St Lucia / Restaurants

St Lucia has a good range of restaurants in all conceivable styles and prices, some of them in fantastic locations around the island’s stunning terrain. A good handful of them (including some of the hotel dining rooms) offer fine dining that measures up to the top standards around the Caribbean. Then there is a whole host of establishments where you can get a lively evening out. Rodney Bay Village is the busiest area. The streets are lined with very lively bars and restaurants, while around the lagoon several other restaurants have quieter, romantic settings on the waterfront. Elsewhere around St Lucia you will find restaurants set on hillsides or tucked away on lagoons and along the Caribbean coast. Fast food outlets have established themselves in the malls and busy areas.

In addition to the mainly international cuisine in these restaurants, there is also good local Creole food on offer in St Lucia, in both restaurant settings and evenings out – the two “fish frys” in Gros Islet and Anse La Raye are definitely worth visiting for something a bit different - or you can try the more local affair in Dennery on Saturdays.

During the high season it is advisable to book ahead at the most popular restaurants. Bear in mind that tipping for good service, usually 10%, is the norm.

The cost of an average main course (excluding steak and lobster) is as follows: Inexpensive, less than US$15, Moderate - $15-35, Expensive - $35 plus

Here is a selection of our recommended St Lucia restaurants:

Gros Islet

Big Chef Steakhouse, moderate-expensive - Wooden waterfront setting for steaks and a variety of pasta, seafood and salads.

Bosun’s, inexpensive-moderate - Casual café with a view over the marina, great coffee, bar. Good spot for lunch and casual dinner, also snack menu.

Buzz Seafood and Grill, moderate-expensive - Pretty setting in a Creole-style house with louvers on pegs, indoor and outdoor seating, with consistently good food and a decent wine list. A wide variety of dishes from around the world - steaks, rack of lamb, vegetarian and West Indian dishes, delicious lobster and crab cakes, homemade raviolis (spinach, lobster). One of the nicest restaurants on the island. Reservations required.

Café Claude, inexpensive-moderate - Casual, rustic café with great coffee and a bar. Popular spot for lunch and casual dinner, snack menu.

Café Ole, Elena’s Ice Cream, inexpensive - Elena’s marina outlet, set on wooden decking looking out over the yachts. Italian-style gelateria, best ice cream on the island, international and some special local flavours ranging from Cointreau-orange to soursop, lime, mango, coconut and passion fruit. Also excellent coffee. Light snacks: sandwiches, salads, pastries, toasties.

Capone’s, inexpensive-moderate - Friendly restaurant set in an art deco-style building with a 1930s gangland theme - don’t be surprised if your bill turns up in a violin case. Nice atmosphere. Serves classic Italian pizza and pasta.

Charthouse, expensive - Long-established favourite, busy but always satisfying. Steak, seafood, barbecue baby back ribs, roast beef, fresh lobster in season, waterfront setting.

Chic, Royal St Lucian Hotel, expensive - Art-inspired contemporary setting offering high-quality international food with a West Indian twist. Sophisticated dining, gracious presentation and an extensive wine cellar.

The Coal Pot, Vigie Marina, expensive - Fine French cuisine in a lovely waterfront setting looking on to the limpid water of Castries harbour. Owner-run by Michelle and Xavier Ribot (the chef). Fresh Caribbean ingredients used to create simple, yet excellent, French menu. Great ambience, an open-air structure with walls of wood and stone decorated with Michelle’s colourful original Caribbean artwork. Well worth the visit.

Elena’s Italian Ice Cream & Coffee Shop, inexpensive - Set in the heart of Rodney Bay Village. Best ice cream on the island, international and local flavours ranging from Cointreau-orange to soursop, lime, coconut and passion fruit. Freshly ground coffee. Also light snacks, sandwiches, pastries, salads, toasties.

Henry’s La Panache, Gros Islet, inexpensive-moderate - A (roughly) weekly West Indian buffet held on their rustic outdoor veranda. Always fun.

Jambe de Bois, Pigeon Island, inexpensive - Friendly café, bar and restaurant on Pigeon Island, the National Landmark. Great spot to hang out after exploring Pigeon Island and swimming. Wind chimes, driftwood décor, plants and cats on a wooden deck next to the sea. Art gallery, internet and book swap, often live jazz on Sunday evenings.

Key Largo, moderate - Famous for its wood oven real Italian pizzas by Carlo Piazza. Casual lunch and dinner.

Laurel’s, Bois D’Orange, inexpensive - Very rustic and local setting, off the beaten track (on the road to La Brelotte Bay). Excellent place for local food, Laurel cooks herself and is famous for her Creole dishes for lunch (souse, green fig and salt fish) and for dinner, crayfish and lambi (conch).

Memories of Hong Kong, expensive - Open-sided Chinese restaurant serving authentic oriental food. Known for its consistently good quality meals. Has its own bar which serves a wide variety of spirits. Takeaway available.

Pizza Pizza, inexpensive - Fun atmosphere and welcoming towards families. Deep dish and regular pizzas, outdoor seating by the waterside and a children’s playground.

Razmataz Restaurant, moderate-expensive - Tandoori Indian specialities served in a Creole house. The Nepalese chef prepares a range of Indian dishes from a lamb vindaloo or chicken tikka masala to korma and naan breads. Also an excellent selection of vegetarian dishes.

Rumours, inexpensive - A sports bar offering bar snacks/food. Local hang out or “liming” spot to start or end the night, usually not really happening until around midnight.

Scuttlebutts, moderate - Bar/restaurant in Rodney Bay Marina, frequented by yachties, especially during the ARC Atlantic Rally for cruisers in December. Liming and dining.

Spinnakers Beach Bar & Carvery, moderate - Right on Reduit Beach, a great spot for sundowners and watching the sunset full on. Casual dining. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails.

Tao, The BodyHoliday at LeSPORT, expensive - Award-winning restaurant at the LeSport resort, offering Pacific Rim cuisine in a delightful upstairs dining room. Elegant presentation in a theme of black and white. Reserve a few days in advance.

The Captain’s Cellar Pub, Pigeon Island, inexpensive - Classic-style pub and bar situated in the original officers’ quarters. English pub fare, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Dolphins, Bay Gardens Beach Resort, expensive - Refined setting in Balinese style off the main drag at Rodney Bay. This seafood steakhouse offers fine dining before you head into the Red Room Piano Lounge for cocktails and light jazz. Closed on Mondays.

The Edge, expensive - Fine dining in a very attractive waterfront setting overlooking the inky night-time waters of Rodney Bay. Excellent cuisine in a fusion of Caribbean and European dishes (that they call Eurobbean), with close attention to detail. The island’s only sushi bar.

The Lime, inexpensive-moderate - Good, reasonably-priced food. Lunch and dinner menu and fast food kitchen with fresh St Lucian cuisine. Closed on Tuesdays. Bar and night club.

Castries and Marigot Bay

Chateau Mygo, Marigot Bay, moderate - Local restaurant set on a raised deck right above the lagoon. Easy hangout for yachties and people staying around the bay.

Jacques, Vigie Cove, expensive - Tranquil waterside dining, French owner/chef Jack, fusion of French and Caribbean cuisine.

JJ’s, Marigot Bay, moderate - Set on a covered deck on the waterfront in Marigot Bay, reached by a wooden walkway through the mangroves that is floodlit at night. Slightly formal air, with a good variety of local and international dishes. Also good pizzas. Themed parties some nights.

Kimlan’s, Castries, inexpensive - Excellent local restaurant with a nice balcony overlooking Derek Walcott Square in the middle of town. Hearty local/Creole fare and excellent fruit juices, nice spot to get out of the heat and bustle of town.

Oceana Restaurant & Lounge, Castries, inexpensive-moderate - Located in the historic Ridgeway House on La Toc Road with a breathtaking view over Castries and the north of the island. Affordable good quality dining.

Rainforest Hideaway, Marigot Bay, moderate-expensive - Boat access only to a lovely setting at the waterside on Marigot Bay, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering bar and grill during the day and excellent dining in the evenings.

St Lucia Bellyfull, Castries, inexpensive - Next to the bustling market. Offers vegetarian (rasta) food and juices.

The Wharf, Choc Bay, moderate - Great beach location on Choc Bay. Popular with local businessmen over lunch. Varied menu including international dishes. Famous for fish, shrimps and their burgers. Open 9am–6pm, Monday to Sunday.

Soufriere

Dasheene Restaurant, Ladera Resort, expensive - A breath-taking setting with views between the Pitons from 1,000 ft (can be fresh on winter evenings). Good innovative cuisine, a combination of St Lucian ingredients with modern cooking styles, created by award-winning Caribbean chef, Orlando Satchel.

Hummingbird Beach Resort, Soufrière, moderate-expensive - Friendly bar and restaurant overlooking a pool with stunning views to the Pitons. Creole and international menu and a vast array of interesting but powerful local cocktails. Try the award-winning “La Belle Amour” or the ominous sounding “Piton Peril”.

Mango Tree, Stonefield Estate, moderate-expensive - Very pretty terrace setting beneath the Pitons, recently extended to offer stunning views out to sea. Swedish chef Stina blends fresh local produce and home-grown organic vegetables to create a satisfying fusion cuisine. Different international themes, try the Creole night on a Monday or the Thursday night BBQ with a local shak shak band.

Vieux Fort and Atlantic side

The Reef & Bar, Anse de Sables, inexpensive - Bar/snacks, tropical cocktails and fresh seafood with a great beach location close to Hewanorra airport. Watch the surfers and kiters before taking off.

Ruby’s Bar, Kathy’s Hangout, Seaview Hideaway, all in Dennery, all inexpensive - If you are heading down the Atlantic coast, perhaps to Mamiku Gardens, the airport, or to the Vieux Fort area, you will find a small collection of local hangouts as you leave Dennery heading for Micoud. They make a great stop for lunch - barbecued fare, or whatever dish is available that day, including fish, chicken, pork and beef with a mound of vegetables.