Dining Guide, Barbados

Barbados has earned high marks among well-travelled diners, offering an impressive range of regional and international cuisines to delight your palate. Fine dining ranges from gourmet ocean-front restaurants to authentic island “eateries,” and for a culinary world just beyond your imagination, choose from majestic great houses or festive downtown dining. 

Diverse menus span award-winning Caribbean fare and international specialities, with a remarkable range of seafood from both Atlantic and Caribbean seas alike, featuring flying fish, the signature seafood that is our beloved national dish, plus an abundance of shrimp, snapper and dorado. Barbados cuisine offers a melange of signature influences, from African to Indian and English, as sampled in such splendid dishes as roti, cottage pie, black pudding and souse, Yorkshire pudding and more. 

Savour the grilled black-bellied lamb chops, crusted with pine nuts and served with golden apple salsa, or try a local chef’s hearty pepperpot. British influence helped shape today’s tendency toward elegant refinement. The island’s formal restaurants beckon neat summer attire and sometimes require jackets for men, and in exchange, dress codes are rewarded with culinary excellence. 

Casual and festive settings abound, as you’ll find a wealth of dining options at pubs, restaurants, bistros or wine bars, all serving up a healthy portion of entertainment, as jazz, calypso, ringbang and steel drums add to a festive island ambience. Explore bistros and bars along the lovingly restored blocks of Holetown, the historic landing where the British first landed over 300 years ago. A surprising selection of Caribbean and continental cuisines offer Chinese and Mexican, English and French, Jamaican and Bajan, all side by side in a charming village setting. Sampling is apt to include “jump-up” (spicy) ribs, limbo lamb with mustard sauce, Bajan fish cakes and Creole chicken salad, in exuberant eateries colorfully named, such as Angry Annie’s. 

Feel the spirit of the South Coast’s St. Lawrence Gap,  and taste its diversity in a range of fine restaurants, featuring Bajan and international cuisines. Experience Creole-style eggplant, Chinese cabbage, pickled breadfruit and the isle’s ever-present flying fish, all within the vibrant winding roadway simply known as “the Gap.” An even lighter side will reveal many colorful rum shops — some 1,600 in all! Be prepared to meet friendly Bajans, savour local flavors and join in the levity. 

It is said that variety is the spice of life, and culinary diversity makes for an enchanting point of difference for travellers in Barbados. So savour the seafood soup, inspired by generations of island fishermen-chefs, kissed by a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, or dig into a spicy-hot pepperpot. Other island specialities include flying fish and cou-cou, a cornmeal and okra dish; jug-jug, a mixture of Guinea corn and green peas (and popular at Christmas time); and the beloved Bajan pepperpot stew, inspired by varied family recipes and known for its range of fine meats and seasonings.

Almost all of Barbados' food is imported, but the preparation and presentation of the table is purely Bajan. Innovation and style are an integral part of kitchen activity. The island can claim a number of world-renowned gourmet chefs and award-winning menus. "The Bajan Table" is an annual celebration of fine dining and culinary skill, hosted by the Hotel Association. If you visit the island in early October, you'll find many distinguished eateries taking part. 

The extensive range of shops catering to foodie palates includes a range of grocery stores and bakeries. Pick up some rich and exquisite chocolate cake for a birthday party, munch on canapés midafternoon or cater a party in the evening. Gourmet shops are stocked with caviars, sorbets, cheeses from all over the world and the freshest produce. You can even order your groceries online and have them delivered to your front door!

Discover our world of fine foods, as Barbados restaurants offer an unsurpassed range of cuisine, from Continental to Chinese, and a tempting selection of local favourites and exotic island fare. 

Flying fish is the key ingredient in Barbados’ signature dish and has become our national emblem; it is served in gourmet restaurants and beach-side pubs alike. Lobster, shrimp, dorado, red snapper, tuna, kingfish and mackerel also hail from surrounding waters. 

Nouvelle twists on favourite dishes are found on island menus, as innovative cooking is very much a part of the culinary scene. Savour the grilled black-bellied lamb chops served with pine nuts and apple salsa, or try a hearty Bajan pepperpot.

Offering something for every taste, fine dining in Barbados can be enjoyed in a range of island settings, from classic plantation elegance to oceanfront eateries. 

Service charge will be added to the bill, along with value-added tax, at some establishments. Where service charge is not included, tipping is at the discretion of the guest.

Dinner Theatre

To get a feel of the heritage and culture of the island, a variety of dinner theatre shows are offered. 

Plantation Tropical Spectacular provides a whirlwind of dance and energy. This cabaret dinner show is held at the Plantation Restaurant and Garden Theatre on select evenings. Featured in the carnival are the fireeaters, limbo dancers, and steel band, reggae and calypso music performed by local bands. 

Romancing the Sea 

Views of the waterfront have a way of defining an island vacation. The turquoise Caribbean Sea softly lapping on sandy beaches makes for a romantic touch. Visit these top spots to dine amidst the sea’s siren song: The Cliff — This dramatic setting is sure to draw enchantment from even the most experienced international diner. The neo-classic tiered dining terrace welcomes each diner in its embrace and evokes the intimacy of a private yacht with a few friends. A world-class menu features nouvelle accents and local ingredients. (Derrick’s, St. James, 432-1922)

The Tides — This West coast fine dining restaurant and Bistro offers International and Seafood cuisine. Lunch and dinner served.(Holetown, St. James, 432-8356)

Pisces — The waters of St. Lawrence Bay lap the edge of this dining terrace where signature dishes include shrimp-stuffed red snapper or pepper-encrusted tuna or conch strips in tempura batter. (St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, 435-6564)

The Restaurant at South Sea — The Restaurant at South Sea has already made it to Condé Nast Traveler's prestigious Hot Tables list which featured 66 new restaurants worldwide that offered exceptional food , service and style during 2004. (St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, 420-7423)

Let Us Entertain You

In the evening after sundown, we all like a bit of fun with our food. That’s the time to head for one of the restaurants, pubs, bistros or wine bars serving up a healthy portion of entertainment with their food. Check the local guide for entertainment highlights and schedules. Here’s a sampling of festive spots: Waterfront Café — Nightly jazz lures diners to the harbour with a menu featuring nouvelle presentations of Bajan favourites like the shredded codfish “buljol” and flying fish roe “melts.” (Careenage, Bridge town, 427-0093)

The Boatyard — This nautical spot transforms itself daily from a daytime bistro and yachtsmen’s hangout to a nighttime meeting place for visitors and locals to enjoy music and merriment. (Carlisle Bay, Bay Street, Bridgetown, 436-2622)

A "United Nations" of Island Dining

Years of welcoming international guests, from George Washington to Pavarotti, Joan Collins to Roberta Flack, have given Barbados a flair for international dining. Italian, Mexican, French and Chinese are all available, as are favourites from other parts of the Caribbean. Luigi’s — Italian specialities from pizza to pasta are all on the menu at this Bajan eatery. (Dover Woods, Christ Church, 428-9218)

Café Sol — Margaritas and nachos start off the Tex-Mex menu at this Christ Church spot, making you want to say olé! (St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, 435-9531)

Casual

Barclays Park & Bonito Restaurants - While touring the island you can stop at Barclays Park, Bonito restaurant for sampling of local food and drink, while enjoying the scenic rugged east coast of the island. (East Coast Road St Andrew, Barclays 422-9213 / Bonito 433-9034)

The Balcony Restaurant — Lunch and continental breakfast is offered, and is great for a casual meal. Enjoy the atmosphere of the island in the beer garden, overlooking Broad Street. (Broad St., Bridgetown, 431-2088)

Hotel Dining

Hotel dining in Barbados is a most pleasant surprise, as some of the island’s best restaurants are based in hotels and resorts. Don’t miss a meal at Royal Pavilion’s Palm Terrace or the Cobbler’s Cove Restaurant. Stop and sample at Treasure Beach’s Al Fresco or treat yourself to fine dining, indoors or out, at the legendary Sandy Lane. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner, or a Bajan buffet.

Bajan Cuisine

Lexie's Bar— This beach shack is located at the eastern end of the Oistin’s fish market. This is a rum shop where fishermen and locals meet to “fire a few” while sampling local favourites like souse and sublime fried chicken. (Oistins, Christ Church, 428-1405) Atlantis Hotel — Traditionally the spot for tasting all Bajan specialities from pepperpot to flying fish; the Sunday brunch at this family-run hotel is the stuff of legends. (Atlantis Hotel, Bathsheba, St. Joseph, 433-9445)

Edgewater Inn — Enjoy a dramatic cliff-side dining room offering Bajan dining and a breathtaking buffet to behold. Watch for special fashion shows or entertainment offered on selected Sundays at brunch or dinner. (Bathsheba, St. Joseph, 433-9900)

Sometimes you just want to do something slightly different. Enjoy a buffet cornucopia of chef-prepared delicacies, along with dancing and a show on board the Harbour Master, a 100-foot vessel and seaborne floating entertainment hall. Or you can simply head down to Oistin’s for an outdoor festival and street fair on the weekends when chicken and a variety of fish is cooked on the streets in the traditional manner. Whatever you do, you’ll find something for your dining pleasure in Barbados.