Eating Out

Please note:  The views expressed are our opinions and based on our experiences.  Most restaurants have websites and are listed on Trip Advisor where you can find more information.  There are lots of restaurants in the Holetown and beyond – see Trip Advisor – this is just a small selection.

The REDISCOVER MENU – this is well worth seeking out (google Rediscover Menu Barbados).  A number of restaurants offer a special price menu – US$50 or BDS$99 per person which includes a three course dinner, wine, service and taxes.  We have found these menus to be excellent value for money and well worth investigating.

All of the places listed below are places we have been to and are easily accessible, either on foot or by bus (bus stop 1 minute from Sandy Lodge).

                     PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE ADVISED TO BOOK RESTAURANTS IF YOU ARE VISITING IN HIGH SEASON – DECEMBER TO APRIL

LAST UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2018

Within walking distance of the villa:

Lone Star  This restaurant has a fabulous position right on the beach and at night it is beautifully lit.  The ambience is cool and opulent.  It’s a good place for ‘people watching’.  Lone Star is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.   There is also a cocktail bar.  BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR DINNER.

We have had lunch at the restaurant which has a lighter selection of food and includes salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizzas.  At night, the menu changes slightly and the offering is a traditional dinner menu with a wide range of meat and fish dishes.  The food is expensive and, in our opinion, can be a little disappointing.  Just recently (December 2017) we had a very good breakfast at Lone Star.  Some guests have loved Lone Star and others found it overpriced and disappointing.

Ju Ju’s Beach Bar  This is a very casual place to have lunch or an early supper.  It is right on the beach and is accessed from the beach.  You can have sandwiches (tuna is vg), fries and light meals e.g. chicken various fish or burgers.  It is a great place to have lunch, enjoy the beach and relax.  A great (strong!) rum punch and beers.  Cheap.

Top Deck restaurant and Beach Bar   Recently opened. Reasonably priced lunch menu, more expensive evening menu.

Royal Fairmont Hotel – Across the road from the villa.  The restaurant is on a lovely terrace overlooking the sea.  Service is very friendly.  We have had both lunch and dinner at this restaurant and both were very good.  The menu is comprehensive and they have nightly specials too.  Prices are reasonable (cheaper than many restaurants of a similar standard) and represent very good value for money.  They do pizzas cooked in a pizza oven with very thin, crispy bases!  Well worth trying if you’d like to walk to a restaurant.  Booking might be advisable.   You could have drinks on the terrace before dinner.

 

Restaurants in Holetown (20-25 minute walk or a 5 minute bus journey)

Just Grillin’ – Next to the chattel village, parking outside, cheap and cheerful.  Service is efficient, portion size generous and food is tasty and great value for money.  They serve grilled fish (shrimp, various catches of the day) and meat (chicken, steak, ribs) with salads, rice/peas or potatoes.  Reliable, quick and casual.

Surfside – Right on the beach, very casual, medium price range for dinner, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  They serve fish and meats – grilled, with pasta etc.  Lunch is basic but inexpensive – sandwiches, rotis, burgers and some salads.

Carizma Café – in the chattel village, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (tapas evenings with live music – some nights – check website).  Food is good, service friendly, good quality, some interesting menu options.  Nice outside eating area.  Inexpensive – for the west coast.

Zacchios – Open for lunch and dinner.  Italian and international food – wide menu.  Prices are generally cheaper for Barbados.  Lunch menu includes sandwiches and salads.  We often come here for happy hour drinks overlooking the beach.  Food basic.  Latest anecdotal feedback – pizzas are no better!

The Limegrove Centre.  There are a number of restaurants in the centre.  We have tried:

Lemongrass – Thai – traditional Thai restaurant offerings.  Moderate prices.  Gets very busy, so book if you want a specific time e.g. if you are going to the cinema.  Recently had dinner here and it was good – Thai curry and a stir fry.  It was spicy and portion size good!

Tides – Beautiful setting, right on the beach, upmarket and expensive.  This is a lovely place for a special night out.  We have had lunch and dinner here and the meal was very good.  The Tides has recently been refurbished and it is now gorgeous – in my opinion!  There is an air conditioned area if you’d rather the cool.  BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

Asian Spice – in Sunset Crest (get off the bus by the medical centre and about a 5-10 min walk) – Indian food.  The restaurant is in the All Seasons Resort and around the pool.  Very pleasant setting, friendly service.  Traditional Indian food.  We have eaten here several times and the food has always been reliably good.  They offer a Rediscover menu.  Moderate prices.

Spago – Traditional Italian with pizzas and pasta.  There is an outside patio but not overlooking the beach.  This place was very popular when we last visited Barbados.  Good pizzas and salads.  Excellent value.  BOOKING RECOMMENDED.

The Mews – we ate here on the Rediscover Menu.  Service friendly.  Food was okay, but we were glad we were on the Rediscover Menu or it would have been expensive.  An interesting menu and locally sourced products.

Nishi – Nishi gets very good Trip Adviser reviews but we were sceptical about the western/east mix of menu – Japanese food on the same menu as a British pie.  We were proved wrong!  The menu has a wide range of choices, but the kitchen can deliver on both.  We had a mix of set menus – the crepes, tempura, sushi and surf n turf.  All was really good, price of food reasonable, very nice courtyard area, great service and definitely worth a visit.

The Cliff Beach Club – Lovely for a special meal.  Great setting, friendly service, interesting menu and good value.  A really lovely place and we highly recommend it.  Booking a must!

South of Holetown and accessible on the bus

Il Tempio – Italian restaurant in Fitts Village.  The bus stops opposite the restaurant.  We have only had the Rediscover menu here and have found it excellent value for money.   Good food and wine.  The restaurant is right on the beach and service very friendly.  Traditionally Italian.

The Coffee Barbados Café, Bridgetown at The Garrison.  If you are visiting The Garrison area for horse racing or the historical sights, we highly recommend the Coffee Barbados Café.  A lovely selection of salads, sandwiches and cakes, all freshly cooked/made to order, more unusual options, cheap prices, good quality and all served in a pretty garden.  They do not serve lunch on a Saturday.  Highly recommended for lunch.

Oistins Fish Fry – Highly rated, every Friday and Saturday night, very touristy.  Lots of restaurants offer fried or grilled fish and beer.  Busy and lively atmosphere. Catch the bus from outside Sandy Lodge to Oistins (you will need the Oistins bus). Arrive before 6.00 pm to avoid long queues. There are dozens of eateries, Uncle Georges is the best (as illustrated by the queue length!).

Café Sol –  St Lawrence Gap.  A Mexican restaurant, typical Mexican fare and cocktails, good food and a lively atmosphere.  Moderately priced and generous portions.  Catch the Oistins bus and get off in St Lawrence Gap.

Waterfront Café – Right in the heart of Bridgetown on the Careenage.  Lively and busy at lunchtimes and serve evening meals too.  Great views and people watching across the small marina.  We’ve had lunch and dinner here – both very good.  Rediscovery menu at night, live music at weekends (check their website), traditional food – fish, meat, curries, salads etc..  Good service, nice outdoor eating area.

Champers  if you fancy a ‘top end’ meal then it can be incredibly expensive on Barbados.  Champers has been recommended to us by many locals and we thought we’d give it a go.  Its very well worth it.  Fab location – right on Worthing Beach.  The menu is interesting, has local food and ingredients, all top notch quality, generous portions and very good service.  Prices are very reasonable for the quality and experience.  This is a very busy place and full of locals.  Booking essential.  Its about a 30 min drive from Sandy Lodge.  You could catch the Oistens bus or get a taxi.  If you fancy a ‘top end’ meal – we strongly recommend Champers.

North of Holetown and accessible on the bus:

The Camelot Restaurant, Cobblers Cove Hotel –  We have had two meals here on the Rediscover Menu and both have been fantastic food and value for money.  The restaurant is lovely – overlooking the sea and with excellent service.  The food is interesting, very nicely presented and good quality.  First class and on the Rediscover Menu superb value for money.  Dress code. BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Jumas – Speightstown – We have eaten here on the Rediscover Menu.  Good food, lovely location on the beach, great service and very good value for money.  They will collect you from the villa and bring you home – all included in the price!  This represents very good value for money. Also good lunches and free sunbeds on the beach if you eat here.

The Lobster Pot – Speightstown – We had a Sunday lunch BBQ here and dinner.  Great food, great location – right on the beach, great service and very good value for money.  They also offer a Rediscover menu and will collect and return you to the villa.

The Fish Pot – North of Speightstown in Good Little Harbour (can be accessed by bus from Speightstown).  Very chichi place, good food, lovely location on the beach, interesting menu choices, expensive.  Very popular.  To access easily, you will need a taxi or hire car.

The café in the Animal Flower Cave (accessed by bus from Speightstown) –  If you are visiting the caves and even if you are not – this is a really nice place for lunch.  Great food, good value for money, lovely location right on the point where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, good service and an interesting menu.  Well worth a try.

Island Plates – Great food, run by two very friendly sisters, reasonable prices and well worth a visit.  This small restaurant has a great deal of integrity.  Home cooking, very tasty local food – curries, fish, salads, good sized portions.  Not the most romantic of locations, BUT well worth trying something different.  Only open some nights for dinner, check their website and book.  Lunch – open every day (again check website for weekend opening).  BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR DINNER.  This lovely little restaurant is becoming very popular!

Orange Street Grocer – Lunchtime and Friday evening,  Fab location, great décor (if you like minimalist) and ambience, pizzas and salads.  Real pizzas – thin, crispy and cooked in a pizza oven!  The pizzas had good quality ingredients – basil, good mozzerella and tomato.  Great views over the beach.  Friendly service.  On a Friday night they have a steel band.  THEY DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARD.

East Coast

Dina’s Bar and Café – in Bathsheba on the Atlantic coast.  A lovely place for lunch sitting in the garden and very close to the beach.  Family run and very friendly.  Very good food, interesting menu, reasonable prices and generous portions.  Had a fab whole fish on last visit – really good!  Well worth a visit.  On last visit we were overcharged – check the bill.  Lovely people – so this is a shame.

Atlantis Hotel – a lovely setting with a terrace overlooking the sea.  We went on a Wednesday and had the lunchtime buffet for BDS$70.  There is plenty of choice of local cuisine – chicken, fish, salads, mac pie, rice and peas, fish cakes etc..  There are a choice of desserts too.  Food was good but not great but a relaxing and very pleasant place to watch the sea and the world go by!

Other – Sugar Hill

Carizma on the Hill – You would need a car to access this restaurant.  Sister restaurant of Café Carizma in Holetown although food not as good.  About 5-8 min drive from the villa and on the exclusive Sugar Hill estate.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea – all around the infinity pool.  Lovely setting and sea views.  Plenty of parking and just tell guys on the gate that you are going to Café Carizma.  See their website.