Best Restaurants in Barbados 2019

Whether you’re enjoying gourmet dining by the beach or lining up at an outdoor grill for a plate of whole chargrilled snapper, eating out in Barbados is exciting. With a cuisine saturated by warm spices, fresh seafood and meat ingredients, the island’s warmth and bohemian charm seasons every entrée, original recipe, and decadent chocolate and rum dessert.

Here’s our list of the best restaurants in Barbados and some suggestions on what to order while dining there:

Address: Holetown, St. James, Barbados

With an open-air dining room nestled above the crashing waves of Holetown’s coast, The Tides goes beyond the ordinary fine-dining experience. Within its stately coral stone Bajan mansion, the restaurant features a modern art gallery, a cocktail lounge, and a private courtyard with fountains. Diners can enjoy contemporary seafood dishes, rack of lamb, pot roast chicken breast, and Angus aged beef filet while taking in the spectacular coastline view.

Must Try: The Tides seafood tower, certified Aberdeen Angus aged beef filet, pot roast chicken breast, roast salmon, and catch of the day seafood.

Address: Derricks, St. James, Barbados

A local favourite for more than two decades, The Cliff’s award-winning venue sits on a prime beachfront location, where every candlelit table comes with a stunning ocean view. At sunset, the property lights up with dozens of torches jutting from the balconies, illuminating the dining room below. From your table, you can catch glimpses of tropical fish swimming in the shallows along the nearby beach, and expect internationally-inspired dishes that range from classic to modern, simple to exquisite.

Must Try: Fillet of dolphin (mahi-mahi), Moo Shu pancakes, chargrilled tuna (cooked rare), 6oz A5 Japanese Kobe rib, The Flaming Snowball (dessert), Exploding Mercury (dessert).

Address: Skeetes Hill, Bridgetown, Barbados

Considered one of Barbados’ most iconic restaurants, Champers has wooed countless diners with its posh beachside dining room. This south coast gourmet dining venue comes with white cloth tables only steps away from a sugar sand beach, lush palms, and the crystal-blue ocean. Along with an unbroken seaside view, Champers serves up modern Bajan-style dishes and European classics using locally-sourced ingredients. Besides having an extensive wine list and cocktail menu, the restaurant also houses several original local artworks in its boutique art gallery.

Must Try: Scottish smoked salmon, grilled lobster, teriyaki and maple glazed duck breast, a medley of seafood (lobster, shrimp, and fresh catch), grilled 10oz ribeye, and Champers fish pie.

Address: Shermans, St. Peter, Speightstown, Barbados

A family-run gem in Little Good Harbour, The Fish Pot is steeped in the bohemian ambience of Barbados’ North Coast. With a cozy dining room and terrace that looks out to the sea, diners can soak up the tranquil beach vibe while enjoying some of the freshest seafood on the island. The restaurant’s menu is a mix of rustic Mediterranean and modern Bajan. From the chef’s daily catch of the day creations to fly fish panini and pasta dishes, The Fish Pot offers an authentic island dining experience with hearty and satisfying recipes.

Must Try: Smoked salmon cheesecake, warm seafood & basil crepe, risotto parcel, grilled Caribbean lobster, fresh catch of the day, braised lamb shank.

Address: Enterprise Beach Road, Little Arches Hotel, 17135, Barbados

A rooftop restaurant at Little Arches Hotel, Café Luna’s alfresco dining room is surrounded by green potted plants, swaying palms, and the turquoise Caribbean Sea. A lantern-lit table at this Mediterranean-style restaurant promises an evening of romance and elegantly made fusion dishes. From organic sweet potato gnocchi with cheese sauce, Bajan fish stew, seafood crepe, to smoked Marlin with wasabi honey, Café Luna artfully prepped dishes range from traditional crowd-pleasers to original in-house inventions.

Must Try: local smoked salmon, local organic sweet potato gnocchi, local chicken breast, Luna “Bajan” fish stew, Luna crepe, “Big Rock” shrimp.

Address: Hastings Main Road, Highway 7, Hastings, Barbados

Located right by Hastings’ boardwalk, this oceanfront restaurant is a slice of Europe by Barbados’s energetic South Coast. With a two-story open-air dining room sitting along the water’s edge, Tapas brings a touch of refinement to Hastings’ laidback atmosphere. Expect elegant Italian and Spanish à la carte entrees and tapa dishes to go along with the stunning coastal view. While you wait for your meal, try some of the bar’s many handcrafted cocktails and whimsical inventions.  

Must Try: Beef carpaccio (raw), Tapas del Mar, Tapas de Carne barracuda malfatti, grilled seafood mix, chicken katsu (Cordon Bleu style), beef short ribs, Jack Sparrow cocktail, Active Volcano cocktail.

Address: Oistins Bay Gardens, Oistins

Although not exactly a restaurant, Oistins Fish Fry is an event that must be experienced at least once while visiting Barbados. Every Friday, the fishing village of Oistins jumpstarts the weekend with an epic outdoor cookout. Vendors at the Fish Fry serve up authentic Bajan barbeque using fresh seafood, poultry, and meat ingredients. Lining up behind each stall, you can take away a plate of whole grilled snapper, mahi-mahi, or chicken breast with macaroni and coleslaw. Grab a beer and find a spot at the picnic tables for the ultimate local dining experience.

Must Try: Everything grilled plus beer.

Address: Bay Street, Carlise Bay, Bridgetown, Barbados

A Carlisle Bay staple, Harbour Lights’ beach house has long been a symbol of the local nightlife. More than just a place for late night barbeques, Harbour Lights hosts live calypso band concerts, acrobatic performances, carnival dances, and fire dancing on the beach. From joining in on a limbo, rocking out to tropical beats on the sand, to knocking back exotic rum cocktails, Harbour Lights buzzes with nightly extravaganzas and opportunities to experience Barbados’ wild side.

Must Try: grilled steak, chicken kebabs, shrimp kebabs, pan-seared fish steak, veggie burgers, cocktails.

Address: Pebbles Beach, Bridgetown

Arguably the place to grab the best fish sandwich on the island, Cuz’s Fish Stand’s hard-to-miss blue shack is a well-known fixture at Pebbles Beach. A winning combination of Bajan salt bread, juicy, marinated marlin patty, tomatoes, lettuce, crunchy pickles and a choice of fried egg or cheese made this little stand notorious. Every morning the locals queue up before Cuz’s run out of its supple fish steak patty. If you’re lucky enough to get ahold of one sandwich before the stand closes at five in the afternoon, try it with scotch bonnet sauce and ignite the taste buds with a blast of heat and rich flavour.

Must Try: Marlin sandwich with either fried egg or cheese, your choice of condiments, and a side of beer.

Tired of just hearing about juicy, marinated grilled ribeyes and Bajan fly fish steaks? Contact our Expert Travellers today and ask about Better Beach Barbados. Call 1877-967-5302, live chat, or visit us in-store for more!