Café Rix is one of the anchors of the Pietermaai bar scene: an open-fronted bar in a beautifully restored colonial house with a long counter, deep wooden shutters, and a crowd that skews young and local on weeknights. They serve a good selection of Curaçaoan rum, Amstel beer (brewed on the island), and cocktails built around Blue Curaçao that are less tacky than you would expect.
The terrace spills out onto the street in the evenings, which gives the whole strip its sociable feeling. Food is available — mostly snacks and small plates. The bar gets lively after 9pm and stays open late at weekends.