So you’re a bit of a party-goer eh! Not a problem.
Let’s go on a tour of Suva’s nightlife and find out exactly what’s up Doc and what’s hot and what’s not.
Party nights in Suva, and mostly for the rest of Fiji, are Friday and Saturday nights. That’s when everyone puts on their glad rags and gets set to boogey the night away.
Nightclubs of Suva offers a lively and pulsating ambience and amazing music to the visitors throughout the week which intensifies further during the weekends, with crowd streaming into them in huge numbers.. The areas like Victoria Parade and the huge stretch between Civic Auditorium and Albert Park are hubs for nightlife venues in the city.
Let’s start with a casual walk down Victoria Parade, which is the main drag in Suva. Lots of people milling around as it’s only 8 pm which tends to be a bit early for the diehard party-goers.
The barbeque stands have already set themselves up and are doing a brisk trade. For $5 you can get a lamb chop, a sausage and an egg plus a mixture of carrot and cabbage that passes for coleslaw (but you definitely need an imagination for that).
As the night moves in Suva prepares to party
Victoria Parade in Suva is a real mixture of people in the evenings but especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Families, singles, couples, religious groups and the elderly promenade the Parade looking for different things to occupy themselves.
McDonalds does a roaring trade as does Village 6, the cinema complex with MHCC shopping mall also listening to the cash registers ringing as they stay open until 9pm, 7 nights a week.
A few early revelers make a bit of a nuisance of themselves but being early starters they won’t last past 10pm when the real action starts.
New liquor licensing laws have been introduced enabling bars to now open until 5am. That ought to make for interesting scenes in the early hours of the morning.
Now onto the real thing.
We’ll stick to the main drag as to venture to some of the others that are not quite so bona fide can result in headaches that you don’t need.
O’Reillys
If you’re looking for an amazing night with a great mixture of people where retro meets hip-hop, then O’Reillys in Suva is the place for you. An Irish-owned pub with a totally local atmosphere that is extreme and fun filled for all races and ages (well 18-years and over that is). The music and crowd are major contributors to the atmosphere of this club (which is certainly nowhere near Irish at midnight!). Pole dancing is allowed and happens to be one of the club's main attractions. Dress is semi-formal.
O’Reilly’s is frequented by regulars, just like any other bar anywhere in the world but welcomes visitors with open arms as it makes for a bit of a change to have new blood.
Don’t think too much about conversation though as the music is heavy and loud and the later it gets the noise of the crowd makes it impossible to be heard – but who cares.
Gays are well accepted in the bar scene in Suva and add to the color with their bright personalities and happy-go-lucky attitude. When it comes to pole dancing they are right up there.
The bar has a couple of sections. Bad Dog Café is connected to O’Reilly’s where you can get a good meal and also have drinks at a bar.
Then there is the main bar where most of the action happens but if you want a game of pool go out to the back bar for an entirely different atmosphere.
Security is good but don’t aggravate them as they are HUGE.
Traps
Traps is one of the longest established nightclubs in Fiji that is still considered cool. It has 5 different bars with a non-smoking top lounge for those who just want a more relaxed atmosphere. On weekdays they feature the smooth sounds of local DJs or you can mix it with artists and poets during a poetry reading. The other 4 bars are the full nightclub experience with hip hop influence strongly evident in the music. All 5 bars have their own unique atmosphere. The front bar usually hosts businessmen or socialites who rock up after work for a drink or two. The middle and back bars cater mostly for students and the younger of the workforce. The dress code is semi-formal - definitely no flip-slops or shorts.
Traps is an institution in its own right, again with a regular clientele and a good lashing of media reps.
Birdland
Birdland seems to have a policy of “we never close.” This tends to be the gathering place for the stayers after other clubs have closed but with the new extended licensing laws that could change. The music is good but the crowd can get a bit carried away at times but generally don’t bother others. The club is underground and when crowded can get quite stuffy so if you’re claustrophobic be prepared. Take care to stick with your group and ensure that your wallets and purses are safely kept.
Golden Dragon
Dragon still retains the atmosphere that prevailed when it first opened. Today, you can walk into Dragon, sit at any of the tables, order a drink off friendly waiters and feel nostalgic. The music is old school with a choice of classics and island grooves spun by the DJ. Unoversity students and islanders make up majority of patrons on the usual week ends (could have something to do with the cheap drinks). Security here is very reliable.
The Ranch
Targeted mainly by those in the older demographic. It's the place to go if you’re into live music (house band), country music or classics from the 70’s & 80’s.
02’s
Is a club that caters to the younger end of the clubbing scene. A DJ spins the very latest music along the lines of hip-hop, rap and R&B. Bouncers always make certain that O2's is never overcrowded. It's like hosting a private party. O2’s is synonymous with theme parties, like one in which you'd wear your beach attire. The mood here is easy, with hardly any scuffles. That's probably because of the huge bouncers wandering about.
The Aussie Bar
This bar owned by an Aussie (surprise, surprise) has a no smoking policy and fits the bill of a typical sportsman’s bar with wide screen TV focusing on sports. It is well run, nice and new and a great place to spend an evening.
The variety is great, the atmosphere jumping and the clubbers good fun.
Get set for a night of frivolity and fun but don’t drink too much as hangovers are not that much fun.
