The bar scene in Bluefields is Caribbean and unpretentious. Reggae is the default soundtrack; rum, beer, and the occasional rum punch are what's on offer; and the venues range from open-air terraces over the bay to low-ceilinged rooms where a sound system does the heavy lifting. The social life of the town spills outside — into waterfront spaces, the streets during festival periods, and the park around the central square on evenings when there's music.
During Palo de Mayo, bars and impromptu venues operate all night. Outside May, the scene is quieter but still distinctly Caribbean in character — there is a live music tradition on the coast that surfaces in various places through the week, usually on Thursday and weekend nights. Toña and Victoria, the standard Nicaraguan beers, are everywhere; locally produced rum is cheap. Coffee is less prominent than on the Pacific side, though the Caribbean coast does produce some of its own. Look for the informal waterfront spots in the evening rather than the more restaurant-oriented venues, which tend to close early.