Carlisle Bay is one of those rare places where the water is so clear and calm and impossibly turquoise that you suspect someone is running a filter. The Boatyard sits right on it in Bridgetown, which makes it Barbados’s most straightforward case for day drinking. Open 365 days a year (not 364, not ‘most days,’ 365), The Boatyard has committed to the beach bar lifestyle with a seriousness the Bum finds deeply admirable. The vibe is casual and Caribbean-correct: colorful decor, sea-side decking, a menu of local dishes and cocktails inspired by the island’s legendary rum culture. You can swim directly from the bar. Kayaks and water sports are right there. It is, in short, the kind of place that will completely derail whatever other plans you had for the afternoon, and you will not feel bad about it.
