16 Best Restaurants in Barbados

Chiryl Newman's snazzy seaside restaurant is in an old Bajan home just off the main road in Rockley. The cliff-top setting overlooking the eastern end of Accra Beach offers daytime diners—about 75% local businesspeople—a panoramic view of the sea and a relaxing Caribbean atmosphere in the evening. The portions are hearty, and the food is well seasoned with Caribbean flavors—Bajan fried flying fish with caper dressing, West Indian chicken curry, lionfish, or herb-crusted rack of lamb. Dining out with the family? There's a kids' menu, too. Nearly all the artwork gracing the walls is by Barbadian artists and may be purchased through the on-site gallery.

The chef and his brigade whip up a Mediterranean-inspired, organic, farm-to-table menu at this relaxed beachfront spot that's popular with locals and visitors. Mains such as roasted pork or whole fish are paired with seasonal vegetables and delicious hand-cut fries. There's also a tropically spirited and lively bar with weekly live music and intimate events. Pets are welcome, which is a rarity in Barbados. Shoes are optional.

At the tiny but chic Lone Star Boutique Hotel, a short drive north of Holetown, the finest local ingredients are turned into gastronomic delights. Lunchtime brings tasty salads, sandwiches, and wood-fired pizzas served in the oceanfront bar; after sunset, the casual daytime atmosphere turns trendy. Start with open wild mushroom and butternut squash ravioli or crispy coconut prawns with mango-chili sauce, followed by grilled yellowfin tuna with warm crab-and-potato salad, herb-crusted rack of lamb, saltfish and Scotch bonnet risotto, or dozens of other land, sea, and vegetarian dishes.

Next door to The Cliff, its sister restaurant serves up a selection of delectable Caribbean and international cuisine from the catch of the day to mouthwatering surf and turf. Opened at the end of 2021, this seaside bistro with ultra-modern finishes boasts of catering to all dietary needs. Prices are mid-range but service and quality are top-notch.

If you're in the mood for modern comfort food, this is the place for you. Chef Simon and his team offer a wide selection of Asian-, Southern-, and Caribbean-inspired dishes—from barracuda baos, plantain tostadas, and fried pig ears to delicious desserts such as salted-caramel brownies.

This trendy bustling restaurant is a favorite West Coast dining spot of local professionals, families, and visitors. Mediterranean and Caribbean flavors enliven inventive thin-crust pizzas and tasty salads; the dinner menu also includes fresh seafood and vegetarian selections. Dine alfresco or sit on the beach to eat, accompanied by live jazz music or upbeat house (depending on the night).

This food-truck park is a great spot to sample a wide variety of dishes for lunch or dinner. Venezuelan arepas, Italian pizzas, Trinidadian roti, and Bajan classics are among the many options here. There's live music on Thursday, and sometimes there are other special events as well. Though the area is shaded, it's best to go at night, when the temperature is a bit cooler and the lights add a nice atmosphere.

The seasonal menu at this lively, modern, air-conditioned restaurant includes fresh pasta, thin-crust pizzas, colorful salads, and decadent desserts. Enjoy an aperitif, martini, or their specialty sorrel cocktail at the chic bar. This a favorite spot for lunch, family get-togethers, and date nights.

Have a hankerin' for Tex-Mex food? Enjoy nachos, tacos, burritos, empanadas, fajitas, and tostadas in this Mexican bar and grill at the western entrance to busy St. Lawrence Gap. Or choose a burger, honey-barbecue chicken, or flame-grilled steak from the Gringo Menu. Helpings of rice and beans, a Corona, and plenty of jalapeño peppers, guacamole, and salsa give everything a Mexican touch. Some people come just for the margaritas—15 fruity varieties rimmed with Bajan sugar instead of salt. With two happy hours every night, this place gets really busy; reservations are accepted only for parties of five or more.

As local as local gets, this open-air waterfront beach bar (a former rum shop) is built on stilts a stone's throw from the Speightstown fish market. For years, fishermen and other locals have come here for the inexpensive authentic Bajan lunch buffet. Soak up the atmosphere and fill your plate with fried flying fish, stewed chicken or pork, curried goat or lamb, pepperpot, macaroni pie, fried plantain, peas and rice, sweet potatoes, cou-cou, and crisp green salad. Eat inside or on the deck. And on Wednesday night, you can also dance—or simply listen—to catchy steel pan or calypso music. (Whether dinner is served varies from season to season, so call ahead.)

Once you've stepped through the somewhat innocuous roadside building, you're transported to an open beachfront environment decorated with African-inspired artwork, thatched ceilings, and an endless view of the ocean. But wait. . .there's more; the cuisine here features French and Thai dishes (seafood thermidor, beef filet with peppercorn sauce, red or green curry with jasmine rice), along with local Bajan specialties (saltfish cakes, flying fish cutters). Desserts are amazing, and there's a children's menu. Juma's celebrates every Sunday afternoon with a beach barbecue (fish, chicken, burgers, and more), along with live music, complimentary beach loungers and umbrellas—even free showers if you take a dip in the ocean!

Locals and visitors alike gather at this no-frills fast-casual restaurant for affordable, relatively healthy, and delicious local food. Simple dishes like grilled catch of the day and grilled steak deliver the goods, but the barbecued ribs, jerk chicken, and Caesar salad are excellent. There is a second location in Holetown.

Tucked away in the heart of St. Lawrence Gap, this waterfront restaurant is great for families with small children and has indoor and outdoor dining and play areas. The food is casual---think pizza, pasta, vegetarian choices, and, of course, mimosas.

Situated within the Carlisle Bay area just outside the capital, this family-friendly location is a great spot to sample a variety of Caribbean and international dishes. A mixture of a food-truck park and beach bar with an adjacent events venue, you can go from the beach (rent a beach chair and shared umbrella for $8) to enjoying a drink at the bar with friends or dining on tacos, sandwiches, kebabs, Bajan dishes, Jamaican jerk chicken, or even plant-based options.

The food at Surfers Cafe is hearty, traditional, and Bajan---think homemade Bajan fish cakes, buljol (chopped salted cod, tomatoes, and chilies), or flying fish---with good-size portions. The decor is rustic and the views are amazing; if you're lucky enough to be seated at the large table outside, you'll feel as if you're on board an old-fashioned pirate ship. There's live music most evenings. Service can be a little slow and the Wi-Fi is patchy, but if you're looking for a place to eat and relax, this is the place to go in Oistins.

Operating out of an old retrofitted fishing boat, this rustic self-sustaining eatery serves up tasty and satisfying fish cutters (fish sandwiches) prepared by owner Wayne Francois. Located a stone’s throw from the beautiful Heywoods Beach, the intimate open-air setting creates a comfy family-friendly atmosphere.