Midway Bar
An unpretentious local watering hole in The Bottom, where Saba's small-island crowd of villagers, med students, and passing hikers all eventually cross paths.
Why Go
On an island of just five square miles and roughly 2,000 residents, there aren't many places where the whole cast of Saba eventually shows up — Midway Bar is one of them. Tucked into The Bottom, the tiny volcanic capital, it's where the day slows down and conversation takes over.
The Experience
Midway keeps things simple: cold drinks, easy pours, and the kind of unhurried Caribbean pace that suits an island whose road system was famously declared 'impossible' to build. The room is small and low-key, the crowd a shifting mix of Sabans catching up after work, Saba University med students decompressing between exams, and the occasional diver or hiker who's wandered up from Fort Bay. You come for atmosphere and easy conversation rather than décor — expect an open door, a jukebox mood, and a bartender who probably recognises most of the people walking in.
What to Try
Order what the locals order. A cold Heineken or Amstel Bright is the safe default across Saba's bars, and a straightforward rum-and-Coke never goes wrong. If the kitchen is running, keep it simple — a plate of chicken and rice or something fried is exactly the ballast you want after a day on Saba's near-vertical trails.
Insider Tip
Saba runs on island time and small-village logic: hours shift with the season and the crowd, and a bar that's dead on a Tuesday can be the whole village on a Friday. Ask around in The Bottom that day, or call ahead before making the trip. Bring US dollars in cash — card machines on Saba can be temperamental, and a small tip in cash goes a long way with the regulars.
The Practical Stuff
Located in The Bottom, Saba's capital village, just off 'The Road' — the island's single main artery. Walking distance from most central spots in The Bottom, and a short taxi hop from Fort Bay harbour or Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport up top. No dress code (you're on Saba). Bring cash and a light layer — at around 800 ft elevation, evenings cool off quickly under the trade winds.
Pair It With
- Barney's Ground Guide — The Bottom's community sports and gathering ground is a short stroll away — a good stop to soak up village life before or after your drink.
- Battery Corre Corre Guide — A historic coastal battery site on the outskirts of The Bottom, perfect for a late-afternoon walk before circling back to Midway for a well-earned cold one.
- Easternmost Point of Saba Guide — One of the island's dramatic edge-of-the-world viewpoints, close enough to fold into a classic half-day of Saba wandering that ends on a bar stool.
- Big Stone Guide — A quirky local landmark on the walk out of The Bottom — the kind of small-island curiosity that makes for a good story back at the bar.
