Nightlife in Papua New Guinea

The bar scene in Papua New Guinea lives almost exclusively within hotel precincts and licensed club compounds. Standalone street bars of the neighborhood-pub variety don't exist in a form most Western travelers would recognize. What you get instead are poolside bars, hotel lobbies with well-stocked counters, and a few private social clubs that accept temporary memberships for visiting guests. The Lamana Hotel's entertainment complex in Port Moresby is probably the most active single venue in the country. It draws a mixed crowd of locals, expats, and occasional tourists and stays busy on Thursday through Saturday nights. Airways Hotel has a more upscale bar feel, with a clientele that skews toward business travelers and senior expats. Ela Beach Hotel tends toward the casual end, with a covered bar that catches whatever breeze comes off the water. Cold beer dominates ordering habits. Spirits are available but the range is thinner than you'd expect. Cocktail culture hasn't arrived yet.

Late-night eating in Papua New Guinea is mostly a hotel-precinct affair. The kitchen at your accommodation is usually the safest and most reliable option past nine or ten in the evening. Most hotels with dining rooms keep food service going until at least ten-thirty on busy nights. Outside that, there are roadside food stalls in some parts of Port Moresby. You'll find them selling lamb flaps, rice, and local staples. Venturing out specifically for street food late at night is not something most security-conscious travelers do independently. The Crowne Plaza and Airways Hotel both maintain late food service on their restaurant menus. If you're ending a night at Lamana, their in-house food options cover the basics well enough to soak up whatever you've been drinking.