Back Street Bar: The Valley's Live-Music Hideaway
Where Anguilla's local bands turn a low-key bar into the island's most electric night out.
Why Go
Tucked into The Valley away from the resort strip, Back Street Bar (locals just call it BSB) is where you go when you want the real Anguilla soundtrack — reggae bass lines, calypso choruses and the occasional rock cover — played by musicians who actually live on the island. It's small, it's loud in the best way, and by 9pm the crowd is a very Anguillian mix of off-shift bartenders, honeymooners who wandered off the resort map, and regulars who have their stools already claimed.
The Experience
Pull up in The Valley on a Tuesday-through-Saturday evening and you'll hear BSB before you see it. The vibe is unpretentious island bar — concrete floors, string lights, a stage barely bigger than a pool table — with a crowd that skews local and travels well. Order a Carib or a rum punch at the bar, find a spot along the rail, and let the band do the rest. Sets tend to swing from roots reggae into calypso, soca and the odd classic-rock singalong, and by the second set nobody is sitting down. Between songs, expect friendly nods from strangers, someone buying the band a round, and the bartender remembering your drink by the third order. It's the antithesis of the polished Meads Bay dining scene — and that's exactly why people keep coming back.
What to Try
Stick to what the island does best: a cold Carib or Heineken, a proper Anguillian rum punch, or a straight pour of Pyrat if you want to taste why Caribbean rum has a cult following. Food is not the headline here — come fed, or graze on whatever bar snacks are out — the point is the music and the crowd. Ask the bartender who's playing that night; regulars know the local acts by name and will tell you which nights are the ones to plan around.
Insider Tip
Get there early — the room is small and it fills up fast once the band starts, especially on weekends. Arriving around 8pm lets you claim a good spot near the stage, order a couple of rounds before the bar gets three-deep, and chat with the musicians during setup. Cash is your friend for tipping the band, and don't be shy about it — that's how you get the crowd on your side.
The Practical Stuff
Location: The Valley, Anguilla — inland from the Sandy Ground / Road Bay nightlife strip, so you'll want a taxi both ways (Anguilla taxis don't meter; agree on the fare before you get in). Nights: typically Tuesday through Saturday evenings, with live music most nights the doors are open — call ahead or check their Facebook page (BSBMusicBar) for the current schedule, as island venues adjust hours seasonally. Price: bar-tab friendly, no cover most nights. Vibe: casual island wear is perfect; leave the resort dress code at the villa.
Pair It With
- Sandy Ground / Road Bay — After BSB, cab down to Sandy Ground where the beach-bar strip (Elvis' Beach Bar, The Pumphouse, Roy's Bayside Grill) keeps the night going right on the sand — an easy 10-minute ride and the natural second act to a Valley music night.
- Back Street / South Hill bar crawl — If you loved the local-bar energy, spend a different evening bar-hopping the string of hillside spots along Back Street in South Hill — Unique Bar, Tasty's Point of View and Tipsy Island Bar — for open-mic nights, BBQ smoke and panoramic Road Bay sunsets.
- E's Oven or Tasty's Restaurant — Line your stomach first with proper Anguillian cooking — stewed goat, crayfish, johnny cakes — at one of the island's beloved local kitchens before heading to BSB. It's the classic 'eat local, drink local, hear local' evening.