Some countries are culinary destinations; some islands are culinary destinations; and some hotels are culinary destinations. The Caribbean is full of such hotel properties — the ones that view cuisine as integral to hospitality (and sometimes even more than that). These are the places where the food alone is worth the trip. It’s time for our second annual list of the Best Caribbean Hotels For Food, and this time, we’ve expanded it to bring you even more terrific culinary retreats.
Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Blue by Eric Ripert, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, is just the beginning. There is Periwinkle, the resort’s Italian eatery; Seven, perfect for brunch; Taikun, a world-class sushi spot. As you can see, there is a culinary world all right on the beautiful Seven Mile Beach.
Graycliff — Bahamas
It’s only fitting that Graycliff would be on this list, since it began its life as a restaurant (the first five-star restaurant in the region, to be exact). Nassau’s Graycliff is a Caribbean institution, with an ever-expanding menu of culinary delights, from a Brazilian churrascaria to its signature fine-dining eatery. It even has an authentic Neopolitan pizzeria. (And for dessert, Graycliff has its own chocolate factory).
Cap Maison — St Lucia
Exquisite gastronomy in plain view of the beautiful green landscape of St Lucia. Cap Maison is a destination because of its signature restaurant, the Cliff at Cap, one of the best in the Caribbean and one that remains on the cutting edge of defining Caribbean cuisine.
Belmond La Samanna — St Martin
It’s no surprise to see a hotel in St Martin on this list — as one of the region’s culinary Meccas. And La Samanna, part of the recently-rebranded Orient-Express hotel collection, always serves up delectable food with a French-style attention to gastronomic perfection.
Sugar Mill — British Virgin Islands
We recently named Sugar Mill the number one Caribbean boutique hotel for 2014, and it was in large part due to its fantastic restaurant. This is a warm, inviting hotel that manages to convey those qualities directly into the cuisine.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa — Anguilla
Yes, cuisine is at the heart of this resort on Anguilla’s Rendezvous Bay. It’s home to several terrific restaurants, including Tokyo Bay and Le Bistro at Santorini, and, to boot, it even has its own hydroponic farm. And for a real culinary adventure, you need to try the resort’s Chef’s Table experience.
Eden Rock — St Barth
It’s no secret that St Barth is home to a multitude of great restaurants, and the Eden Rock’s signature eatery, On the Rocks, is right at the top, thanks to a menu by Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Cap Est Lagoon Resort — Martinique
Relais and Chateaux properties are focused on food, and that’s particularly true at Cap Est, home to two restaurants under the stewardship of Chef Guillaume Bregeat — seafood-centric Campeche and Belem, which offers a world’s worth of flavours, right on the water.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Mexico
Forget everything you think you know about all-inclusive resorts. The cuisine at the Grand Velas rivals that of any property in the region, with a focus on truly gourmet dining. The culinary experience is under the supervision of executive chef Patrick Louis and a staff of top-flight chefs from all over the world.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis
A Caribbean classic, the Four Seasons offers a globe’s worth of food within a small area; spectacular West Indian fare at Mango (along with an even better setting), Italian at Neve and continental at Coral Grill. Simply put, you’ll have a great meal wherever you sit down at this hotel.
One & Only Ocean Club — Bahamas
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s other signature outpost in the Caribbean, the One & Only has exceptional food — whether you’re eating perched above the sea at Dune or ordering room service.
Young Island Resort — St Vincent and the Grenadines
This hidden gem on Young Island off the coast of St Vincent is a throwback to the West Indies most people only dream about. The food is a wonderful homage to traditional Caribbean food, always served in the hotel’s famous palapas.
Boucan By Hotel Chocolat
It’s hard not to love a hotel based around chocolate. And Boucan delivers, far beyond the benefits of the cocoa bean. Of course, at the signature Boucan restaurant, cocoa is an ever-present ingredient.
Frangipani Beach Resort — Anguilla
You only have to walk for a few steps from your room to reach Straw Hat, one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean, a culinary laboratory that is always putting new spins on traditional Caribbean fare, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Regent Palms — Turks and Caicos
The Regent Palms’ Parallel 23 is an exceptional eatery serving cutting-edge Caribbean fusion food, while the Plunge restaurant serves exceptional poolside fare.
Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana — Dominican Republic
It’s unusual for a hotel with less than 100 rooms to have four top-notch restaurants, but that’s precisely the case at this beautiful property in the Uvero Alto area of Punta Cana. The culinary offerings are diverse, with everything from modern-style Dominican cuisine to beachfront comfort food.
Half Moon — Jamaica
This Montego Bay masterpiece is home to a plethora of dining options, including the fabulous Sugar Mill, the Italian-style Il Giardino, Omar Sybblis’ flavourful, Jamaican-accented Pepperpot and the Seagrape Terrace seafood restaurant.
Ladera — St Lucia
Ladera is home to the famous Dasheene, which makes this hotel a culinary destination its own right. Open for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Nigel Mitchel’s cooking is all about the local, with an emphasis on native ingredients and St Lucian originals, always prepared in inspired fashion.
Montpelier Plantation and Beach — Nevis
Another Relais and Chateaux jewel, this boutique on a hillside in Nevis may be located on a centuries-old sugar plantation, but the food is as innovative and creative as it gets in the Caribbean.
La Toubana — Guadeloupe
This is Guadeloupe’s most luxurious hotel, and the food is equally impressive, led by the terrific Le Grand Bleu eatery, known for its fresh lobster, along with a casual snack bar and beachfront lounge. (The latter specializes in Creole cooking).
Sandals Whitehouse Resort — Jamaica
Sandals resorts are known for having great food, and the Whitehouse property is at the top of the list, with a very high standard across Sandals’ signature offerings like the Italian Giuseppe’s and the Caribbean-inspired Eleanor’s.
St Regis Bahia Beach Resort — Puerto Rico
It’s the trifecta on this list for Jean-Georges, whose Fern restaurant leads the excellent culinary offerings at the St Regis Bahia Beach, along with the Mediterranean-style Molasses and the sunny Seagrapes eatery.
Nisbet Plantation Beach Club — Nevis
The venerable Nisbet Plantation is a nod to the Old Caribbean on the island of Nevis, with three great restaurants. Of course, it’s the Great House that steals the show, as one of the region’s memorable dining experiences.
Cobblers Cove — Barbados
This Relais and Chateaux property is notable in that the entire culinary team hails from Barbados, led by executive chef Michael Harrison, along with Jason Joseph and Carlisle Cumberbatch. Harrison himself studied under Chef Michel Roux in London. And the result is a stellar dining experience at the hotel’s Camelot restaurant.
Avila Hotel — Curacao
This popular Curacao hotel, best known for its famous blues bar, has a host of eateries on property, including the Belle Terrace Restaurant and a number of bar/restaurants. While Belle Terrace has more of a European style, the Blues Bar is all about “soul in your food,” as the property says (with live jazz only adding to the experience).