Where to Eat in Barbados
WHERE TO EAT IN BARBADOS
Cin Cin by the Sea is, in our view, one of Barbados’ best restaurants. Located about 7 minutes’ drive south of Hole Town it has a beautiful contemporary feel to it and a wonderful bar that serves a variety of fabulous cocktails. The interior is stylish and on trend hip Miami style. You can eat inside or out on the terrace. Inside is cool and stylish and popular with the locals who enjoy the air conditioning. There is a stunning terrace overlooking the water which is flood lit from below. The menu is extensive and the food superb. It is owned and run by renowned chef Larry Rogers and his wife Michelle. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
The Tides is a really special restaurant in a magnificent waterfront setting. It has a lot of fresh fish on the menu and most tables are outside on the beautiful terrace overlooking the water. The food is beautifully presented and the service impeccable. In the winter months it is open for lunch as well as dinner. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
This is one of the most popular restaurants on the west coast of Barbados for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We love it and in our view the setting takes some beating. It has a cool yet quite informal atmosphere and the entrance and vista as you walk down the vast staircase is breath taking. We particularly enjoy lunch at Lone Star gazing out over the turquoise waters and some lunches have even ended with cocktails whilst we have watched the sun go down. It really is such a special spot. The service is sometimes erratic but the food and the general ambiance and feel of Lone Star is unique. Although it has white table cloths the feel in Lone Star is less formal than Tides and the décor more Caribbean chic that Cin Cin. You also feel like you are eating right on the beach. The menu is not extensive but it has something for everyone. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
No review of Barbados’ top restaurants would be complete without The Cliff. This is one of the leading restaurants of the world serving nouveau cuisine in a romantic cliff top setting that really takes some beating. The ambiance is of dreamy decadence and the general manager of the Cliff, Peter Harris or ‘Huggy’ as he is known makes everyone feel very special and welcome. The food is a gastronomic delight. The service is impeccable no matter how busy they are (and they are always busy) but it comes with a high price tag. It is perfect for special occasions and romantic evenings. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
The Fishpot restaurant at Little Good Harbour is a real find. Set in a beautiful, historic colonial style building, it has a more rustic, cosy feel to it than many of its beachfront competitors and is right on the water. The waves lap beneath the deck where you are sitting. Located north of Speightstown, and about 15 minutes’ drive north of Holetown it really is worth the trip. The menu is quite extensive and do not be fooled by its name. There are lots of choices on the menu other than fish dishes. Fishpot is generally open at the weekends for lunch as well as dinner. The food is fresh and wonderfully presented and the service is excellent. You can dine inside with views through the coral stone windows over the water or on the decked terrace outside. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
If you want something a little lower key but with wonderful food and an amazing atmosphere then this is an excellent choice. It is a bar style restaurant set in a chattel house which has been painted red all over. Located opposite The House/Tamarind Cove it is set on the road about 8 minutes’ drive south of Holetown. Whilst not on the water the setting is very chic and trendy with Andy Warhol pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. The bar is fantastic and if there are no tables available it is still fun to eat at the bar where the cocktails are amazing. The menu has some interesting Asian/fusion dishes on it and the truffle popcorn is out of this world. We love this place. See Menu Details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
This is one of Barbados’ newest restaurants having only opened just before Christmas 2015. We call it the ‘baby’ restaurant to the Cliff. Located right next to the Cliff and owned and operated by the same management, it is already very popular. The food is excellent and the menu less extensive (and less expensive) than the Cliff. It is a particularly lovely place for lunch, less formal and more relaxed than the Cliff it is set on a bluff above the sea. Whilst still beautifully decorated it is much simpler in style than the Cliff. Try the octopus carpaccio- it really is very special and so beautifully presented. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Conveniently located just north of Holetown next to The House hotel this acclaimed Italian restaurant is always very popular. Located on the water it is in a lovely position offering fine Italian dining on crisp white table cloths.. The food is beautifully presented and is full of Mediterranean flavours. The Executive Chef is Marco Festini Cromer and the restaurant feels like one of London’s finest Italian restaurants but in the setting of the Caribbean. They even offer a gluten free menu. See menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
This is a very popular restaurant with local residents and holidaymakers. Set on the corner of busy Second Street right in the middle of Holetown this restaurant is fairly low key with a lovely courtyard bar and outdoor tables just off the street and tables for dining in air conditioning downstairs and in the quieter room upstairs. With an informal ambiance this place concentrates on delivering wonderful Asian and Caribbean food. The flavours are outstanding and the sushi as good as you would get anywhere. There is a good selection of dishes and the menu is diverse offering great choices even for those who do not enjoy sushi and seafood. See Menu details. See Tripadvisor reviews.
The Mews is a lively restaurant set in the middle of Holetown on one of Holetown’s liveliest and trendy streets-Second Street. It is a cosy environment . A busy bar downstairs attracts local residents and holiday makers alike (particularly on a Friday night) and the restaurant which is set upstairs is a little quieter with windows looking down over the activity of the street. The food is excellent and the service good. The food is described as ‘Euro Caribbean presented with classic simplicity and style’. This restaurant has been popular for over 15 years and remains so today. See Menu Details. See Tripadvisor Reviews.
Whilst it is fun to enjoy the wonderful upmarket food and setting of the restaurants above, sometimes it is just as fun to enjoy a more low key local experience. If you are looking for that sort of experience and don't know where to eat in Barbados we recommend:
Bombas Beach Bar at Mullins. A small, simple chattel house restaurant on the beach. Simple fresh food including chicken and fish with a new vegetarian option every day. Service can be slow so only go if you are not in a hurry and want a local experience in a sea front setting. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Ju Ju’s near Lone Star. Popular, scruffy laid back beach bar on the water. Food can be good (but not always)-service is hit and miss but the location is wonderful and it is fun and feels very local. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Lemon Grass in Lime Grove shopping centre, Holetown. It serves extremely tasty and reasonably priced Thai food. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Mullins Beach Bar at Mullins. A fun, lively place right on the beach. Great for kids. Relaxed atmosphere with great views of the sea and reasonable prices. Ideal for laid back lunches. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Little Bristol Beach Bar in Speightown. Happy people, simple food, music and a beachfront, unpoilt and rustic ambiance.
Zaccios in Holetown. This was a favourite of our kids when they were little and it was then called Cocomos. Brightly coloured tables. Large restaurant right on the beach with a good beach bar and some tables on the water. Great for families and kids. Kids can run and play on the beach after their meal. Extensive menu with chicken, fish, pizza, rotis etc. Not too expensive. Lovely, fun spot for a sundowner. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Surfside in Holetown. A sports beach bar. Friendly staff, ok food, right on the water with sun beds available too. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Spago on Second Street in Holetown. Small, friendly Italian style restaurant offering delicious food at reasonable prices. Nothing fancy. Best to try to get a table on the small terrace so you can watch the world go by. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Jumas, Speightstown. Lovely setting overlooking the beach. Good for lunch and dinner. Simple local food including pumpkin soup and rotis. Mixed reviews. Romantic setting in the evening with lava lamps lighting up the beach. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Oistins Fish Fry, Christchurch. See Tripadvisor reviews.
The Roti Den, Paynes Bay. We think these are the best rotis in Barbados but you generally have to take away. Not much room to sit. See Tripadvisor reviews.
Cutters on the East Coast near the Crane Hotel. If you are heading over to the east coast stop by at Cutters. A rustic chattel house with amazing home cooked food including pizza and macaroni pie. Best rum punch on the island. Service can be a little slow but we think it is worth the wait. They will even do pizzas to go to take down to Crane beach or to have delivered to you on Crane beach. See Tripadvisor reviews.
The Atlantis, St Joseph. A great place to spend a Sunday when they do the Caribbean fixed price buffet. A huge array of local dishes. We particularly enjoy the fishpot. Rustic setting with wonderful views of the east coast waves crashing in.
For more advice on where to eat in Barbados contact us. We will be delighted to help.
