Above: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Every Caribbean island has its share of great eateries. But if you’re visiting a Caribbean destination solely for food, you generally like to have a high concentration of restaurants all within a short radius. So we thought we’d put together this year’s ranking of the 10 best cities in the Caribbean for food (as opposed to a list of best islands for food, which might look a bit different). These cities are culinary metropoles; foodie destinations in their own right. Do you have a favourite Caribbean food city? Did we leave any place out? Tell us in the comments section.
Port of Spain, Trinidad
It might not be the first thing you think of when you hear Port of Spain, but the city’s food is, in a word, exceptional. Whether you’re looking for the Caribbean’s best street food, or searching for haute cuisine from cultures around the world, Trinidad’s capital just might be the culinary capital of the Caribbean right now.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
There are top-notch restaurants across the city of San Juan; innovative chefs in Condado; old-school eateries in Old San Juan; a range of options at La Placita. You really can’t go wrong wherever you end up.
Kingston, Jamaica
A new generation of young Jamaican chefs is helping to forge a new culinary identity for Kingston, and taking traditional Jamaican foods into the 21st century. Of course, Kingston’s street food is also incredible. Tourists still mostly head to Montego Bay, but if Kingston can keep it up, they’ll start heading south very soon.
Fort de France, Martinique
Authentic French cuisine; intoxicating Creole flavours. Martinique will give you a culinary experience you really won’t find anywhere else in the region. (And you can’t ignore the best bakeries in the Caribbean).
Kralendijk, Bonaire
You might not expect to see the capital of tiny Bonaire on this list — but Bonaire is a superb dining destination. A wonderful blend of classic Dutch food, European refinement and local Caribbean flavour.
Nassau
Like Port of Spain, Nassau has a nice mix of street food and haute cuisine. You can spend the afternoon eating cracked conch on Potters Cay and then head to a five-star restaurant in the evening.
Christiansted, St Croix
St Croix has one of the region’s highest concentrations of talented young chefs, and, though it’s happened under the radar, St Croix has become a major player on the region’s food scene.
Willemstad, Curacao
Like its Dutch Caribbean neighbour, Bonaire, Curacao has a delicious cocktail of European and Caribbean food. And its walkability makes it even better for culinary exploration.
Grand Case, Saint Martin
Grand Case is more of a town than a city, but it punches far above its weight in the restaurant department, with far more excellent eateries than you’d ever expect in such a small area.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic’s capital is home to more terrific restaurants than you can count, with more and more chefs putting their own spins on the mainstays of Dominican food.