9 Best Places to Eat Out in Barbados
From traditional Bajan dishes to international cuisine, Barbados’ mouth-watering menu of culinary delights can satiate the appetite of even the most discerning palates. And while the food is to die for, the island also has more than its fair share of fabulous places to eat, from the hub-hub of Oistins’ Friday Night Fish Fry to the spectacularly designed Fusion. In this post, we’ll look at our eight favourite places to eat out in Barbados.
1. Oistins’ Friday Night Fish Fry
Oistins is not a restaurant; it’s a Friday (and Saturday) night Bajan food extravaganza where lots of people turn up to indulge in the delights of freshly caught and cooked marlin, mahi-mahi, kingfish, flying fish and other traditional dishes served from the local street food shacks.
It’s a dressed-down occasion where you can enjoy a cool drink, soak up the party atmosphere and while away the time looking around the arts and craft stalls at the handmade products from the local artisans. While it’s not fine dining, you’ll certainly get fine food – and in a place that shows the heart and soul of the real Barbados.
2. The Cliff
The sublime menus of the chef, Paul Owens, have made The Cliff restaurant the most renowned in Barbados. Its tables are much sought-after by celebrities and the well-to-do and its often advisable to book your reservation before you leave home if you want to guarantee a place.
Aside from the famous dishes, this restaurant also boasts enviable views from its clifftop setting overlooking the Caribbean, from where you are treated to the spectacular sunset as you dine.
3. Royal Westmoreland Beach Club
Situated on the stunning Mullins Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach on the island, the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club offers the ideal west coast dining location. Open throughout the day and evening and serving everything from light lunches to exquisite three course dinners, you’ll be treated to a delectable local and international menu, cooked to your liking by an award winning chef.
This is a friendly beach club where the dress code is casual and the emphasis is on enjoying your meal in very comfortable surroundings with magnificent views of the gentle seas and glorious sunsets. The Beach Club is open to members and Royal Westmoreland guests for lunch and dinner. Non-members can reserve a table from 5:30pm onwards.
4. The Tides
This exceptional beachfront restaurant, built in a former coral stone and mahogany villa, is one of the island’s most exclusive places to dine. Chef Guy Beasley’s eclectic blend of flavours and culinary creations are magnificently presented and a delight to tuck into. Add to this the great service, the fantastic views and the adjacent art gallery and you’ll find this restaurant is a real way to treat yourselves during your visit.
5. Champers
Nestled on the waterfront, Champers is one of the leading restaurants on the island’s south coast. It’s oceanfront setting, close enough to hear the gentle waves, is the perfect place to take a table on the veranda and enjoy one of the many, perfectly presented and sumptuous dishes.
Serving a unique, international, Caribbean influenced menu, made from the highest quality, fresh, local ingredients, this is a great place to enjoy a relaxed and very delicious meal. It’s another restaurant that also has an interesting art gallery to visit.
6. Fusion Rooftop
Perhaps the chicest restaurant in Barbados, Fusion Rooftop is situated on the top floor of the up-market Limegrove Centre in Holetown. This is a restaurant that offers an alfresco dining experience like no other on the island, boasting a stunning contemporary lounge and a full-service bar with Feng Shui designed features, such as a wall of live vegetation, a central Zen water-table and fire pits to warm the night air.
Not only can you enjoy wall to ceiling vistas of the west coast; its retractable roof offers true, under the stars dining. It’s here where the magic starts with a sophisticated and comprehensive international menu designed to satisfy everyone’s tastes.
7. Cin Cin By The Sea
The very chic Cin Cin (pronounced chin-chin) is one of Barbados’ most popular up market restaurants, serving up an inventive and sometimes eclectic menu of Mediterranean cuisine with a Caribbean twist and an occasional dash of eccentricity. Masterful preparation, dazzling presentation and warm service make this a firm favourite among visitors, as do the plush interiors and sweeping views of the Caribbean.
8. Waterfront Café
For a more cosmopolitan experience, visit the Waterfront Café in Bridgetown. As the name implies, this café is situated on the water’s edge overlooking Bridgetown Marina and offers exquisite views of the old city and the wonderful vessels anchored nearby.
It’s a great place to stop and watch the world go by after a busy day sightseeing in the capital. It has a wonderful lunch menu including soups, sandwiches, Caribbean and Bajan dishes, plus a wide variety of refreshing drinks. If you are there in the evening, you may also catch some of the live music performed by local bands.
9. Nishi
Always well-reviewed by its clientele, Nishi is the premiere Asian restaurant on the island and is decked out in suitably oriental style; its bamboo styled furniture and paper lampshades creating the perfect ambience to your eastern dishes. Besides its famous sushi, It also serves up other Asian delights as well as a mix of Caribbean, English and bistro dishes. This makes it a great place for families and groups where tastes are varied. You can be assured of great food and a warm welcome at this much-praised eatery.
Summing up
Barbados offers its visitors a rich and varied foodie experience, from the street food shacks serving much-loved Bajan comfort foods to the elegant restaurants serving haute cuisine. Whatever your occasion, tastes or budget, there are more than enough places to ensure you always eat well and never have to eat the same thing twice – unless you can’t resist a second helping.