The best part of traveling, in my opinion, is having the freedom to create your life any way you want. Changing plans last minute or sticking to the original plan is all okay when you are the creator of your life, the master of your decisions. This is how I arrived in Guam, a tiny island in the Micronesian island chain in the South Pacific, east of the Philippines.
When I first arrived in Guam, I was astounded by the natural beauty, the friendliness of the locals, and the delicious barbecue cuisine for which the island is known. I was also shocked at how little information was available on the internet regarding the United States territory; I found many pictures of the picturesque beaches that could rival Bali and Hawaii and a detailed history of how Guam came to be apart of the U.S. but I found little about local activities, nightclubs, popular restaurants and life outside the tourist capital of the island. Besides Craigslist and the Visitor Center website, Guam’s online profile is bleak and non-informative. I was disappointed to say the least.
So, as a new resident of the island, I am going to bring you the best of the best, letting you in on the well-kept secret spots to dine, to play and to adventure. I have scoured the island, looking for local favorites and hidden treasures to share with you! Before I get started, here are some things I bet you didn’t know:
Random Guam Tidbits:
-Guam, known for “Where America Starts It’s Day” is home to some of the best diving spots in the world, brilliant hiking trails, high class shopping and fine dining and is often overlooked by the West as a vacation spot. Overshadowed by Pacific neighbor Hawaii, Guam is not frequented by many fellow Americans despite its natural and manmade attractions.
-A popular destination for Japanese, Koreans, and Filipinos, the island’s main tourist hub is chock full of gourmet Asian restaurants, multilingual wait staff, and a wide variety of water sport activities.
-Guam is the closest land mass to the world’s deepest ocean trench, the Mariana Trench, which reaches seven miles below sea level! (Imagine if the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest, were dropped in the lowest point of the Trench, it’s peak would still be more than a mile underwater!)
I absolutely love Guam and am so fascinated by it’a geographic location (in the Ring of Fire and Typhoon Alley) and it’s cultural background, that I have been collecting facts about my new home like a librarian collects books! But instead of boring you with random information, let’s get to the good stuff: the best bars on the island!
Best Bars in Tumon
Tumon, the tourist center of the island, is home to a plethora of bars, all designed to suit your personal taste.
At the top of my list (and not just because I work there) is The Pentagon. Named after it’s five adjoining bars, The Pentagon’s diversity is sure to quench your unique thirst. The Pentagon consists of Molly’s, an Irish style pub with beer pong and pool tables, Brix, a pizza place serving thin crust pizza, Route 66, an American style pub with beer pong tables, the W, a swanky nightclub with go-go dancers, and Mars, a spaceship themed club playing mainly electronic dance music and hip hop. Prices are extremely affordable, especially during Happy Hour Sunday through Thursday from 6-9pm. Whether you are in the mood for a low key night with some of your closest friends or ready to dance the night away in your hottest outfit, the Pentagon is the best place to go for all your night life needs.
Second on my list is The Beach Bar at Gun Beach. Located right on the sand, The Beach Bar, is my absolute favorite place to go for a late afternoon lunch and watch the sunset with a Mai Tai in my hand. Relax in one of their many comfy lounge chairs or play a friendly game of volleyball, The Beach Bar has it all for a perfect afternoon. Dance the night away to a local Chamorro band and munch on tangy buffalo wings, the entertainment and food round out this top choice.
Third on my list is The Garage. Ford blue walls, license plates and mechanic themed seating, this bar is my favorite place to eat (and possibly drink…) right before work. Packed with different styles of wings, fries, and finger foods, The Garage’s menu is exploding with flavor. Top it off with an ice cold beer and an engaging conversation from one of the friendly bartenders and this place will find it’s way into your heart, just like it did mine. Beer pong tables and live music bring the place alive each night and make it hard to leave at closing time. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here! (My favorite closing time saying)
I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of Tumon; the city is teeming with excellent eateries, lounges and bars. I can’t tell you how excited I am to bring you more of my favorites and bring you more local secrets. Guam is a vibrant island full of activity and life and it’s my mission to pep up it’s online profile, doing the justice it deserves. Stay tuned for my next favorites list!
