Culinary Sensations in the Caribbean
The Caribbean is the ultimate haven for foodie fanatics, whether your taste buds enjoy hot-and-spicy delights, rich puddings or refreshing tropical flavours. Bask in the sunshine and sample utterly divine dishes, some unique to the islands and others familiar from home.
Any food lover is sure to be impressed by the range of luxurious dining options and authentic street food stalls hidden around the destinations. From the Bahamas to Trinidad & Tobago, you can rest assured that you will never be too far from some inviting cuisine.
Image Credit: Cliff Beach Club, Barbados
Dine in Style
If you want to try luxury culinary experiences, there are plenty of Caribbean dining options that are hard to surpass in sophistication and class. Holidaymakers looking to sample some of the finest foods will love these gastronomic getaways – enjoy high-quality local cuisine while taking in fabulous views and making use of luxurious facilities.
Many hotels in the Caribbean have a number of different restaurants from which to choose, and these are perfect venues for foodie fanatics looking to enjoy a range of different culinary treats. Antigua’s Carlisle Bay, Sandals Grenada Resort and Spa and the Half Moon in Jamaica are among the many hotels renowned for their great collection of restaurants. Some hotels evenboast onsite Italian and French restaurants as well as oriental cuisine, grills and BBQs, so their guests are truly spoiled for choice.
Whether you’re looking at hotels in the Bahamas, Haiti, St Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Antigua or Barbados, we have some excellent recommendations for you.
Recommended Foodie Hotels
- The Colony Club in Barbados offers an exciting foodie experience: the ‘Bait to Plate’ tour with the hotel’s chefs. Head out onto the water and catch your supper yourself before learning how to prepare your meal in true Caribbean style.
- Marigot Bay Resort and Marinain Saint Lucia also has plenty to offer when it comes to dining, including a ‘Farm to Fork’ menu at The Grill restaurant consisting of the finest local produce.
- Stay in Anse Chastanet or Jade Mountain if you’d like a taste of Saint Lucia – known for serving some of the best food on the island, you won’t want to miss a meal in one of these stunning hotels.
- Why not satisfy your sweet tooth and stay at Boucan by Hotel Chocolat? Situated right beside the famous cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia, Boucan is a sophisticated hideaway, ideal for a couples retreat. Visit the famous plantations for yourself and follow the process of transforming those bitter nibs into that substance we all crave.
- Known for its sustainability and organic produce, Belle Mont Farm is the ideal location for those wishing to sample some of freshest foods in St Kitts & Nevis. Enjoy the gorgeous surroundings of the resort while indulging in the unbelievably fresh dishes.
- Head to Rhodes Restaurant in Grenada for an unmissable luxury dining experience. The menu, handcrafted by Gary Rhodes himself, consists of stunning dishes and captures flavours form all over the world.
Image Credit: Saint Lucia Tourist Authority
The Best of Local Cuisine
Those keen to discover Caribbean culture will find it hard to resist the glorious array of street food stalls and foodie festivals – there’s no better place to find famous local treats. Wander through the lively towns and villages, taking in the rich scents all around you as patties of all varieties (including meat, fish and vegetable), seafood sandwiches and smoky jerk chicken portions are cooked to perfection. No matter where you are in the Caribbean, from the Cayman Islands to Nevis to Puerto Rico, the regional food promises to be sensational.
If you’re visiting a street food stall in Barbados or a culinary festival in Martinique, you’ll find yourself immersed in local culture. The colourful narrow streets are filled with the sounds of lively calypso music, and everywhere you turn delicious dishes are being prepared and served. Getting a taste of this lifestyle during your holiday is an absolute must.
Recommended Places and Festivals for a Taste of Local Life
- Venture to Saint Martin’s beachside and enjoy dishes at the lolos for a truly authentic experience. These beachfront BBQ stalls and restaurants serve up local specialities and are popular with the local community – don’t miss your chance to sample some of Saint Martin’s most famous cuisine.
- If your holiday takes you to Trinidad you’ll probably encounter a delicious fish dish known as Bake and Shark. This seafood sandwich is served at Maracas Beach, but can also be found elsewhere on the island and in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.
- Some hotels, such as Turtle Beach in Barbados, offer Dine Around programmes which allow guests to sample dishes from various restaurants in the area. This is a great opportunity to make sure you’re trying something new each day.
- If you find yourself in Turks and Caicos in November, look out for the Conch Festival – a celebration of the local’s favourite delicacy, marine snails. Sample traditional conch dishes and enjoy the fun atmosphere of the festival.
- The British Virgin Islands play host every November to another fantastic foodie celebration – the Anegada lobster festival. Catch this two-day event and taste some of the freshest and finest lobster dishes you will come across in the Caribbean.
Food Festivals
Festivals are a big feature in many destinations, and cuisine rates highly as a reason for celebration.
Chocolate in Belize and Grenada, rum in Barbados and seafood in Jamaica are just a few of the specialist festivals that are held every year. For high end cooking the Cayman Cookout, the Cayman Islands in January is the place to be when the world’s leading chefs assemble for demonstrations, tastings and dining events.
If you are visiting Curaçao in April don’t miss the Culinair – a 2-night extravaganza hosted by the island’s best restaurants. The following month Martinique holds a festival to celebrate its unique gastronomic heritage and culture during Sainte-Marie Culinary Week.
Image Credit: Rum Shack, Galley Bay, Antigua
Unmissable Caribbean Beverages
After enjoying a delicious meal, you’ll be looking for something equally delicious to wash it down. Luckily, the Caribbean is abundant with refreshing local favourites, so something is sure to take your fancy whether you’re visiting the Turks and Caicos, Anguilla or Barbados.
As well as refreshing cocktails from the Bahamas and strong liqueurs in Curaçao, visitors to most Caribbean islands and countries can enjoy some truly delicious rum. Local rums are made with various flavourings, and each one has a unique taste and colour to it. Drink it straight or sweeten it up with cocktail ingredients – either way, make sure you have a chance to sample some while on your tropical holiday.
Recommended Drink Locations
- Why not head to Antigua and enjoy aCooking with Rum Classat Nicole’s Table?This is the ideal experience for those looking to learn more about local flavours. Puerto Rico, home to the factory of the world renowned Bacardi Rum, is another fantastic rum location.
- If you’re into strong liqueurs, you should definitely visit Curaçao while on your travels. Enjoy sampling their signature blue drink, Curaçao liqueur – a beverage similar to Triple Sec and usually flavoured with orange.
- Check out the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, held annually in October, and enjoy a whole day full of flavoursome treats – this is an event you cannot miss if you’re a foodie fanatic.
- Known as the source of the original painkiller, the rum cocktail of Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands is not to be missed if you are holidaying here.
The Getaway of a Lifetime
If you’re a culinary enthusiast planning a getaway to a Caribbean island or country, you’re definitely looking in the right place. When it comes to diverse cuisine, luxury restaurants and local street foods, some islands really do have it all. If you’d like more personalised guidance when booking your holiday, get in touch with our Caribbean Travel Specialist – we will be happy to help you organise your dream escape.
