Drink!
Drink! sits on a corner of Western Main Road in St. James, looking like any other rum bar from the outside. Inside, it's standing room only on Friday and Saturday nights as locals pack the small space to lime, argue about cricket, and drain bottles of Angostura rum. The bar counter runs along one wall, and a handful of tables crowd the rest. When the venue hits capacity (around 80 people), the overflow claims the sidewalk outside, turning the corner into an impromptu block party. The sound system punches above the venue's weight class, throwing soca and dancehall onto Western Main Road with enough volume to announce its presence from two blocks away. No VIP sections, no velvet ropes, no pretension. This is where working Port of Spain goes to decompress, and it's been doing that job for over fifteen years. The bar stocks mostly local spirits, with Angostura products dominating the shelf. Food isn't served, but doubles vendors and late-night takeaway spots surround the venue.
What to Expect
Walking in, you hit a wall of sound and body heat. The bar is to your left, bodies are everywhere, and someone is probably arguing passionately about something that doesn't concern you. It smells like rum, cologne, and the doubles vendor outside. The lighting is functional, not atmospheric.
Loud, sweaty, packed, and genuinely fun. Zero pretension. The energy comes from the crowd, not the decor.
Soca dominates, with calypso, dancehall, and occasional R&B mixed in. Volume is set to 'conversation requires shouting.'
Casual. Jeans and a t-shirt work fine. Most locals wear whatever they had on at work or whatever was clean. Nobody cares about your outfit here.
Travelers who want authentic Trini liming without any tourist packaging. Groups or confident solo drinkers who can hold their own in a local crowd.
Cash only (TTD). No cards accepted. An ATM sits about 200 meters east on Western Main Road.
Price Range
Carib/Stag beer TTD 20-25, rum and coke TTD 25-35, puncheon rum shot TTD 20, bottle of Angostura 1919 TTD 400
Beer ~USD 3-4 / ~EUR 3; rum and coke ~USD 4-5 / ~EUR 4; puncheon shot ~USD 3 / ~EUR 3
Hours
Mon-Thu 5 PM to midnight, Fri-Sat 5 PM to 3 AM, Sun 4 PM to 11 PM
Insider Tip
Friday after 11 PM is the sweet spot for energy without overcrowding. The sidewalk crowd is where the real conversations happen, so grab your drink and head outside. Avoid puncheon rum on your first visit unless you want to end your night early.
Full Review
The entrance is easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for. A small sign, a doorway, and then you're inside a space that feels smaller than it probably is because of the number of people crammed into it. The bar runs along the wall to the left, staffed by two bartenders who work with impressive speed considering the demand.
Drink orders are simple here. You're getting a Carib, a Stag, or a rum. The Angostura line dominates. A rum and coke costs TTD 25-35, which is cheap even by St. James standards. Puncheon rum is available for those who want to test their limits. At 75% ABV, it's not a casual choice. The bartenders don't judge, but they've seen enough tourists regret it to offer a knowing look when you order.
The crowd is local. Office workers from downtown who've loosened their ties, St. James residents who walked here from their front porches, and a few expats who've been adopted by the regulars. On a good Friday night, the place hits capacity by 11 PM and stays there until 2 AM. The sidewalk becomes an extension of the bar, with people leaning on parked cars and sitting on the low wall across the street.
The music never stops and rarely drops below a volume that makes conversation a full-body exercise. Soca is the default, but the bartender or whoever's nearest the speaker sometimes switches to dancehall or old-school calypso. When a popular tune drops, the whole bar reacts. People who were deep in conversation suddenly wine on whoever is closest.
There's no food served inside, but you won't go hungry. A doubles vendor sets up within sight of the entrance most nights. A gyro stand across the road stays busy until 3 AM. The Chinese takeaway on the corner does brisk business with bar-goers who need carbohydrates to absorb the rum.
The Neighborhood
Drink! sits in the heart of St. James's nightlife strip on Western Main Road. Frankie's is a 3-minute walk east, and D Backyard is around the corner. Doubles vendors, gyro stands, and Chinese takeaway places surround the venue. The Queens Park Savannah is about 1.5 kilometers east.
Getting There
Taxi from downtown Port of Spain (10 minutes, TTD 30-50). From Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, TTD 20-40. Tell the driver 'Drink bar, Western Main Road, St. James' and they'll know it. The venue is at a corner lot that's easy to spot on busy nights by the crowd spilling onto the sidewalk.
Other Venues in St. James
Frankie's
One of St. James's longest-running nightclubs, pulling crowds with soca, dancehall, and reggae. Two levels, a packed dance floor on weekends, and the kind of energy that doesn't quit until sunrise.
Zulu Lounge
Upscale-leaning lounge on the St. James strip with cocktails, hookah, and a slightly calmer vibe than the surrounding bars. Good for starting the evening before the street gets loud.
Pelican Inn
Old-school St. James bar that's been serving drinks since before most of its current patrons were born. Rum-heavy menu, local crowd, and a jukebox that leans toward classic calypso and soca.
D Backyard
Open-air venue behind Western Main Road hosting live bands, DJs, and occasional comedy nights. The outdoor setup catches the breeze and gives St. James liming an al fresco twist.