It’s Drinks O’clock! Dock Your Boat & I’ll Meet You At The Bar

Beach area in front of Tipsy Tuna Bar in Placencia
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Everyone can agree with me that when you’re on vacation, there isn’t anything quite like hanging out by the beach with a cold drink in your hand as you gaze into the horizon with the sun glistening over the ocean or sea. And if you’re into sunsets (aren’t we all?), the perfect beach bar during twilight is magical, simply magical.

I know a thing or two about the local nightlife and entertainment scene and I’ve decided to round up the best beach bars in Belize so that when you visit, you know exactly where to go to have a good time. So if you’re ever near any of the bars mentioned below, make sure you stop by and don’t forget to say that Lorenzo sent you. They’ll owe me a beer. 😉

The Top 5 Belize Beach Bars

1. The Lazy Lizard Bar, Caye Caulker

Lazy Lizard Bar at Caye Caulker's The Split

The Lazy Lizard is practically a landmark in Caye Caulker. It’s located at the world famous “The Split” which appears to serve as a magnet — no one can visit or live on the Caye Caulker and not end up there at the end of the day.

Funny story: don’t tilt the monkey statue when you’re there. The first time I visited the Lazy Lizard, the bartender tricked me into tipping over the monkey and a huge penis sprung out from underneath it…everyone laughed at me and I almost died from being so embarrassed. P.S. This is certainly the best place to catch sunsets in Belize.


2. Barefoot Beach Bar, Placencia

Barefoot Beach Bar in Placencia, Belize

The vibe at this bar is no shoes, no shirt, no problem – hence the name Barefoot Beach Bar. An important thing to note is that Placencia is known to have the best beaches in Belize and Barefoot Bar sits right next to a lovely beach.

At Barefoot Beach Bar you can enjoy fantastic live music and extra cold drinks as you mingle with travelers from all over the world. I’ve heard that this is a great spot to pick up girls.


3. Palapa Bar and Grill, Ambergris Caye

The Palapa Bar in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
The Palapa Bar was rebuilt in 2016 after Hurricane Earl destroyed it – Robert J. Hawkins

The Palapa Bar is somewhat of an oasis that truly resembles being on a beach vacation since it’s perched on a dock over the Caribbean Sea. This beach bar is possibly everyone’s favorite bar in San Pedro and it is a great place to meet locals and expats. It’s also a perfect place to have a nice meal and drinks while you listen to live music performances or if you prefer, you can always watch the sunset over the Belizean horizon.

If you’ve been to Ambergris Caye before, you’ll know that the bar was formerly located in North Ambergris Caye but a few years back it relocated to where the old Wet Willy’s was. The good news is that the new location doesn’t disappoint, in fact, it’s even more convenient since it’s now closer to downtown San Pedro. Some people might be upset that I didn’t rank this place higher.


4. Wayo’s, Ambergris Caye

Wayos beach bar san pedro belize
Wayo’s Beach Bar

Located in near the Palapa Bar in downtown San Pedro, Wayo’s was originally on the beach but they moved to the dock in front of their old location.

The new Wayo’s is much bigger now and now they also sell bar food! Here you will find a great mixture of locals, expats and tourists. They have TV’s to watch the game and on Sunday nights they do live music. The staff are always friendly, which is definitely my favorite thing about Wayo’s!


5. Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar, Placencia

Tipsy Tuna is always filled with locals and has its own dancing area. I had a tough time not placing it a little higher on this list since whenever I’m in Placencia I end up there and have a blast. It’s actually right next to my favorite bar in Placencia (see number two). During the Easter holidays, stay clear if you don’t want to feel like you’re in Jamaica – it can get rowdy. Watch the video above if you would like to see what I’m talking about.


If you know of another bar that trumps any of these, I’d love to hear of your experience.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vicki Summers Jacobs says

    Are there any Pub Crawls for an excursion? We'll be coming in on the Carnival Pride?

    • Lorenzo Gonzalez says

      Hey, there are bars at the Tourism Village in Belize City. As a local i’m not allowed so i can only tell you from what others have told me.

  2. Sony Xperia Z1 Android GPS says

    Beach isn’t complete without bars. They are the perfect combo for fun and having a blast during your stay.

  3. Bums on da Beach says

    Placencia – Barefoot Beach Bar & Yoli’s Bar & Grill

    Caye Caulker – Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Lazy Lizard

    Ambergris – Crazy Canucks Beach Bar & Fido’s
    Dangriga – Pelican Beach Resort Bar

  4. Charles says

    You forgot Yolies bar in Placencia. I think the only bar in Placencia that is but over the water.

  5. beachlover says

    What are your thoughts about what will happen to these great bars when the cruise ships start coming in??? Its a nightmare that I cannot begin to imagine.