No region in the world has a more diverse or dynamic culinary continuum than the Caribbean. Just about every cuisine on earth is represented, often in wonderfully, intoxicatingly fused expressions. Across the breadth of the Caribbean Basin, you will find an unmatched gastronomic mosaic. And if you’ve been to the region recently, you know that Caribbean food is having its moment, deservedly carving out a prominent position as a major global foodie destination. Since we first started the 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean back in 2013, we’ve seen the remarkable rise of Caribbean food and a truly amazing proliferation of high-level, world-class eateries, from the jerk counter to the fine-dining experience that would move Bocuse himself.
Now in its 13th annual edition, this remains the preeminent list of great restaurants in the Caribbean. The pillars we evaluate as we scour the region in search of unforgettable meals have not changed: a simple, pure, exacting trinity: food, service, ambience. Those three things are the core elements, the indispensable ingredients for any great restaurant, and all of these Caribbean restaurants have their version of the formula perfected in their own way.
“This year’s list is a tribute to the culinary and hospitality geniuses at work across the Caribbean, doing impossibly hard work to ensure the lasting, memorable happiness of their guests,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. “Congratulations to all of this year’s entries, who inspire us, who captivate us and remind us that the restaurant is one of the world’s great living art forms.”
#1 Graycliff, Nassau, The Bahamas There is dinner, and then there is dinner at Graycliff. It’s the most legendary restaurant in the Caribbean, one that is now in its 60th decade since completely changing the culinary landscape in the region. And its remarkable blend of world-class service, marvelous sourcing, charming ambience (and the largest collection of both wine and spirits in the Caribbean) make for a universally unforgettable experience. The choice is clear: if you could only eat one meal anywhere in the Caribbean, this would be it: the Garzaroli family and Chef Elijah Bowe have crafted the Caribbean’s true bucket-list restaurant, and our number one restaurant for 2025.
#1 Le Pressoir, Saint Martin As with last year, we have a tie for the top spot: coming in at number one from the foodie haven of Grand Case, St Martin is the family-owned, astonishingly good Le Pressoir, where avant-garde gastronomy finds a home in a centuries-old Creole house. The truffle egg parfait is one of the Caribbean’s great culinary delights, as is the Dover sole. It doesn’t hurt that the Part des Anges rum bar is part of the property, making for an easy stroll to an after-dinner rhum agricole.
Sheer Rocks, Antigua The restaurant tha first put the island of Antigua on the global culinary map, Sheer Rocks continues to push the envelope with its hard-to-match, lively atmosphere, jaw-dropping views and culinary artistry by head chef Jamal Warner.
Blue by Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman Grand Cayman’s global dining destination just got a new look, but what hasn’t changed is Ripert’s meticulous, artful approach, and a menu of mostly seafood that rivals its forebear in New York, Le Bernardin. (The tuna foie gras is one of the world’s greatest dishes).
Brass Boer, Bonaire The crown jewel of Bonaire’s increasingly strong culinary scene was the first Caribbean outpost of the three-Michelin-star Die Librije restaurant in The Netherlands and the international spectrum food marries flavors from Indonesia to the West Indies. Just make sure you start things off the with legendary “Egg Caviar.”
Ever, Aruba Chef Ever de Peña has crafted an extraordinary culinary concept hidden away in a building just off the harbor in Oranjestad; it’s equal parts speakeasy and omakase, with diners feeling like they’re sitting in his personal kitchen. The result is one of the most striking, breahtaking meals you can find in the Caribbean.
Blue 11, St Thomas Chef David Benjamin has created St Thomas’ destination restaurant in an intimate setting at the Yacht Haven Grande marina. You can choose from a range of multi-course tasting menus that put local sourcing in the spotlight.
Amis St Barth The endlessly cool, playful Le Barth is one of our favorite Caribbean hotels, and that includes an impressive food and bevearge program headlined by Michelin-starred Chef Jérémy Czaplicki at Amis, which takes French beach cuisine to new heights in a stunning setting perched right over the sand.
Le Petibonum, Martinique There’s nothing quite like this place in the Caribbean. Set on the volcanic sands of Le Carbet on the northwestern coast of Martinique, this is Chef Guy Ferdinand’s workshop, his atelier, where the only focus is high-level food, high-level rum and abundant hospitality.
Savant, St Croix You’re sitting in an open-air courtyard in Christiansted, dining by torchlight, savoring crafted cocktails and enjoying a magnificent menu that changes every day of the week. This is Savant, and it’s the star of St Croix’s dynamic food movement, with nearly three decades of pedgiree.
Cafe Boulud Bahamas The grande dame of the Rosewood Baha Mar is Daniel Boulud’s only restaurant in the Caribbean, a faitfhul execution of his signature Lyonnaise cuisine with a unique Bahamian twist. Yes, the six-course tasting menu with the wine pairing is the ultimate, but you can’t go wrong ordering a la carte favorites like the tournedos rossini or the duck with bok choy.
Ocean82, Saint Martin When you’re literally perched right above the beach in a classic French Caribbean fishing village sipping aged rhum agricole savoring a Caribbean take on bouillabaise, well, you get the pont. This is just an extraordinary place to eat, with the five-star luxury service to match.
The Landing, Harbour Island, The Bahamas It’s one of the first things you see when you arrive by boat in Dunmore Town: a centuries-old building housing a tiny boutique hotel and a ground-floor restaurant. The latter is Harbour Island’s most romantic, most memorable place to eat, Madelene Pedican’s menu is simple and wonderful; and the wine list is among the region’s best.
Catherine’s Cafe, Antigua One of our best meals in all of last year was a beach lunch at Catherine’s Café on Pigeon Point beach in Antigua, including some of the best mahi mahi we’ve ever had. This is simply a fantastic place to eat, and an even more intoxicating place to be — a world-class restaurant with the personality and feel of a local beach bar.
Sugar Mill, Jamaica Jamaica’s most unforgettable dining experience is without question here under the trees at the Half Moon resort’s signature place to eat, where white-glove service and an ethereal ambience come together with imaginative takes on Jamaican classics (the jerk short ribs are worth the journey).
Tamarin, St Barth They had us at beef wellington with truffle sauce and foie gras. And that pretty much explains what you get at this jungle-style hotspot near the salt pond in St Barth’s raw, rugged Salines neighborhood that’s home to the premier dining experience on an island filled with top-level restaurants.
Bistrot Caraibes, Saint Martin It’s been three decades since Bistrot Caraibes first opened its doors in the heart of Grand Case, with a menu that exemplifies Saint Martin’s French-Caribbean amalgamation. The party piece? The millefeuille of foie gras with pistachio and mango. It’s just, well, trust us.
Marcus Fish + Chop House, Nassau, The Bahamas Marcus Samuelsson’s signature Nassau restaurant is right on Cable Beach at the Baha Mar, and it’s a fun, exuberant dining experience with Samuelsson’s inspired, playful takes on steakhouse fare. While the steaks are impressive, it’s the whole catch of the day with salsa verde that blew us out of the water.
Le Cottage, Saint Martin Smack in the middle of Grand Case Boulevard in St Martin is this intimate modern bistro with a bold personality and innovative dishes. The seared foie gras “lasagna” takes you to a different dimension, and the service makes you feel like you’re eating in a cherished French friend’s home.
Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant, Curacao Curacao’s Baoase Luxury Resort is a unique mix of Balinese, European and Caribbean inspirations; and that enchanting blend extends to the hotel’s signature restaurant, a toes-in-the-sand experience with just outrageously good fare. We recommend Chef Rene Klop’s five-course tasting menu. But no matter what you order, the tableside-prepared steak tartare is the best in the Caribbean.
Upstairs at Kaibo, Grand Cayman Cayman Kai is one of our favorite corners of Grand Cayman, and Kaibo beach club has always rewarded travelers who journey out here. The party piece is its Upstairs eatery, which blends a stunning view of the sea, excellent sourcing (like Niman Ranch filets and New Zealand lamb) with the seriously cool Rare Rum Bar, home to a wonderful selection of hard-to-find expressions and an approachable tasting price.
Cafe Martinique, Nassau, The Bahamas It’s easy to fall in love with this second-floor restaurant at Atlantis Paradise Island’s famous marina village. It’s a throwback to the days when dinner was more than just a meal and a table. It begins with an aperitif in the separate lounge, followed by a grand, indulgent multi-course experience with a live piano soundtrack.
Elvi’s Kitchen, Ambergris Caye, Belize Elvi Staines began her cooking career with a burger stand in Ambergris Caye, and today her name adorns San Pedro’s premier fine-dining eatery, where it’s all about Belize’s kaleidoscopic blend of cultural flavors, including an outstanding vegan menu with clever creations like coconut ceviche.
Too Chez, St Croix, US Virgin Islands We’ve been raving about St Croix’s food scene for years, and much of that is thanks to the efforts of the Kendrick family, whose culinary footprint on Christiansted is deep. Now the tradition rests with emerging Chef Dustin Kendrick, who leads the kitchen in this historic courtyard eatery with Caribbean and Italian inspirations.
The Cliff, Barbados Barbados’ venerable destination restaurant remains magnificent, with a menu that’s now a potpurri of Asian fusion and international favorites: think classic maki, caviar and Beef Wellington, to name a few.
Mango, Nevis Arrive here at sunset for a pre-dinner drink and you’ll think you’ve found paradise itself. The spectacualrly-set West Indian-flavored eatery at the Four Seasons Nevis is all about the buoyant tastes of the Caribbean, from conch chowder to a must-try curry (either with seafood or vegetarian).
Rokuni, Antigua Rocks Group (behind two other members of this list, Catherine’s Cafe and Sheer Rocks, has almost single-handedly changed the food landscape in Antigua, and that includes its newest eatery, Rokuni, the Asian fusion stunner that is now set at the Sugar Ridge resort. As with all of their restaurants, it’s more than just a meal, whether you take a day bed for the afternoon or seat at the sushi bar.
DUNE, Paradise Island, The Bahamas It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Jean-Georges put Paradise island on the foodie map with DUNE, the flagship restaurant at the Ocean Club, a Four Seasons resort, that remains a Bahamian classic. What to order? The crusted red snapper with sweet and sour jus is hard to top.
Serendipity, St Kitts St Kitts’ most legendary place to eat is this warm, inviting, hillside eatery with stunnnig view of the harbor and a wide-ranging menu ranging from Wagyu beef cheeks to marvelously friedn brie cheese wedges.
Mario Pagan Restaurant, San Juan, Puerto Rico No Puerto Rican chef has a brighter star right now than Mario Pagan, who has an ever-expanding portfolio of eateries around the island (and now, beyond), anchored by his eponymous, San Juan flagship with playful, forward-thinking fare like Boricua fish and chips and lobster mofongo.
Orlando’s, Saint Lucia Arguably the world’s leading advocate for Caribbean cuisine, Chef Orlando Satchell has been serving up Saint Lucia’s memorable food at his eponymous restaurant in Soufriere, with exquisitely prepared, locally-sourced fare in a warm, intimate downtown location.
La Playa, Marie Galante, Guadeloupe If you haven’t heard of Marie Galante, we don’t blame you. It’s a tiny island in the Guadeloupe archipelago, a French Caribbean department miles off the travel radar. But we just adore this beachside eatery where the seafood was caught this morning, the ti’ punch is abundant, the jazz never stops and the sea bass with porcini mushrooms is worth the trip alone.
Nobu Barbuda People actually helicopter in to this beach club-eatery for the afternoon, and if you make the journey here you’ll get it. The menu begins with classic Nobu offerings you may recognize from other outposts around the world. But then there are the unique experiences, from sunset omakase to sushi master classes.
Paranza, Paradise Island, The Bahamas Multiple Michelin-star Chef Michael White’s first Caribbean restaurant was this home run at the Cove at Atlantis resort on Paradise Island that he calls a “love letter to Italy.” The seafood is outrageously good, and the wine list ecletic and thoughtful. But the biggest star here is the service — as attentive and warm as you’ll find anywhere.
Sunset Cafe, Saint Martin It’s hard to think of a more evocative, romantic setting anywhere in the region than the Sunset Café at the Grand Case Beach Club, where the waves come right up against the glass balcony and every meal is just dreamy. Sure, the views of Creole Rock and the turquoise sea don’t hurt, but it’s the exquisitely prepared French-Caribbean fare that steals the show.
Mare, Placencia, Belize It just might be the best hotel in all of Belize, and the Turtle Inn, Francis Ford Coppola’s Placencia retreat has a strong focus on food: the result is the flagship Mare, where you can get spectacualrly fresh Belizean seafood with an Italian twist and, of course, an unrivaled collection of Coppola wines from an above-ground “cellar” the director calls “The Aquarium.”
Auberge Gourmande, Saint Martin An old Creole building that’s open to Grand Case Boulevard somehow makes for a magical experience, with classic French fare and some Saint Martin innovations, ranging from a delectable Pitiviers lobster pie to foie gras ravioli.
Sapodilla Estate, Nassau, The Bahamas Now under the stewardship of executive chef Noel St. Claude, this dreamy eatery in a classic Bahamian home is a gourmand’s delight with a Bahamian twist: think plantain fritters and fish tartare and a perfect Bahamian lobster with hollandaise sauce.
Pushcart, Negril, Jamaica Rockhouse has long been our favorite boutique hotel in Jamaica, and it’s beause of the property’s commitment to delivering an authentic Jamaican experience. That’s precisely what you get at the oceanfront Pushcart, where the team cooks up magnificent, local fare like peppa pot soup, curry goat and roast fish with a bold Negril personality.
La Villa, Saint Martin The stand out here is the protein, whether you go for one of the locally-sourced French-fusion dishes like triggerfish meuniere or an exquisite magret de canard. The wine list is notable, too, with an impressive range of wines from regions across France.
Veya, Anguilla We’ve always loved this restaurant set in an old Caribbean house for its magical ambience and passionate fare by Carrie and Jerry Bogar, who packed up and moved to Anguilla, fell in love with the island and continue to deliver Anguilla’s quintessential dining experience.
Hemingway’s, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Where to go for a memorable meal in Provo? Look no further than Hemingway’s, the beloved eatery at The Sands resort on Grace Bay, with some of the best conch in the entire Caribbean and a draemy, romantic setting perched right above the sand.
Rhodes Restaurant, Grenada The Caribbean legacy of the late celebrity chef Gary Rhodes continues at Grenada’s celebrated Calabash luxury hotel, where Chef Nicholas Pena Alvarez’s fare focuses on local sourcing and a lovely continental-Caribbean fusion that results in dishes like seared tuna benedict and lobster gnocchi.
CocoMaya, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Virgin Gorda is laid back, low-profile and lovely. So it’s no surprise that the island’s best resaturant is just that: an easygoing, torch-lit beach spot with elevated comfort-food fare like duck nachos, Korean fried rice and teriyaki chicken tacos.
Emilio’s, Sint Maarten While the French side of St Martin gets much of the culinary acclaim, gastronomic treasures can be found on the Dutch side, too: that includes its destination eatery, Emilio’s, set in a stone building at the foof of the Rainforest Adventure park with a diverse menu ranging from garlic octopus to pecan-crusted scallops.
Rankins Jerk, Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Some of the best jerk in the hemisphere can be found at this beloved eatery in the Bodden Town area of Grand Cayman, with a menu that’s expanded to add some innovations like vegan-friendly curry chick peas and even jerk tofu. It’s low-key, no-frills and almost impossibly delicious.
Hartwood, Tulum Before Tulum was the sizzling destination it is today, there was Hartwood, an open-air eatery that’s true to the hostpot’s barefoot-chic roots, with an ever-changing menu in a gloriously adventurous jungle setting.
Embers, Hopkins, Belize The story at this signature restaurant of Belize’s Seiri del Mar resort is the setting: a prime stretch fo beach staight out of a Corona commercial. But then you sit down and savor local snapper cooked in a banana leaf, or Tuscan style lobster tail, and you realize just how special this place is. The service is a model of Belizean hospitality.
WE Market Cafe, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos This is the best-kept secret in Turks and Caicos: an Asian fusion eatery at the Kokomo Botanical Resort where the food is, in a word, out of this world. It’s remarkable just how authentic the food is, whether you’re eating Desi chicken or “longevity fried noodles.” It’s a portal to the heart of Asia (WE stands for “west meets east.”)
Dodgy Dock, Grenada This is one of those core Caribbean places, where the atmosphere, the view and the people who work there make a place memorable. It’s in many ways a kind of town square in Grenada, and no visit to the island is complete without a visit here, whether for a spiny lobster or for the eatery’s famous Street Food night on Wednesdays.