Dining on Barbados

Restaurants in Barbados deliver excellent food and fantastic views. For dinner, a more formal dress code may be enforced. It is a good idea to call ahead for reservations and the appropriate dress code.


Naniki Restaurant (Suriname, St. Joseph; 246/433-1300; Caribbean), offers fantastic Caribean fare. Grilled snapper, local black-belly lamb, seared shrimp, and pork loin are specialties.

The Cliff (St. James; 246/432-1922; Contemporary), is one of the finest dining experiences in the Caribbean. Set up high on the cliff, every guest has a view of the sea. Dishes include char-grilled barracuda with sweet pepper coulis, curried Thai shrimp with coriander, kingfish fillet with tapanade sauce, grilled breast of chicken with garlic rosemary sauce, or sautéed dorado on a baked potato cake.

Bellini’s Trattoria (Little Bay Hotel, St. Lawrence Gap; 246/435-7246; Italian), offers traditional Italian cuisine in a romatic setting. Garlic shrimp is a specialty, and veal parmigiana, beef tenderloin, and tiramisu are fantastic.

Carambola (St. James; 246/432-0832; Contemporary), has a dynamite cliffside location that delivers a very romantic evening. Reservations are a must for this menu of French and Caribbean cuisines. Entrees include mahi-mahi broiled with Dijon mustard sauce, and sliced duck breast with a wild mushroom sauce served with stuffed tomatoes.

Ragamuffins (St. James, Holetown; 246/432-1295; Eclectic), is a small, funky, casual eatery offering seafood, steaks, West Indian curries, and vegetarian dishes.

Olives Bar & Bistro (Holetown; 246/432-2112; Eclectic), a small restaurant offering pizzas and salds at lunch and seafood for dinner also has a bar upstairs that is a popular place to meet for a drink.

The Fish Pot (Shermans, St. Peter; 246/439-3000; Seafood), is a great seaside spot for the freshest fish or great Italian. Some specialties include seafood crepes, lamb shank braised in red wine or herb-crusted tuna on garlic and spinach polenta cakes. It’s a good idea to make a reservation at the popular spot.

Daphne’s (Paynes Bay, St. James; 234/432-2731; Italian), is the Caribbean location of the London original. British chef Kelly Jackson creates new versions of classic Italian dishes, using fresh fish and succulent vegetables. Daphne’s offers a very large wine list full of Italian and French wines.

La Mer (St. Peter; 246/419-2000; Contemporary), is in the Port St. Charles waterfront area. Fresh fish, great meat and excellent vegetarian dishes are all available from Chef Hans Schweitzer, known for his “elegant” cuisine.

Josef’s (Dover; 246/435-8245; Seafood), is one of the fanciest restaurants on the south coast. The shredded duck with herbed hoisin pancakes is a great appetizer.

Pisces (Dover; 246/435-6564; Seafood), offers seafood prepared any way you like it. They also offer chicken, beef, and pasta dishes.