St. Lawrence Gap is located on the south coast of Barbados, heading out of Bridgetown towards the Airport on the South Coast main road. It is a hive of activity morning, noon and night as it backs on to Dover Beach and is a busy area for hotels, apartments, restaurants and nightlife. It is known as 'The Gap' and has built up a reputation as the island's centre for nightlife and dining.
Here you will find street vendors selling a variety of goods from souvenirs through to fast food, and there is always a good mix of tourists and locals wandering around taking in the atmosphere. St. Lawrence Gap was recently renovated to provide wider pavements for pedestrians and Dover Beach now has improved beach facilities and a new market for vendors.
There is an old Anglican church which holds regular services, a primary school and banks so there are useful facilities as well as those for entertainment.
St. Lawrence Gap is a perfect contradiction. A bustling street that runs alongside a quiet and calm bay. High end restaurants that rub shoulders with karaoke bars and old rum shops. Million dollar condos that exist next door to low budget hotels. Young teens and senior citizens walk side by side. Tequila and Sunday mass are served across the street from each other. However, it all synchronizes perfectly to create an international metropolis.
The restaurants are varied and sell Mexican, Bajan, Irish, Jamaican, English, Italian, American and Chinese food. The variety doesn't stop with food; you can also hear Rock, Reggae, Calypso, R&B, Salsa and live music most nights of the week.
As you enter St. Lawrence Gap from Worthing Main Road you will find Pravda Bar and Lounge on your left, this is an up market trendy bar offering delightful cocktails, funky music, excellent cuisine and a wonderful ambience, it is the perfect place to start your evening out.
On the opposite side of the road you will find Bellini's a traditional Italian restaurant over looking the bay. Back on the left hand side of the road you will see Little Bay Bistro, which offers a varied menu for all tastes.
Next on your left is DivePro, who offer underwater scooters and diving from their fully equipped custom dive boat.
Next door you will find Sweet Potatoes, which serves great food and often holds Salsa evenings. Opposite is Pisces, renowned as one of the best seafood restaurants in Barbados; again here you have a magnificent view of the bay.
Back on the left hand corner, you will find Café Sol, a Mexican themed bar selling Mexican food, which is renowned for the happy hours, most nights of the week this bar is bustling and is a 'must stop for one' as you make your way up the Gap.
Opposite you will find the St. Lawrence Anglican Church, which holds regular services and backs on to the beach. This side of the road is mainly made up of accommodation, but back on the left hand side the nightlife continues.
The Reggae Lounge has regular live bands and often does drinks free parties, where you pay an entrance fee and then all house drinks are free inside, things here warm up later on so this may be your choice of nightclub after the bars.
Next stop on your left is McBrides, an Irish themed bar, which is open day and night; it serves traditional Irish fayre on the menu and a traditional Irish craic in the evenings. Most nights they have live music and also offer drinks free parties on a Thursday night - including free Guinness!
Next door to McBrides is After Dark; a nightclub, which offers live concerts and R&B music, as the name suggests it is the place to head to after you finish your pub-crawl.
Opposite you will Josef's, a high end restaurant known for fine cuisine and a wonderful setting as you dine over the cliff looking out on to the moonlit water.
Next up is The Ship Inn, which is open day and night. The Captain's Carvery offers a selection of meats and an extensive buffet, while the Deck Restaurant offers an exciting á là carte menu. The Ship Inn is also the main entertainment venue in the Gap with varied entertainment every night of the week. There are live bands four nights a week and is a must for an exciting night out.
Across the road from The Ship Inn is Harlequin restaurant, which has an intimate relaxed feel, serving excellent food outdoors on their terrace, which overlooks the vibrant street life of the Gap.
After the dinner period the Gap really wakes up and doesn't go to sleep until the early hours of the morning. People can be seen hanging out on the decks of the bars, watching the constant traffic of the Gap, or dancing the night away in one of the nightclubs.
The clubs feature top local bands playing a huge variety of music. You can jam to the smooth reggae vibes or party to the latest music from the clubs of London or New York.
The restaurants and street vendors can be visited day or night. Taxis eagerly line the street as water sports operators line the shore.
Dress code is casual and everyone wears a smile. Where ever it is you chose to visit in St. Lawrence Gap, be assured that once there, the world is as it should be.
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