Best Party Hostels
in Panglao

Alona Beach

The heart of Panglao’s nightlife and backpacker scene. A 1.5-kilometre stretch of sand packed with bars, hostels, and dive shops. The southern end is where the action is: beachfront clubs, fire dancers, and pub crawls. The northern end is quieter, with budget guesthouses and local eateries. Most hostels here are within walking distance of the beach.

Tawala

A 10-minute tricycle ride from Alona Beach, Tawala is where you’ll find cheaper hostels and a more local feel. The streets are lined with small sari-sari stores, bakeries, and motorbike rental shops. It’s quieter at night, but Luggage Hostel and a few other spots keep the party going until midnight. A good base if you want to be close to Alona but avoid the noise.

Danao Beach

A 15-minute scooter ride north of Alona, Danao is a quieter alternative with powdery white sand and fewer crowds. The beach is lined with mid-range resorts and seafood restaurants, and it’s a great spot for snorkelling. At night, Badjao Beach Bar is the only real nightlife option, but it’s a relaxed place to drink with live music.

This is the hub of Alona Beach’s hostel scene. The bar sits right on the sand, with daily happy hours from 4–6 PM serving 2-for-1 San Miguel beers. Expect fire dancers after 9 PM, followed by a mix of reggae and EDM. The crowd is mostly backpackers, so it’s easy to meet people. Entry is free, but bucket drinks cost 350 PHP.

A short walk from Alona Beach, Badjao has a more local vibe with live bands playing OPM (Original Pilipino Music) and rock covers. The crowd is a mix of travellers and Boholanos, and the seafood grill is worth ordering: try the garlic butter crabs for 450 PHP. Gets busy around 10 PM when the live music starts.

The closest thing Panglao has to a proper club. Open-air dance floor with house and hip-hop DJs, plus a rooftop lounge for when you need a break. Entry is 200 PHP after 11 PM, which includes one drink. The crowd is a mix of backpackers and expats, and it’s the only place in Alona that stays open until 3 AM on weekends.

A chilled-out beachfront bar with bean bags in the sand and cheap cocktails: happy hour runs from 3–5 PM with 100 PHP margaritas. The crowd is mostly backpackers, and it’s a great spot to watch the sunset. Later in the evening, they switch to acoustic sets or reggae DJs. No cover charge.

A hidden gem behind Alona Beach, this bar is run by Luggage Hostel and feels like a backyard party. Cheap beer (70 PHP for a San Miguel), pool tables, and a mix of rock and pop music. The crowd is mostly hostel guests, so it’s a good place to start the night before heading to the beach clubs. Open until 1 AM.

The only rooftop bar in Alona, with views over the beach and ocean. Cocktails cost 250–300 PHP, and the happy hour from 5–7 PM offers 20% off. The crowd is a bit older: mostly couples and groups of friends: so it’s quieter than the beach bars. Live acoustic sets start around 8 PM.