Going out downtown
West Palm Beach Nightlife
A local editor's guide to going out in downtown West Palm Beach. Bars, clubs, cocktail rooms, and live music, verified block by block.
Downtown WPB's nightlife runs on three unofficial currents. Clematis Street is the open-container Thursday-night strip, Clematis by Night fountain crowds and the bars that stay full after. CityPlace is the big-room, bigger-group play, where bachelorette parties and birthdays end up. NORA and Northwood are where downtown's cocktail bars live: smaller rooms, better drinks, bartenders who actually know what they're doing. The picks and groupings below are all verified, all current, and all click through to the bar's own page.
Our picks right now
Where we'd meet a friend after work
Nightlife
CRU Lounge
Northwood Village
An upscale hookah lounge and restaurant on Northwood Road with signature cocktails, shareable late-night plates, and live DJs. Open evenings, Wed to Sun.
Dining
Urban Roast
Downtown WPB
A D.C. coffee house by day and cocktail lounge by night, steps from Clematis, with brunch, espresso martinis, shared plates, and DJ-driven evenings.
Nightlife
Respectable Street
Clematis Street
Clematis Street’s alternative music landmark since 1987. Live bands, DJ nights, new wave and indie dance parties in a historic building.
Nightlife
Lost Weekend WPB
Clematis Street
Legendary Clematis Street pool hall and bar with pinball, vintage arcade games, craft beer, and a lively late-night crowd. A SubCulture original.
Nightlife
Clematis Social
Clematis Street
Upscale Clematis Street nightlife with three bars, pool and ping pong, and semi-private rooms open into the early morning.
Nightlife
Forget Me Not
Clematis Street
Two-room nightclub and neighborhood bar on Clematis Street, with The Main Room for dancing and The Locals Lounge for a laid-back drink.
By neighborhood
Where to drink, block by block
Clematis Street
All Clematis Street listings →
Nightlife
Forget Me Not
Clematis Street
Two-room nightclub and neighborhood bar on Clematis Street, with The Main Room for dancing and The Locals Lounge for a laid-back drink.
Nightlife
MIA Lounge Palm Beach
Clematis Street
Luxury speakeasy lounge on Clematis Street with house music DJs, craft cocktails, and a sushi bar. VIP tables and private events available.
Downtown WPB
All Downtown WPB listings →
Dining
Urban Roast
Downtown WPB
A D.C. coffee house by day and cocktail lounge by night, steps from Clematis, with brunch, espresso martinis, shared plates, and DJ-driven evenings.
Nightlife
Purple Lotus Kava Bar
Downtown WPB
Longtime South Florida kava bar just south of Clematis Street, serving traditional non-alcoholic kava.
Northwood Village
All Northwood Village listings →
Nightlife
CRU Lounge
Northwood Village
An upscale hookah lounge and restaurant on Northwood Road with signature cocktails, shareable late-night plates, and live DJs. Open evenings, Wed to Sun.
Dining
Celona Restaurant & Gin Lounge
Northwood Village
A Northwood Road tapas and gin lounge from the Petanque and French Grill House team, with small plates, burgers, tacos, and late-night cocktails.
What kind of night?
Pick the vibe, we'll pick the room
Smaller roomsCocktail barsThe bartender-driven rooms where the menu is 20 drinks and every one of them is thought through.Find a spot →No pretenseDive barsCheap pours, strong drinks, a pool table, somebody's dog in the corner. The anti-club.Find a spot →Dance floorClubs and dancingDJs, bottle service, a line at the door after 11. For when a sit-down drink is not the point.Find a spot →On stageLive musicRooms with a stage: jazz, Latin, cover sets, the occasional touring band passing through.Find a spot →UpstairsRooftop barsWhere downtown WPB is prettiest after dark. Dress code is softer than you'd think.Find a spot →On the waterWaterfront barsSunset drinks along Flagler Drive and the Intracoastal, boats docked in the background.Find a spot →
From the Journal: going out
More stories →
Questions
What you want to know before you go out
Where is the nightlife in West Palm Beach?
Downtown WPB's nightlife runs along Clematis Street (open-container Thursday nights at Clematis by Night, bars and clubs the rest of the week), CityPlace (bigger rooms, group spots), and the cocktail bars tucked into NORA District and Northwood Village. The by-neighborhood section above groups the current spots by block.
What is Clematis by Night?
A free Thursday evening street party on Clematis Street with live music by the fountain, running most of the year. People show up early for the music, stay for the bars after. It's why Clematis still sets the tempo for downtown nightlife.
What are the best cocktail bars in West Palm Beach?
The "Cocktail bars" bucket above groups the current spots. Most of the serious ones are in NORA District and Northwood Village, smaller rooms where the bartender actually built the menu. The hand-picked slots at the top of this page are refreshed as the scene changes.
Is downtown WPB safe at night?
Yes, generally. The Clematis Street and CityPlace core is well-lit, well-trafficked, and patrolled. Northwood is quieter, so you walk it the way you'd walk any residential block at night. Rideshare is common; parking is easiest on the north end of Olive and in the CityPlace garages.
Is this a sponsored list?
No. Bars and clubs pay for their directory listing. They don't pay for a spot on this page. If we recommend a bar here, it's because we think it's worth recommending. See /about/ for the full editorial policy.
How do you decide what makes the list?
The top of the page is hand-selected by our editorial team. Below that, cards auto-fill from Featured and Premium-tier listings in the Nightlife category, rotating on each page refresh. Every bar linked from this page is a verified listing on this site.