Overview
To see some true East Coast wildlife you only have to visit one of the many weekly beach parties in Arugam Bay. While most people do go with good intentions, to have a good time and dance the night away an excess of alcohol and male egos often leads to bad vibes and fighting, especially among locals.
Schedule
Thursday – Hipsters, previously known as Funky de Bar.
Friday – Sababa Surf Cafe, Whiskey Point.
Saturday – Mambo’s, the longest running and most famous of the Arugam Bay party scene. It is free for tourists but 2000LKR for locals. They impose this charge to keep numbers of locals at a manageable level.
Sunday – Ocean Sky, a relatively new venue at the northern end of town near the bridge.
Peak Season
Expect other smaller venues to cash in and stage their own efforts during July, August and September. The music is deafeningly loud, usually starts shortly after sundown and continues until sunrise!
Bars
The two most popular hangouts are Siam View for beer and Hideaway Hide & Chill Bar for cocktails. Both have regular live music during high season.
Buying Alcohol
See Where to Buy Alcohol in Arugam Bay for info on where to get beers or a bottle before heading to the dancefloor.
Leave a Reply
Hey 🙂 I’m coming last week of April, how will the party atmosphere there by then?
Hey! 🙂 I’m coming to Arugam Bay in the next few days. Is there something going on at this time in the evening?
Hey John,
Im planning on staying in late May/early June. How is the party vibe around that time? As well as surfing options?
Hey Andrej, it will be quiet in terms of organised parties. There are more and more backpackers coming to Arugam Bay though so there are always people around. You will find the best option is to stay in one of the hostels. Surfing should be ok, may be pumping for a week or may be flat…
Hiya,
We are coming in early October. Are there any parties happening then? x
Hey Nicola, by then most nightlife will have finished. There aren’t the people around to justify it. So you probably need to come before the end of September if you want to dance all night! However, there will still be people around and the hostels will have a good vibe for sure.
Hey,
Thank you for the response! We’d planned to stay for 4/5 days in AB – do you think we should shorten that if it’s going to be quiet?
Hey Nicola, it really depends on what you are coming for… If you want to party then it is not the ideal time, but a lot of people believe October is the best time of the year in Arugam Bay. There are still good waves but less crowds and noise…
Hi there, we’re looking at coming for a couple days next week, are there still parties Monday – Thursday? Cheers
Hey Mames, we are not aware of any yet, follow our Facebook Page for the latest updates..
When do the beach parties at Whiskey Point and Mambo’s begin for 2017 season?
Hey Roxanne, they should be starting within the next few weeks. for sure by mid-June!
Now confirmed starting 9th and 10th June!