Nightlife:

There are a dozen good nightspots in Fort-de-France and out of town with a zouk or jazz beat, a few piano bars, and such late night discos as La Baraka in the Meridien, l'Amphore Cotton Club in Anse Mitan, Le Zénith and the New Hippo in town, St. James Jazz Club and Manikou Nights in Jambette outside town, Top 50 in Trinité, the Beverly Hills in Marin, Le Chalet in Rivière Salée, and the H Club in Ducos. Other night spots include le Cheyenne, Le West-Indies and Salsa Tech in Fort-de-France, Ti-Balcon in the outskirts, l'Endroit in Sainte-Anne. Check the local newspaper "France-Antilles" for musical events and venues. Many hotels have dancing, as well as shows by Les Grands Ballets de la Martinique, Les Balisiers or Pom' Cannelle, fine troupes of talented dancers, singers and musicians. Legal drinking age is 18.

La Baraka Discothèque:
Located in the Meridien Hotel at Pointe du Bout, the new and compact La Baraka is an air-conditioned disco (formerly the VonVon) with a lively bar and great music for dancing. Tel: (596) 66.00.00, fax: (596) 66.00.74.

Le Manikou:
Open since last year, this popular large disco and nightclub is just outside Fort-de-France on the way to Lamentin. Tel: (596) 50.96.99.

Cotton Club:
On the beach at Anse Mitan, in the former Restaurant L'Amphore, this brand new nightspot is very popular. It features live jazz and zouk as well as traditional island music like beguine. The atmosphere is cozy and casual, and there's a little dance floor near the bar. Nice, friendly crowd, mostly locals.

Le Zénith
This new disco on Boulevard Allègre in Fort-de-France has live music and dancing. The Boulevard Allegre, actually the right bank of the Rivière Madame, has a long history as a "happy street" for late-night club crawlers.

Top 50:
A new late-night disco in Trinité, Top 50 draws large crowds, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, who dance till the wee hours to local rhythms.

"H" Club:
Another new disco, located in Ducos, opens late and closes late and keeps dancers on their feet with great, upbeat local music.

Gambling:

Legal gambling age in Martinique is 18. Proof of identity (e.g., valid passport or driver's license with photo) is required. Casinos are open 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly American or French roulette and blackjack are played. There are slot machines in salons (no entry fee) next to casino rooms.

Casino at the Meridien Hotel:
In addition to a small gaming room, the casino at the Meridien Hotel in Pointe du Bout has added a room with 20 slot machines. Entrance fee is 70F.
Tel: (596) 66.00.00.

Casino de la Batelière Plazza:
This new casino, located on the main highway north of Fort-de-France, near the Bateliere Hotel, opened last season. An imposing architectural structure, it sports a gaming room for roulette and blackjack, as well as an adjoining arcade with 100 slot machines. Entrance fee is 69F.
Tel: (596) 61.73.23
Fax: (596) 61.93.19