Dining in and out in the Caribbean

Barbados

Few would dispute that Barbados is the Caribbean’s culinary capital, and it’s wise, particularly in peak season, to make reservations to smart restaurants a long time ahead of arrival.

Contrasting environments for fresh seafood include Champers and Cuz’s fish shack. The former is one of the leading restaurants on the south coast which features excellent service and the freshest seafood, complemented by striking flavours. The latter is a modest shack-in-a-car-park, next to Pebbles Beach, but its Bajan fish cutter sandwich has earned a global reputation. Lone Star, on the west coast, is something of a celebrity hangout and is the only restaurant where you can dine directly on the beach. Excellent crab fish cakes and coconut crusted jumbo shrimps are highlights.

St Kitts & Nevis

On Nevis, there is a wide choice of smart and sophisticated bars on Pinney’s Beach which are popular with a yachting crowd. For authentic cuisine, Bananas, a charming plantation-style, hillside venue, majors on easy lunches and romantic dinners. Local lobster and lamb dishes are amongst the fine dining favourites. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, guests can enjoy five course tasting menus for party sizes from two to 24, in a 300-year-old sugar mill, Mill Prive, at Montpelier Plantation & Beach. For sublime al fresco dining, the hotel’s Four-Diamond eatery, Restaurant 750, offers light and modern cuisine, perfected through the use of local ingredients, herbs and spices. The experience is complete with fabulous views overlooking the lights of Charlestown and St Kitts.

On neighbouring St Kitts, great beach bars with local dishes are to be discovered at South Frigate Bay. Adult only Stone Barn, part of Park Hyatt St Kitts Christophe Harbour, is a fine dining experience of sharing platters and premium wines. Reservations are essential. Vegetarians and vegans should seek out Ital Creations’ organic produce near Basseterre. Fish-lovers should not miss out on the rich Caribbean bouillabaisse at Serendipity.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is discovering a new identity with some superb five star resorts in Punta Cana and La Romana. Many of these resorts are all-inclusive with the incentive to dine beyond them correspondingly diminished. The Relais & Chateaux brand is renowned for its cuisine and Eden Roc Cap Cana has always enjoyed a reputation for fine gastronomy. Its main restaurant, Mediterraneo, has been excellent since its inception in 2013. La Palapa is a go to address for seafood and Blue features the culinary highlight that is Nikkei cuisine, and fusion of South American and Japanese influences.

St Vincent & The Grenadines

Bequia offers a small selection of excellent restaurants, cafés and bars popular with the sailing and yachting set. The French windows open onto the view of crashing waves at Sugar Reef Café. Perfect for a romantic dinner and equally excellent for a savoury seafood lunch, this is a must-visit address. Jack’s Beach Bar on pristine Princess Margaret Beach serves exquisite cocktails, and the freshest seafood caught within metres of the beachfront terrace.

St Lucia

For an unforgettable view of the Pitons, restaurant Dasheene, part of Ladera Resort, is a must. Lunch is the best time to enjoy this unrivalled view and the mix of Creole and international food. The Cliff at Cap is one of the top dining destinations in St Lucia, part of Cap Maison Luxury Resort & Spa, it features contemporary French Caribbean cuisine. Rock Maison, also part of the hotel, is often described as one of the most romantic tables for two anywhere in the world. This secluded and torchlit private deck, set just above the sea, has a champagne zip line to send drinks down to its diners.

Exclusive cacao cuisine and a spectacular setting have made Rabot Restaurant, at Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate, one of St Lucia’s most popular foodie destinations. The menu marries the sweet and savoury nature of cacao with the superb local produce and fantastic views of the Pitons. The restaurant at East Winds has a farm-to-table concept where ingredients are grown on the property. Each Friday sees a huge barbecue pit on the beach serving steak, fresh fish, seasonal lobster and vegetarian options. The hotel’s Banana Museum and garden tours are very popular with guests.

Grenada

The fine dining scene on Grenada tends to be within the hotels. Two stand-out addresses are the thatched roof restaurant at Laluna Boutique Hotel & Villas, featuring superb Italian and Caribbean dishes, while Rhodes Restaurant at Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel is widely regarded as providing the finest food on the whole island. Beyond the hotels are more modest and affordable local restaurants. Grenada grows everything from nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger to turmeric and thyme, resulting in local plates that really pack a punch. For Grenadian specialities try the informal, waters’ edge BB’s Crabback in St George’s. The Aquarium on Magazine Beach is a Caribbean-meets-international institution with a popular Sunday lunch barbecue.

Antigua

In St John’s, Papa Zouk has quite the reputation for seafood as well as more than 250 rum labels for your delectation. At a hugely contrasting price point, and on car-free Long Island, The Estate House is a restored plantation house serving sublime cuisine and can only be reached by boat. Sunset English Harbour views and the surrounding 19 acres of national park are a major draw at Terrace Restaurant, where delicate Italian mains meet Caribbean desserts. At Blue Waters Resort & Spa the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Cove, features great sea views from its cliff top location and serves Caribbean and French cuisine with flair, including a particularly fine Lobster Thermidor. Flaming torches and candlelight add to the ambience.