Insight Guides: Pocket St Lucia - Insight Guides (2016)

RESTAURANTS

You will never be far from somewhere to eat, but the greatest concentration of restaurants is in Rodney Bay, where a week’s holiday is not long enough to try them all. Below is a selection of restaurants, divided into three categories according to the price of a main course:

$$$ = over US$30 $$ = US$15-30 $ = less than US$15

CASTRIES

Auberge Seraphine $$-$$$ Vielle Bay, Pointe Seraphine; tel: 758-453 2073; www.aubergeseraphine.com. A lovely place with an international menu, popular with business visitors and tourists. Overlooks the marina, best at twilight when you can watch the yachts, roosting egrets, and departing cruise ships. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Brown Sugar $$ Vigie Cove, tel: 758-458 1031; www.brownsugarrestaurantandbar.com. Off the beaten track but delightful outdoor waterfront dining overlooking the boats in the harbour. Casual and friendly, run by a husband and wife team. Good food with an island emphasis and excellent service. Open daily 11am-2.30pm, 7-11pm for food, bar open all day.

The Coal Pot $$$ Vigie Marina; tel: 758-452 5566; www.coalpotrestaurant.com. French cuisine with a Caribbean twist. One of the oldest restaurants, popular with local business people for lunch and visitors for dinner. Open Mon-Fri for lunch and dinner, Sat dinner only.

The Pink Plantation House $$ The Morne, Chef Harry Drive; tel: 758-452 5422. Up on the hill in lush gardens overlooking Castries harbour with a pleasant breeze and glorious view from the veranda where tables are set. The food is varied, tasty and plentiful while the service is attentive and friendly. Owned by a ceramicist; you can see her workshop and buy her work. Open Mon-Thu 11.30am-3pm, Fri 11.30am-9pm, Sun 9am-noon. Reservations advised.

RODNEY BAY AND NORTH

Big Chef $$$ Reduit Drive, Rodney Bay, tel: 758-450 0210; www.bigchefsteakhouse.com. Popular, busy and with a great atmosphere, here you can eat the most tender, aged, Angus beef steaks plus a variety of seafood and fish, accompanied by a good selection of international wines. Open daily from 6pm. An attached tapas bar, Tapas on the Bay, www.tapasonthebay.com, has a selection of appetizers, sherries and cigars with a happy hour 4-6pm.

Blue Monkey Café $ JQ Mall, Rodney Bay, tel: 758-4854600. There are good coffee and juices on offer here - the cappuccinos are popular. Also good for breakfast, lunch or a later meal. Filling breakfasts include stuffed toasted baguettes or burger buns which will set you up for the day. For lunch try a hearty soup, a roti or a tasty salad. Outdoor seating only but umbrellas for shade. Open daily 7am-10pm.

The Cliff at Cap $$$ Cap Maison, Smugglers Cove Drive, Cap Estate, tel: 758-457 8681; www.thecliffatcap.com. Fine dining with nouveau French Caribbean fusion cuisine in a pleasant clifftop setting overlooking the sea. Smart, but families welcome and children eat for free if eating with their parents, or there is an early sitting for youngsters 5.30-6.30pm on request. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Delirius $$-$$$ Rodney Bay Village, tel: 758-451 3354; www.deliriusstlucia.com. Primarily a bar with award-winning bartenders, colourful with great cocktails and other drinks, but also offering a range of food, from burgers, ribs and steaks to their signature fresh fish and seafood. Conveniently located in the middle of the nightlife strip, it has a lively vibe. Open for lunch and dinner.

Elegance Café $$-$$$ Massade, Gros Islet, tel: 758-450 9864; www.facebook.com/Elegancecafesaintlucia. Unpretentious but comfortably smart restaurant with indoor or outdoor dining and bar. The Indian chef creates a range of delicious and flavoursome dishes, while more international options are also available. Special requests happily accommodated. Open Mon-Sat lunch and dinner until 9pm.

Flavours of the Grill $$ Marie Therese St, Gros Islet, tel: 758-284 7906; www.grillflavours.com. A casual spot set in a traditional painted wooden cottage with some tables on the veranda outside and some indoors, but all open to the air. Hearty menu items include grilled fish, chicken, curry goat and sometimes lobster, served with local side dishes such as ground provisions or rice and peas. Reservations advised. Open Mon-Thu, Sat noon-10pm, Fri noon-1am.

Jambe de Bois $-$$ Pigeon Island National Landmark, tel: 758-452 0321. Seafront cafe serving St Lucian specialities in the park. A pleasant place to take a break after hiking up the hill, to sit and watch the boating activity in the bay, whether for drinks, lunch or later for dinner with reservation. There is good snorkelling just offshore, so you can make a day of it. Not a place to go if you are in a hurry.

Jacques Waterfront Dining (Froggie Jacques) $$$ Rodney Bay Village, tel: 758-458 1900; www.jacquesrestaurant.com. Lovely setting at the end of Reduit Beach by the entrance to the marina, waterfront dining. A long-established restaurant offering fusion French and Caribbean food, although it has relocated since the original Vigie building burned down. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-10pm.

The Naked Fisherman $$-$$$ Cap Maison Resort & Spa, Smugglers Cove, Cap Estate, tell 758-457 8694; http://nakedfishermanstlucia.com. A pricey beach bar and grill set on a delightful cove. There are 92 steps down to the beach and people tend to stay a while once arrived, before climbing back up again. The food is good and varied, from gourmet burgers and salads to elegant seafood dishes for lunch with extra meat dishes for supper. Open daily, lunch 12.30pm-4pm, dinner Thu-Sat 6-9.30pm.

Razmataz $-$$$ Rodney Bay, opposite the Royal St Lucian Hotel, tel: 758-452 9800; www.razmatazrestaurant.com. Long-established tandoori restaurant with a chef from Nepal, popular with British tourists needing a good curry. Lots of flavoursome dishes and good-sized portions. Open air dining with Indian décor and tables on covered veranda. Happy hour 5-7pm with light bites at the bar. Open 5-11pm, closed Tue.

Spice of India $$-$$$ Bay Walk Mall, Rodney Bay Village, tel: 758-458 4243; http://spiceofindiastlucia.com. Excellent Indian food prepared by chefs from India with imported ingredients, while taking advantage of local delicacies such as crab and shrimp. Good meat dishes but also good for vegetarians with lots of tasty options. Friendly and hospitable service, very popular so reservations advised. Open daily except Mon lunch, noon-3.45pm, 6pm-onwards.

La Terrasse $$-$$$ Seagrape Ave, Rodney Bay, tel: 758-572 0389; www.laterrassestlucia.com. A small and intimate inn with romantic French restaurant. French chef Thomas prepares delicious and authentic dishes. Reservations recommended. Open from 6.30pm, closed Tue.

The Wharf $-$$ Gros Islet Highway, Choc Bay, tel: 758-450 4844. A casual beach bar and restaurant next to Villa Beach Cottages, serving snacks such as sandwiches or roti, or full meals with local specialities as well as more international fare. Relaxed and friendly, it can get lively at night when there is often karaoke or live music and dancing. Beach chairs available if you want to spend the day there. Open daily 9am-late.

Wingz-N-Tingz $-$$ Seagrape Ave, Rodney Bay, tel: 758-451 8200; wingzntingz@hotmail.com. A good place to come for fast food: marinated chicken wings cooked on the barbeque with a variety of sauces, although there are other dishes such as catch of the day and the green banana salad should be tried. Excellent fresh juices or a cold Piton beer to wash it down. Occasional live music.

MARIGOT BAY

Rainforest Hideaway $$$ Marigot Bay, north side, tel: 758-451 4485; www.rainforesthideawaystlucia.com. Reached by complimentary ferry boat, this is a romantic location on the water. Food is good, using local ingredients, and the service is exemplary. Come for a special night out, perhaps by water taxi from the north - a private sunset cruise. Live entertainment two nights a week. Reservations required, open daily Dec-mid-May from 6pm, less often in low season.

SOUFRIÈRE AND ENVIRONS

The Beacon $-$$ Columbette, Soufrière, tel: 758-286 9659; www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beacon-Restaurant-Tranquil-Villas-Maranatha-Garden. On the main road from the north to Soufrière and a convenient place to stop for lunch while on a tour of the island, so often busy with coach parties. Perched up high, it has a fantastic view over the town and bay to the Pitons beyond. Lunch is usually a set-price buffet of local food, all tasty and well prepared. Their peaceful Maranatha Garden has a beautiful display of tropical plants.

Boucan Restaurant & Bar $$-$$$ Hotel Chocolat, Rabot Estate, tel: 758-457 1624, www.hotelchocolat.com. This restaurant definitely has the ‘wow’ factor. It is on a working cocoa plantation where the menu is cocoa-inspired for both sweet and savoury dishes and drinks, using locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Perched high up with spectacular views of the Pitons, the minimalist design allows you to concentrate on the gourmet food or your sunset cocktail. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks.

Le Café $-$$ 26 Bay St, Soufrière, tel: 758-723 0750. A small, friendly café offering breakfast, lunch and snacks with lovely home made cakes and good coffee and drinks. At night, by reservation, you can have a candlelit, set price, three-course meal including wine. Order in advance which meat you want and it comes with all the local accompaniments, such as provisions, lentils, macaroni and vegetables.

Dasheene $$$ Ladera Resort, tel: 758-459 6600; www.ladera.com. Award-winning restaurant with innovative dishes using fresh local ingredients. Breathtaking views of the Pitons. Live music at dinner. Open for breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, Sun brunch buffet.

Fedo’s $ New Development, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 5220. In the residential area, off the road which leads to the Botanical Gardens, ask locally for directions. Look for a blue and white painted house. Local lunches, everything fresh, tasty, filling and cheap. A good place to try island home cooking. Open for lunch Mon-Sat.

Hummingbird $$-$$$ Hummingbird Beach Resort, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 7985; http://istlucia.co.uk. A pleasant spot by the sea with a view of the Pitons across Soufrière Bay. Good for a meal or just drinks to watch the sunset from the Lifeline Bar. Creole specialities and the fish and seafood are fresh and tasty. Service can be slow. Open for lunch and dinner.

Jade Mountain $$$ Jade Mountain, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 4000; www.jademountainstlucia.com. Luxury hotel restaurant, reservations required. Lunch is the better option because you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Pitons from the restaurant perched on top of this futuristic resort. Stay until sunset and leave when it gets dark. Dinner is a set menu and expensive.

Jardin Cacao Restaurant at Fond Doux Holiday Plantation $$-$$$ Soufrière, tel: 758-459 7545; www.fonddouxestate.com. Lush tropical setting in plantation gardens with birds and wildlife. Organic fruits and vegetables from the estate are used in the cooking. Many visitors are on a plantation tour with a buffet lunch included, but you can also have à la carte - the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for hotel guests and others with reservations. Live music Sat evening.

The Mango Tree $$-$$$ Stonefield Estate Resort, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 7037; www.stonefieldresort.com. On the hillside with views of Petit Piton. Relaxed atmosphere with local dishes such as spicy roti, using homegrown organic produce. Vegan options. Barbecue and entertainment on Thu, steel pan on Sat. Open daily 7.30am-10pm.

Martha’s Tables $$ Jalousie Rd, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 7270; www.marthastables.com. Under Petit Piton, this is a good place to stop for a local lunch if you’re in the area. This is home cooking - choose your main dish and lots of side dishes come with it. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm.

Orlando’s $$$ Cemetery Rd, Fond Bernier, Soufrière, tel: 758-459 5955; www.orlandosrestaurantstl.com. Small, cosy and intimate, this is the best independent restaurant in the area. Orlando serves up delectable gourmet creole meals, tasting menus and simpler fare for lunch, using ingredients bought in Soufrière market. Excellent service. Open Tue-Sun from 6pm, also lunch from noon with reservation.

VIEUX FORT AND SOUTH COAST

The Reef Beach Café $-$$ Anse De Sables, tel: 758-454 3418; www.slucia.com/reef. Casual beach cafe with Caribbean fare such as saltfish, bakes, seafood salad and T-bone steak; there is also an à la carte menu available for dinner. Internet access and wheelchair access.

EAST COAST

Whispering Palm $$-$$$ Fox Grove Inn, Mon Repos, tel: 758-455 3271; www.foxgroveinn.com. A good lunch stop if touring this side of the island. Eat indoors or on the balcony for lovely views down to the east coast. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.