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The Cliff
Built atop a 3m (10-ft.) coral cliff, this open-air restaurant features a three-level dining room crafted with terra-cotta tiles and coral stone. Though it's not exclusive or even particularly formal, it has attracted Prince Andrew and other titled and bejeweled guests from nearby upscale hotels. The culinary technique is impeccably sharp, and the chefs select only the finest cuts of beef, the freshest seafood, and the choicest vegetables.
| The best items are grilled snapper drizzled with three types of coriander sauce (cream-based, oil-based, and vinaigrette style), accompanied with garlic mashed potatoes and Thai-style curried shrimp. For sheer innovation, dishes such as this put The Cliff near the top. Also try the fresh sushi when available. As you dine, watch for stingrays, which glide through the illuminated waters below; a sighting is considered good luck. |
Reserve days or even weeks in advance to snag a table at the front of the terrace for the best view. Reservations essential.
Address: Hwy. 1, Derricks, St. James, Barbados
Phone: 246/432-1922
Carambola
Built beside the road that runs along the island's western coastline, this restaurant sits atop a 6m (20-ft.) seaside cliff and offers gorgeous, panoramic views from its dining terrace. (Lunch is not served, so go for an early dinner to best appreciate the views.) Not only does the Carambola boast Barbados' most romantic setting, its food is in the same league as The Cliff . The prize-winning cuisine is creative, with modern, French-nouvelle touches, but Caribbean flair and flavor. Try the chef's rich, frothy lobster cappuccino, or his stir-fry of shrimp and scallops in roasted peanut sauce. Another spectacular dish is rack of lamb with a honey-mustard crust, or you might try a favorite of ours, oven-roasted breast of duckling with anise seed and a bitter-orange marmalade. Save room for one of the luscious desserts, such as lime mousse. The impressive wine list features mostly French vintages.
Dramatic lighting, alfresco dining, and a cliffside location make this one of the island's most romantic restaurants. The menu is a mix of classic French and Caribbean cuisines -- with Asian touches for good measure. Start with the tuna carpaccio with ginger and sesame seeds or a vegetable tartlet with pesto and apple. For an entrée, try wine-poached mahimahi with coriander and vegetables, or oven-roasted duck breast with anise and bitter orange marmalade. The citron gâteau (lime mousse on a pool of lemon coulis) is a wonderfully light finish to your meal. Reservations essential.
Address: Hwy. 1, Derricks, St. James, Barbados
Phone: 246/432-0832
Il Tempio
Even the great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti thinks this restaurant at the southern end of the western coast serves the best Italian food in Barbados. Many of the specialties are evocative of owner Anna Pirrelli's hometown in Bari; others are inspired by Sardinia, home to chef Alesso Dotto. The chef's light touch is ideal for tropical dining. The homemade pastas are a delight, including his fettuccine alla carbonara. The lasagna del Vesuvio comes with a tantalizing meat sauce, and the main dishes are equally delectable, especially the veal medallions with onion and black grapes in a chardonnay-wine sauce. Mouthwatering desserts are prepared fresh nightly, and happy hour is Tuesday to Sunday 4 to 6pm.
Address: Fitts Village, St. James, Barbados
Phone: 246/432-2057
Ragamuffins
This is a real discovery: an affordable, lively place that serves authentic island cuisine. The only restaurant on Barbados in an authentic chattel house, Ragamuffins is tiny, funky, lively, and informal. The broiled T-bones are juicy and perfectly flavored; there's always an offering of fresh fish; and vegetarians can enjoy stir-fried vegetables with noodles. Other highlights include blackened fish, the local version of a spicy West Indian curry, and a zesty jerk chicken salad. The kitchen is within sight of the bar -- which is a popular meeting spot most evenings for vacationers and locals alike.
Address: 1st St., Holetown, St. James, Barbados
Phone: 246/432-1295
Daphne's
The chic and glamorous Caribbean outpost of the famed London eatery is wedged between the Tamarind Cove Hotel and its sister hotel, the House. The owners of The House hotel operate this sexy, intimate outpost of the fabled London eatery. The service is flawless, and the setting on the beach idyllic. The coconut-shell lampshades and Indonesian batiks evoke Bali. For greater privacy, silk curtains surround the tables.
| Chef Marco Festini is a whiz, turning out memorable dishes based on fresh ingredients, either local or imported. The pasta dishes get raves, especially the linguine with seafood and the pappardella (wide ribbon noodles) with rabbit ragout and black olives. The chef's most successful main dishes are grilled mahimahi with Marsala, peperonata, and zucchini; or the sesame-seed-encrusted tuna with arugula and tomatoes. We've also enjoyed the grilled tiger shrimp with Mediterranean salsa and couscous. |
Light meals, salads, and half-portions of pasta are available at lunch. The extensive wine list features both regional Italian and fine French selections. Reservations essential.
Address: Paynes Bay, St. James, Barbados
Phone: 234/432-2731