12 Best Restaurants in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

A great place to take a break and get a bite while shopping, this open-air café tucked into the alleyway of Palm Passage serves authentic Spanish cuisine for lunch and dinner. Try tapas such as mussels in brandy sauce, escargots with mushrooms and herb butter, or Galician-style octopus and baby eels served in a sizzling garlic sauce. Ask for an inside table if the idea of passersby checking out your meal isn't too appetizing.

Sail up in a boat, paddle by in a kayak, or drive out in a dinghy to pick up freshly made New York–style pizza from this "floating" food truck. This 37-foot motor sailor is an authentic brick-oven pizzeria, serving pizzas topped with locally grown basil and fresh lobster. There are 15 toppings to choose from and gluten-free crust is available. The boat is moored daily in the protected waters of Christmas Cove off Great St. James island, easily accessible on day sails and powerboat excursions.

Edible art is an apt description of the sushi and sashimi feast that draws visitors and locals alike. The favorite here is steamed mussels in a house-made creamy sesame dressing dubbed "iguana sauce," which is, happily, not made from the spiny reptile that roams the island's hillsides and roadways. There are nearly 30 vegetarian and seafood rolls to choose from, including avocado, spicy crab, and red snapper. The 5-foot-tall reef tank will definitely put you in the mood for seafood.

Within the historic stonework and cascading tropical blossoms of A.H. Riise Alley, this charming open-air eatery will pull you in by the nose and send you straight to the wood-burning brick-oven pizza. Toppings range from everyday to eclectic, from Asiago cheese and portobello mushrooms to tandoori chicken and clams casino. The menu is not all pizza: there are fresh salads, sub sandwiches, and unique pastas made to order. The local business crowd keeps this place hopping for lunch Monday through Friday, so go early or late to be sure of a table.

Sports on wide-screen TVs and live music on weekends are two added attractions at this hip sports bar that's in the center of the action in Red Hook. The menu ranges from finger-licking barbecue ribs to more sophisticated fare, such as the signature filet mignon wrapped in bacon and smothered in melted Gorgonzola cheese. There's always a catch of the day; the fishing fleet is only steps away. A late-night menu is available from 10 pm until 4 am.

If the floating bubbles don't attract you to this zany eatery billed as the "ultimate tropical drink shack," the lime-green shutters, loud rock music, and fun-loving waitstaff just might. The menu has a selection of burgers, tacos, burritos, and salads, and bartenders shake up such exotic concoctions as the Love Shack Volcano—a 50-ounce flaming extravaganza. Try the Caribbean Pu-Pu platter, which includes conch fritters, coconut shrimp, and sweet fried plantains.

Graze on local lobster, burgers, and salads, as well as pizza baked in a stone-floored oven while gazing at the million-dollar megayachts docked right next to this hip seaside eatery. Even if you aren't hungry, stop here on Friday nights for the DJ Dance Party and Laser Light Show that starts at 10 pm.

With live music and football on TV, Sib's is the perfect place for a casual dinner after a day at the beach. In addition to burgers, barbecue ribs and chicken, and beer, there's also a breakfast café outside with island-roasted coffees, including the signature "Bushwackercappuccino."

House-smoked, hand-rubbed meats with a side of rum are the specialty here. Order the sampler platter for a taste of everything: choice of two meats like pulled pork and beef brisket, two sides such as potato mac salad (a mishmash of two favorites with a flavor all its own) and brisket beans, plus pickled veggies and Texas toast. There's smoked tofu, too, for vegetarians, and more than 70 choices of rum from throughout the Caribbean.

Nautical types and locals come here for casual fare with homey appeal: chicken-fried steak, meat loaf with mashed potatoes, and baby back ribs. Hearty breakfasts feature eggs and pancakes, and lunch is an array of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and soups. From November through April, the adjacent marina is full of enormous yachts, which make for some great eye candy while you dine.

For the island's best northern Italian cuisine, don't miss this intimate, elegant hideaway that's on a quiet side street. Come here for more than 40 homemade pastas topped with superb sauces, like capellini with fresh tomatoes and garlic or peasant-style spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce with mushrooms and prosciutto. Eclectic art covers the two-story brick walls, and the sound of opera sets the stage for a memorable meal.