Mas Camp Pub
Mas Camp Pub is more than a bar. It's a cultural institution that serves as the base of operations for one of Trinidad's Carnival bands and doubles as a year-round nightlife venue. The property includes an indoor bar area, a large outdoor courtyard that functions as a staging ground during Carnival, and a stage setup for live performances. Total capacity reaches several hundred when the outdoor area is in full use. Year-round, the pub hosts live music events, DJ nights, soca releases, and community events that draw a genuine cross-section of Port of Spain society. During Carnival season (January to March), the venue transforms into a fete ground where band launch events, costume reveals, and pre-Carnival parties pack the space. Beer is cold, rum is plentiful, and the outdoor area has enough room to dance without bumping into everyone within arm's reach. The name 'Mas Camp' refers to its function as a masquerade camp, where Carnival costumes are designed, built, and distributed.
What to Expect
The entrance opens to the indoor bar area, functional and unpretentious. Walk through to the outdoor courtyard and the scale becomes clear. String lights overhead, a stage at the far end, and enough concrete to host a small festival. On live music nights, the sound fills the space from the stage and the crowd fills it from the bars.
Cultural, communal, and proudly Trinidadian. The energy depends on the event: a jazz night feels intimate, a soca fete feels like a controlled riot. Both are worth experiencing.
Soca is the heartbeat, especially during Carnival season. Year-round programming includes calypso, reggae, Afrobeats, jazz, and steelpan performances. Live music is the primary draw over DJ sets.
Casual to smart casual. The outdoor setting keeps things relaxed. Carnival events demand more effort: colorful, expressive, and fashionable. Regular nights work with jeans and a clean shirt.
Anyone interested in Trinidad's music culture. Carnival enthusiasts, live music fans, and travelers who want to understand what makes Trinidad's cultural scene different from the rest of the Caribbean.
Cash (TTD) preferred. Cards accepted at the main bar but not always at pop-up bars during events. Bring cash for flexibility.
Price Range
Carib/Stag beer TTD 25-35, rum and coke TTD 30-45, cocktails TTD 50-80, event covers TTD 50-200 depending on the act
Beer ~USD 4-5 / ~EUR 4; rum and coke ~USD 5-7 / ~EUR 4-6; cocktails ~USD 7-12 / ~EUR 7-11
Hours
Wed-Sat 5 PM to midnight or later. Extended hours during Carnival season. Event nights may run until 3 AM
Insider Tip
During Carnival season, buy fete tickets early since popular events sell out weeks in advance. For regular nights, arriving by 8 PM for live music guarantees a good position near the stage. The outdoor bar has shorter lines than the indoor one.
Full Review
Mas Camp Pub carries weight in Port of Spain that goes beyond its function as a nightlife venue. The connection to Carnival gives it cultural legitimacy that pure entertainment spots can't replicate. When you drink at Mas Camp, you're drinking where costumes were designed, where soca songs were premiered, and where the road march journey begins.
The indoor section is a standard bar: counter, stools, tables, a TV showing sports when there's no event. The drinks are the same you'd find anywhere on Ariapita Avenue, priced at the strip standard. The indoor space functions as a warmup area and refuge when the outdoor crowd gets too dense.
The outdoor courtyard is the main event. The space is large enough to hold hundreds without feeling claustrophobic, a rare quality on Ariapita Avenue. A permanent stage at one end handles live acts with professional sound and lighting. String lights and minimal decor keep the atmosphere festive without overdoing it. When a soca band hits the stage on a Friday night, the courtyard transforms. Bodies move, drinks slosh, and the collective energy builds in a way that enclosed clubs can't match.
During Carnival season, Mas Camp operates at another level entirely. Band launch events, soca release parties, and pre-Carnival fetes fill the space with thousands. Tickets for these events sell in advance and sometimes sell out. The prices jump accordingly, with premium Carnival fetes reaching TTD 500 or more. But outside of Carnival, regular nights are accessible and affordable.
The crowd is one of the most diverse on Ariapita Avenue. Students, professionals, artists, diaspora Trinis visiting home, and the occasional tourist who's heard about the venue mix together. The common denominator is an appreciation for Trinidad's music culture. If you don't care about soca, you'll still enjoy the energy. If you do care about soca, this might be the most important venue in the city for you.
The Neighborhood
Mas Camp Pub is on Ariapita Avenue, surrounded by the avenue's other bars and restaurants. 51 Degrees and Buzo are nearby. The venue sits within the Woodbrook neighborhood, accessible from St. James by a TTD 30-50 taxi ride. During Carnival, the surrounding streets become part of the experience.
Getting There
Taxi from downtown Port of Spain costs TTD 30-40 (5-10 minutes). From St. James, TTD 30-50. The pub is on Ariapita Avenue with a large entrance that's easy to spot. During events, the crowd outside marks the location. From Piarco Airport, TTD 200-300.
Other Venues in Ariapita Avenue
51 Degrees
Ariapita Avenue's signature cocktail lounge drawing the after-work professional crowd. Craft cocktails, sleek interior, and a crowd that dresses to impress. The rooftop terrace fills fast on Friday nights.
Buzo Osteria Italiana
Italian restaurant that transforms into a wine bar and social scene after 9 PM on weekends. The outdoor terrace on Ariapita becomes a liming spot where cocktails replace pasta as the main attraction.
Kaiso Blues Cafe
Intimate live music venue specializing in jazz, blues, and acoustic performances. A different energy from the soca-heavy strip, attracting an older crowd that comes to listen as much as drink.
Shakers Cocktail Bar
Lively cocktail bar with creative drinks and a party atmosphere that builds through the evening. Bartenders put on a show, and the tight space creates forced social interaction. Loud and fun.
The Loft
Upstairs nightclub space above the Ariapita strip that opens late and runs until the small hours. Soca, dancehall, and EDM rotate depending on the night. The crowd arrives after midnight from the bars below.