Anguilla proudly considers itself the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Although it is a small island -- just 35 square miles -- Anguilla is home to more than 100 restaurants, ranging from local diners to upscale fine dining establishments serving gastronomic masterpieces.
Not surprisingly, seafood is featured prominently on most of the menus. What may be surprising? The varied international influences are incorporated into Anguilla's cuisine.
In addition to Caribbean fare, you can also experience French, Asian, Italian, and Moroccan-inspired cuisine. Heading to Anguilla? See our favorite choices with our insiders’ tips.
Overview: The cuisine at SALT is modern Caribbean and includes dishes such as Pyrat Rum pork chop, conch chowder, and jerk chicken. Sides include crab coconut rice, yucca fries and jerk-roasted potatoes.
Insider tip: SALT is open for breakfast, and it even has a breakfast menu for the kids.
Ambiance: Elegant with breathtaking bluff-top views of Barnes Bay and Meads Bay.
What we love: Locally sourced salt that is custom blended with herbs at your table and is served with the bread.
Location: In the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla, Address: Barnes Bay, West End, Phone: 264-497-7000
Overview: Cafe Celeste is a sea-to-table restaurant that serves Mediterranean-influenced dishes. On its menu, you'll find innovative fare, such as smoked wahoo pate, grilled local crayfish, and a Caribbean lobster bisque. For those who prefer non-seafood dishes, Cafe Celeste also has other choices, including a goat curry and rib eye steak.
Insider tip: Try to time your reservations so that you can enjoy a gorgeous sunset with your meal.
Ambiance: Beach-y, and romantic with stunning views from every table.
What we love: Celeste's delicious cocktails; some of which are topped with herbs from the resort's garden.
Location: In the Malliouhana Resort, Address: Meads Bay, Phone: 877-733-3611
Overview: Over the years, Dolce Vita has earned a devoted following for its delicious homemade pastas, risotto, and fresh-from-the-ocean seafood. Dolce Vita has, in fact, been awarded a Best Restaurant title from the Anguilla Tourist Board.
Insider tip: This restaurant serves gluten-free pasta.
Ambiance: Trendy, cool, beach vibe.
What we love: One of the owners is a certified Sommelier, so Dolce Vita's wine list is extensive.
Location: Sandy Ground Village, Phone: 264-497-8668
Overview: If you love sushi, you'll want to hit the Sunset Lounge, where the chefs have taken advantage of the incredibly fresh seafood available to them to create specialty rolls, nigiri and sashimi dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. In addition to sushi, the Sunset Lounge offers other Asian-inspired fare, such as Korean short ribs.
Insider tip: Take a seat at the wood counter with its sweeping views of Barnes Bay so that you can enjoy some of the best sunset views on the island.
Ambiance: A chic, cool and modern vibe, rated as Anguilla's most beautiful bar.
What we love: Innovative and delicious cocktails created by the bar's talented mixologists.
Location: West End Village, Address: Barnes Bay First level, Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Phone: 264-497-7000
Overview: Veya has been serving happy diners for more than 15 years. Its menu includes many Caribbean-inspired dishes -- such as traditional fish soup, jerk tuna, and lobster -- as well as international fare, including its signature shrimp cigar accented with Moroccan spices.
Insider tip: Wednesday is special crayfish night.
Ambiance: Tropical and romantic dining in a "treehouse”
What we love: Veya's Johnny cakes are some of the best on the island.
Location: Near the bottom of the hill that goes to Sandy Ground, Address: Reverend Carty Road, Phone: 264-498-8392
Overview: Blanchard's menu is influenced by flavors from around the globe. Think red curry mussels from Thailand, poke from Hawaii, pastas from Italy, as well as a Caribbean sampler that includes crayfish, grouper, and jerk chicken.
Insider tip: Bring the kids. Blanchard's has a kid's menu with standards such as grilled cheese sandwiches as well as a pan-seared grouper for the more adventurous ones.
Ambiance: Tropical, airy and welcoming.
What we love: This restaurant has several options for vegans, including a tostada and a pasta dish.
Location: Meads Bay, Address: West End Village, Phone: 264-497-6100
Overview: Jacala is a foodie's delight. Its high-quality French-inspired food is considered to be some of the best on the island, and its many fans include locals, tourists and even celebrities, such as Martha Stewart. Some of the more popular items include a steak tartare prepared table-side, snapper meuniere or risotto.
Insider tip: Check out the restaurant's Facebook page for up-to-date information. For example, the restaurant is closed from late August to the beginning of November.
Ambiance: A hint of the Mediterranean blended with Caribbean island chill.
What we love: The owners are the chef, Alain Laurent -- who in 2014 was named one of the Caribbean's top 25 chefs -- and the maitre d', Jacques Borderon. Both are typically present to ensure that guests get the best meal possible.
Location: West End Village, Address: The Valley Rd Long Bay Village, Meads Bay Pond, Phone: 264-498-5888
Overview: Straw Hat's menu has something to offer for just about everyone. The wide-ranging choices include Caribbean bouillabaisse, grilled fish, curried goat, steak, tacos, and flatbreads.
Insider tip: This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from November through August.
Ambiance: Unpretentious, casual and beach-y.
What we love: The kid's menu is well-thought-out, with a fun selection that includes but is not limited to a smoothie, sliders, lollipop shrimp, as well as desserts.
Location: West End Village, Address: Meads Bay Frangipani Beach Resort, Phone: 264-497-8300
Overview: Chef Marc Alvarez had worked at many of Anguilla's best restaurants before opening Ember in 2018. The restaurant’s concept is to use live fire cooking and the best seasonal and local products to create amazing dishes.
Insider tip: Open from Tuesday to Friday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is a reservation-only restaurant.
Ambiance: Chic, inviting with beautiful views of the ocean.
What we love: The grilled snapper and the wood-roasted crayfish scampi are excellent showcases for the restaurant's live fire cooking.
Location: The Valley, Address: Lower South Hill, Phone: 264-498-2411
Overview: Pimms, which was founded in 1988, serves elevated Anguillian cuisine, as well as international and Caribbean dishes. Popular choices from Pimms' menu include the Anguillian queen conch carpaccio, local crayfish, jerk chicken, and red snapper.
Insider tip: A great restaurant to take a wine connoisseur. Pimms has more than 3,000 bottles of wines and has won the Wine Spectator award several times.
Ambiance: Very romantic with white Moorish arches and stunning views.
What we love: The restaurant has an excellent vegetarian menu.
Location: Maundays Bay, Address: In Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel, Phone: 264-497-6666
Overview: The Beach Shack is Blanchards more-casual little sister. It's where you can dine at picnic tables with your toes in the sand. The menu offers a little bit of everything, including a plant-based burger, regular burgers, fish tacos and sandwiches. The Beach Shack also offers cocktails, beers, and wine to accompany your beach-side meals.
Insider tip: They serve delicious ice cream as well.
Ambiance: Cute, easy-going, and charming beach-front dining.
What we love: Menu has several gluten-free options.
Location: West End Village, Address: Mead's Bay, Phone: 264-498-6100
Overview: Sandy Island has tantalizing dishes made even more delicious by the gorgeous surroundings. Some of the meals you'll want to try include grilled crayfish, lobster, and barbecue ribs. This little piece of heaven has attracted its fair share of the rich and famous, so don't be surprised if you see a celeb or two at Sandy Island.
Insider tip: If you don't have your own private boat, head to Sandy Ground wharf to pay for a 10-minute round trip boat ride to the private cay where this restaurant is located.
Ambiance: Amazing, unique, and private.
What we love: Make sure to pack your snorkel gear. The reef surrounding this cay is teeming with beautiful sea creatures.
Location: Located about two miles from Sandy Ground on a private cay in the middle of the sea, Phone: 264-497-6534
Overview: Trattoria Tramonto serves up Italian entrées, paninis, pizza, and pasta, as well as fresh seafood. The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner. Some of the more exciting items offered include baitfish fry, Cajun finger smelts (when available), tuna carpaccio, and spaghetti with littleneck clams and shrimp.
Insider tip: Check the restaurant's Facebook page for updates on hours and other information.
Ambiance: Charming, casual, and airy with beautiful views of the ocean during the day and the lights of St. Maarten at night.
What we love: The restaurant's beach menu. From noon to 4:00 p.m., items on this menu are served in disposable containers so that you can dine on the beach.
Location: West End, Address: Rte 1 Shoal Bay West, Phone: 264-497-8819
Overview: Roy's Bayside Grill offers a mix of Caribbean dishes along with English pub favorites. So, on its menu you'll find the fish and chips that Roy is famous for, alongside local lobster, sauteed snapper, and bangers and mash. You can also enjoy breakfast and lunch at this fun beach-side restaurant.
Insider tip: Happy hour Friday nights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with weekly special entrees and discounted drinks.
Ambiance: Casual, fun, with the hospitality of an old English Pub.
What we love: The meats are cooked out in the open-air grill, tantalizing guests with their delicious aroma.
Location: Sandy Ground, Address: Sandy Ground Road, Phone: 264-497-2470
Overview: Da Vida serves Asian-Caribbean fusion cuisine. Typical menu items might include an ahi tuna tartar, roasted Thai beef salad, lobster spring roll, or tamarind-glazed sea scallops. Just make sure to save room for one of Da Vida's delectable desserts, like its mango-coconut panna cotta.
Insider tip: Try their fish sandwich. They announce specials on their facebook page.
Ambiance: Upscale and private, located on a beautiful bay.
What we love: The restaurant offers a shuttle service, so you don't have to worry about how you're going to get to and from Da Vida.
Location: Crocus Bay, Address: The Valley, Phone: 264-584-5433
Overview: Manoah serves upscale International cuisine influenced by the flavors of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. On the menu, you might find calamari brochettes or duck foie gras.
Insider tip: Love tea? The Manoah has a special tea menu with black, green, and white tea or infusions.
Ambiance: The decor echoes the colors of the white-sand beaches and the turquoise blue sea.
What we love: You can choose between eating directly on the beach or on the restaurant's lovely beach terrace.
Location: Shoal Bay, Address: In the Manoah Boutique Hotel, Phone: 264-498-5900
Overview: The Place's menu is diverse and includes a variety of dishes, including elevated burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta as well as local favorites like fish chowder and curry goat. The Place is especially known for its golden-brown coconut shrimp, served with a sweet lemon-pineapple Amaretto sauce.
Insider tip: Stop by The Place for breakfast and enjoy homemade French pastries baked fresh daily.
Ambiance: Picturesque setting with lovely views of the water.
What we love: The frosty specialty drinks and cocktails are the perfect complement to the stunning tropical setting.
Location: West End Village, Address: In the Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas, Phone: 264-584-4266
Overview: According to the chef, some people have called his style eclectic. He prefers to call his style personal. He is a French chef, but his food incorporates Asian ingredients -- such as peppers from Cambodia -- that he and his wife have picked up on their travels. Hibernia's menu features such dishes as pan-grilled mahi-mahi served with a turmeric, ginger, and orange sauce as well as a Thai casserole with crayfish.
Insider tip: Reservations are required, open Tuesday for lunch and dinner; Friday for dinner only; Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Ambiance: Asian and artsy, with a Balinese-style water pool and stone sculpture garden.
What we love: Hibernia offers shuttle service for a nominal fee.
Location: Island Harbour, Address: Harbour Ridge, Phone: 264-497-4290
Overview: Mango's specializes in grilled dishes, including the fresh catch of the day, chicken, and steak. It also offers other preparations, including a steamed snapper and pan-seared triggerfish. This beachfront restaurant also has an excellent selection of fine wines to complement its delectable dishes.
Insider tip: Reservations are highly recommended.
Ambiance: Island casual.
What we love: This restaurant also makes all of its desserts in-house, and its rolls are also baked fresh daily.
Location: West End Village, Address: Barnes Bay, Phone: 264-497-6479
Overview: Ocean Echo serves fresh seafood and seasonal produce in its international and Caribbean cuisine. On its menu, you'll find dishes such as cracked conch fritters, curry chicken dumplings, grilled seafood and meats, and pasta.
Insider tip: In need of a cold brew? Then order the B5, which is five cold beers of your choice -- $15 for Heinekens and $18 for all other beers.
Ambiance: Beach chic, with stunning views of Meads Bay.
What we love: Ocean Echo's very popular signature drink, the Rumzie Rum Punch.
Location: West End Village, Address: Meads Bay, Phone: 264-498-5454
Tasty's is considered an Anguilla institution and is one of the best places to try local favorites such as salt fish with Johnny cakes, boiled eggs for brunch, or Grandma's style stewed chicken for dinner. Tasty's also has an excellent happy hour, with specials on such things as crayfish, beer, and their rum punch.
Location: The Valley, Address: South Hill Road, Phone: 264-584-2737
The menu at Palm Grove Bar & Grill includes a nice selection of local fare, including crayfish, whole local fish, Johnny cakes, and rice and peas. Check the restaurant's Facebook page for updates on hours and reservation information. For example, as of this writing, lunch is served by reservation only and must be made at least 12 hours in advance, though walk-ins are accepted if they are open for business.
Location: The Valley, Address: Junk's Hole Bay, Phone: 264-235-4224
Located on a tiny island, dining at Scilly Cay is a magical adventure. You'll need to take a short boat ride from Island Harbour pier to the island, where you can enjoy freshly grilled seafood -- including crayfish and lobster -- or chicken and a stunning view. Open only for lunch.
Location: Island Harbour, Phone: 264-235-5000
20 Knots is a casual beachfront eatery with an international menu influenced by the flavors of Latin American and Caribbean. Local dishes you might want to try include the snapper fillet, Caribbean mahi-mahi curry, octopus curry and local lobster spaghetti. Other choices available at 20 Knots include pizzas, pastas, sandwiches. Seating is available both indoors in air-conditioned comfort or outdoors with natural cooling by the sea breeze.
Location: Shoal Bay Village, Address: Zemi Beach House, Phone: 264-584-0001
This restaurant is located in the Four Seasons and offers the resort's version of local favorites. The Bamboo Bar & Grill's menu includes such tasty options as mahi-mahi ceviche, snapper, and jerk lobster tails. For even more local flavor, make sure to end your meal with the Caribbean dark rum cake.
Location: West End Village, Address: Meads Bay Barnes Bay, Phone: 264-49707000
Located in Malliouhana Hotel, Leon's has the look of a retro beach shack. Its food is simple but delicious and fits the laid-back beach mood. If you hit this restaurant and want to try a little island flavor, consider ordering the conch fritters, jerk shrimp or Leon's signature burgers served on Johnnycake burgers. To wash it all down? A rum punch, of course.
Location: West End Village, Address: Meads Bay Road Malliouhana Hotel, Phone: 264-497-6111
The Cap Shack will charm you with its mellow Caribbean vibe and outstanding food. Local flavors are showcased in several of the restaurant's dishes, including its queen conch tacos, barbecue jackfruit tacos, or a jerk mahi-mahi burger. And you'll definitely want to try one of the Cap Shack's delicious cocktails.
Location: West End Village, Address: Maundays Bay, Phone: 264-497-6666
The English Rose Bar and Restaurant is located in the heart of the Valley and is a favorite with locals. Its menu is filled with regional cuisine, including barbecue ribs with rice and peas, stewed pork, and curry chicken wings. Portions are ample and the prices are very reasonable.
Location: The Valley, Address: Carter Rey Blvd., Phone: 264-497-5353
Located in the West End, Sharky's Restaurant serves local flavors, including its popular Anguilla lobster cakes, grilled shrimp in Creole curry sauce, and mango snapper. Seating is limited at this popular restaurant, so reservations are highly recommended.
Location: West End Village, Address: On your left just after the Cove Road heading West, Phone: 264-729-0059
If you're looking for a place to try the local cuisine at reasonable prices, check out E's Oven's Facebook page for its lunch specials. Think baked pork chops, curry wings, or baked ribs, all served with a vegetable, plantain, and your choice of rice, mashed potato, or fries. E's Oven is located in West End Village.
Location: West End Village, Address: South Hill, Phone: 264-498-8258
Most kids (and adults) love pizza, and fortunately, Anguilla has Artisan Pizza Napoletana. The pies here are cooked in a wood-fired oven imported from Napoli, Italy, and come with a variety of toppings, including traditional ones like pepperoni. Artisan also offers more unique pizzas, such as its shrimp pizza with endives, capers, and garlic confit. You'll also find calzones and house-made pastas on Artisan's menu. This restaurant is the only pizzeria in the Caribbean that has been certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana.
Location: Island Harbour, Address: Webster's Yard, Phone: 264-235-6116
Tropical Sunset is a fun little place where you can find some kid-friendly entrees on the menu, including sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. There are also some more interesting fare, such as cracked conch, for the more adventurous eaters. This beachfront eatery looks out onto the sugar-white sands and stunning blue waters of Shoal Bay East.
Location: Shoal Bay, Address: Shoal Bay Village, Phone: 264-497-2076
Kids will enjoy the casual atmosphere at Falcon Nest Bar and Grill. At this restaurant, they can dine right on the sand and enjoy child-friendly choices, such as grilled or fried chicken, pastas, and burgers.
Location: The Valley, Address: Island Harbour, Phone: 264-497-1127
Le Bon Pain is a French-Caribbean bakery that also sells breakfast dishes. Children will love its freshly baked croissants, pastries, quiches, and delicious egg sandwiches. Go early, though, as items can sell out quickly.
Location: The Valley, Address: Island Harbour, Phone: 264-497-4090
Uncle Ernie's casual beach eatery has been a fixture in Anguilla since 1984. It serves up kids favorites, such as hot dog a la Ernie, burgers , french fries and for the adults delicious crayfish, local fish, and at reasonable prices. And enjoy the views of Shoal Bay Beach.
Location: Shoal Bay Village, Address: The Manoah Boutique Hotel, Phone: 264-497-3907
Located in the Valley, Hungry's Good Food has been a favorite with locals and savvy visitors since 2004. On its menu, you'll find quesadillas, pasta dishes, salads, and soups, as well as local favorites, including stewed goat. Hungry's prides itself on serving high-quality food at affordable prices.
Location: The Valley, Address: Near Main st, Phone: 264-497-5827
When you're in the mood for great drinks and good eats on a beautiful beach, make sure to check out the Sunshine Shack. This popular eatery and bar, which is located in Rendezvous Bay, serves freshly grilled meats and seafood, including snapper, ribs, and chicken. The Sunshine Shack is located near the Anguilla Great House Resort and is just a 20-minute ferry ride from St. Maarten.
Location: The Valley, Address: Rendezvous Bay Beach Located Next to Anguilla Great House, Phone: 264-476-0649
This restaurant, which is located right on the sands of Shoal Bay beach, has been in business for more than 15 years. Madeariman serves Mediterranean cuisine with a Caribbean accent, including pan fried foie gras, mussels in white wine cream sauce, and lobster tagliatelle.
Location: Shoal Bay Village, Address: Shoal Bay East, Phone: 264-497-5750
Elvis's serves up a nice variety of bar favorites, including cheese quesadillas, nachos, and tacos. It's been ranked numerous times as one of the top 5 Caribbean Beach Bars by USA Today's readers. Elvis's is located on the beach in Sandy Ground.
Location: Sandy Ground, Address: Heart Break Hotel Lonely Street, Phone: 264-498-0101
Serenity Restaurant is located in Upper Shoal Bay and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dinner menu includes pastas and a nice selection of chicken, steak, and seafood entrees. Its lunch menu, on the other hand, skews more towards sandwiches and paninis. This restaurant is located on the grounds of Serenity Cottages.
Location: Shoal Bay Village, Address: Shoal Bay East Serenity Cottages, Phone: 264-497-3328
Sometimes, you're just in the mood for Indian fare. And if that happens while you're in Anguilla, you'll want to head over to Roti Hut, which serves up freshly cooked roti and curry at affordable prices. Roti Hut is located across from the airport in George Hill.
Location: The Valley, Address: George Hill, Phone: 264-584-2390
Andy's Restaurant Anguilla is an unassuming restaurant located in The Valley that is popular with the locals. It serves up generous portions of great food at reasonable prices. Some of the choices you'll find on Andy's menu include grilled fish, burgers, salads, and pastas.
Location: The Valley, Phone: 264-498-2639
Picante -- Anguilla's first Mexican restaurant -- serves quesadillas and tacos. This West End restaurant's menu also includes burritos and other Mexican dishes. Make sure to check out Picante's Facebook page for specials and happy hour prices.
Location: West End, Address: West End Village, Phone: 264-498-1616
The local currency in Anguilla is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. However, the U.S. dollar is widely accepted in most restaurants, especially in ones that cater to tourists.
Tipping is expected in Anguilla. But you should always check to see if the restaurant has applied a service charge before adding a gratuity. Many restaurants automatically add a service charge. As customary in the US, 15%-20% of the total bill is the general rule for tipping in Anguilla as well.
If you're looking for fare that is popular with the locals, look for tamarind balls, Johnny cakes, jerk-style meats, stewed goat, conch fritters or callaloo -- a stew made with callaloo greens.
Yes, there are taxis that will take you to restaurants. They can be pricey in Anguilla, and you may need to call ahead from your hotel or a restaurant to secure one.
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