is a very swank joint. There is a dress code, and often times an age requirement in order to get in so be sure to call ahead for details. A hop, skip, and jump away from this establishment is local favourite The Fat Cat Blues Bar is an excellent place to whittle away the hours in an intimate setting - featuring great easy listening music and great decor - a personal favourite for many downtown aficianados.

For a harder, grittier edge - Distortion lies just above Normies & Jungle Jim's and is a prime spot for fans of punk, rock, and metal. Several well known live acts often perform at Distortion such as Weapon, Gale, Catcher, and Devastator. CD releases are often held here - as well as at Junctions - and feature a night of headbanging, devil horns, and drink specials. Additionally, the atmosphere is very relaxed and feels more like a house party between friends than between strangers. For the true metalhead, Distortion and Junctions are the two bars to beat in St. John's.

Finally, for those interested in something a little more risque, there are numerous quality gentleman's clubs in the downtown area - The Cotton Club being the one with the premiere reputation. Lovely ladies and a professional atmosphere make this the number one choice amongst both tourists and locals alike.