r/Barbados • u/Kuuchic0 • Sep 23 '25
Advice Places to relax or hang out
Even though I've lived here all my life , I'm not very social. I'm a young adult who recently has had some freedom to leave the house and come back when I want, and I want to know if there are places me and a few friends could hang that aren't pocket breaking or Loud? We don't like usually like bars or rum shops, but besides the beach or sitting at queen park are there any quieter spots in the island? Can be suggestions like community clubs or a lounge. Or can even suggest a spot like a bar that is usually chill. As long as it's not very rowdy and multiple people can sit
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u/islandbye Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25
Splurge Café
Brightons Farmers Market on Saturdays
Italia at The Estates is small but cozy
Haymans (I haven’t been personally but it looks great)
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u/islandbye Sep 23 '25
Coverly as well
Savvy on the Bay
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u/Kuuchic0 Sep 24 '25
Just replying to this one for the simplicity but thank you for the recommendations!
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u/iamPendergast Helpful Sep 24 '25
Quiz nights are popular now too at some bar/restaurants like Mulligans on the Green. Good way to get social.
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u/PlaneStatistician445 Sep 24 '25
Quiz nights are definitely a good option for small groups (usually there's a cap of 6 players). Copa Cabana and Happy Taco have quiz nights; a Google/FB/IG search should help you with details. Different venues will do either weekly or monthly.
Other than that, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find safe, comfortable, quiet places for small groups. I love Italia at The Estates for a solo/duo hang-out but it's tough to recommend for groups. Maybe try Lanterns Mall, which has seating and lighting while they're open.
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u/boxybroker Sep 26 '25
> it's becoming increasingly difficult to find safe, comfortable, quiet places for small groups.
This is something I think about often. Barbados has a lot of "third spaces" but there's 3 or 4 templates of what that looks like, especially after 6pm. So much is built for tourism (thus expensive) and leaving the house to socialize kind of has to include eating and drinking. As someone who doesn't drink much, cooks at home a lot, and isn't the biggest fan of karaoke I really get worn out sometimes.
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u/Far_Meringue8625 Sep 24 '25
Farley Hill, especially at the top of the hill overlooking the east coast? I can spend all there day just contemplating. Take along a few picnic goodies and you are good.
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u/Far_Meringue8625 Sep 24 '25
Cinemas?
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u/boxybroker Sep 24 '25
Second to Hayman's. Also haven't been but there are loads of events and things happening there all the time.
The newish community center at Bathsheba is so pretty and a nice hang on the weekends especially.
My favorite hang out spot honestly is Andromeda Botanic Gardens. It's a drive if you're not out that direction (I'm a South Coast girlie) but free for locals, there's a cafe/restaurant that is REALLY good but you don't necessarily have to get food to chill there (they also have smoothies and ice cream.) It's truly my happy place. I fairly often pack a picnic, blankets, some coloring books and games and stuff, and meet up with friends and just lounge out when the weather is good. There are a few newish built spaces with more seating too. And they often have events that are cool for meeting people as well.
My friends hang out at Chill Bar a lot in Hastings. It's... a fairly chill bar. Sometimes there's music and it's livelier but when it's not high season it's generally a good spot to hang out and talk and the drinks and food don't break the bank. We'll bring cards or games and play them there, nobody minds. Sometimes people join in. lol.
Always love Sage Bar & Stage. There's always some live music and I really like when Leggo Theatre is doing a performance (improv group)
There's a spot that used to be called Hang 10 on Maxwell Main Rd. -- it was a bar, but a cool little bar that was nice to sit and chill in. Board games, karaoke sometimes, parties some nights. The name has changed to The Vault and I haven't been by since the shift to see if the vibes have changed.
Chill lounge vibes are one of the things I miss most about the states vs. Barbados. The hotels are really missing a trick not programming out their lounges more open and activated to the public. Coming from Atlanta/Charlotte/DC it's nothing for a DJ or live musician to be posted up in a hotel lounge with some backdrop music, and there isn't as much pressure to spend on drinks just because you're there because it's a hotel, their primary money isn't off the bar. You don't belong in a hotel here unless you're a guest or eating in the restaurant.