Bar: Swing
Location: Jamwest Beach: Rutland Point, Norman Manley Blvd, Negril, Jamaica
Score: 7.2/10
Pack your bags and grab your passports, cause we’re going international. We recently crashed the honeymoon of two very dear friends of the We Rate Bars family, and doing so resulted in coming across an absolute gem of a beach bar. If you looked up beach bars in the dictionary, there wouldn’t be a definition. Just a picture of this bar. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Swing.
Located on Jamwest Beach in the town of Negril, you can find Swing if you ever find yourself on the island of Jamaica. Besides the tin roof, every aspect of this building and bar is made entirely of wood. It gives it that natural vibe you would look for when it comes to the ideal beach bar. Going forward with the natural look, the bar is built around trees. Running through the floor are trees that provide natural shade on the patio areas and provide an almost seclusive look. But don’t let this stop you from thinking this will block off any views. Swing is completely open with a full 360-degree view outside the bar. The highlight of this is looking out to see white sand, and beautiful blue water, all while a nice breeze went through the bar. If someone were to construct the perfect beach bar, Swing would make for the perfect base model to begin that project.
As mentioned, we found ourselves in Jamaica as the lovely bride and groom asked their family and friends to join them. As you can imagine, every day was spent drinking large amounts of alcohol from sun up to sun down. This almost came to a halt when we decided to do a catamaran trip one day. We arrived at the check-in location and were told we would not be leaving until 10 am. At this point, it was only 8:30 am. Looking around for how I was going to entertain myself, I noticed Swing. Walking in I had one thought on my mind; please let this be a bar. And much to my delight, I noticed the fully stocked bar consisting of every liquor you could ever want. Like any connoisseur would do, I walked up and ordered a Rum Punch. No point in starting later today than any of the other days I thought to myself. I wasn’t too focused on the bartender making the drink as I was checking out the rest of the place and admiring the view. And when he told me my drink was ready and I went in for that first sip, let me tell you, that man emphasized the rum. The punch meant it was going to knock me out. But after a quick stir and a few more drinks, it mixed perfectly and was soon sipping the drink so well known around the beautiful island of Jamaica. After a few more of these, we were told it was time to head out. Which was a real shame, as I could have spent hours there feeling the sea breeze in my air, the sun hitting my skin, all while drinking the menu of their different cocktails. If you do find yourself in Jamaica I cannot recommend a more beautiful place to grab some drinks. It’s a perfect way to split up your vacation get off the resort and experience the island for what it is.
Decor: Next to zero decor. But this scenario for this bar is not a bad thing. Swing focused on the natural look involving wood and the trees, and I think adding a bunch of decor would’ve been pointless and taken away from the natural beauty of this bar.
Prices: The only negative here. The drinks were pricey but also bearable. The Rum Punch was $10 which was a little steep, but I’ve also paid way more for mixed drinks at other spots. The drinks also tasted like quadruple pours, so definitely get more bang for your buck.
Service: The staff was amazing and very friendly. Super positive and happy to have a conversation with you. Almost like you’re talking with a friend rather than your bartender.
Atmosphere: The perfect beach bar. On an island looking out to white sand and blue water. A nice breeze drifts through the bar. Everyone there is happy to be a part of it. Not a single bad vibe is in the air.
Cleanliness: Clean. Zero worries.
Bonus Points: None.