When you think of the Caribbean, maybe you think of the beach, or the small town, or the offshore cay — even if you live in the Caribbean. But at CJ, we want people to rethink the Caribbean — to understand what an incredibly diverse, vibrant place it is — one with beaches and small towns, but also one with pulsing, energetic cities. Particularly ones with great food. So for our second annual Cities For Food list, we looked at a number of factors that make a city great for food — from a variety of restaurants to authentic street food. But while last year’s Cities For Food list placed a stronger emphasis on street food, this year’s list emphasizes a number of factors, including walkability, diversity of experience, diversity of cuisine and comfort. Here are CJ’s best cities for food in 2014.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
This is perhaps the most cosmopolitan place in the Caribbean, and one of the region’s true urban centres. San Juan is home to hole-in-the-wall eateries alongside haute cuisine outposts, with great street food and a walkable, easy-to-navigate map. If you’re looking to spend a weekend on a food adventure, this is your city this year.
Grand Case, St Martin
Ok, so it’s not quite a city. But the main thoroughfare of this town in French St Martin is lined with enough spectacular restaurants to fill a major city, from authentic Creole fare to innovative Alsatian cuisine. You can find it all in Grand Case.
Fort-de-France, Martinique
This is one of the more magical cities in the Caribbean. It’s on the small side, but beats with two hearts: one boldly Creole, one confidently French. And for the culinary traveler, it’s a true adventure: classic French bakeries, seaside Caribbean cafes, tiny garden bistros and some seriously good restaurants, led by La Cave a Vins, one of the best anywhere in the Caribbean. And it’s all built in a familiar French urban grid.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
One of the most bustling places in the region, this city on the Caribbean sea is home to a host of fine restaurants, street booths and local Mayan eateries. It’s a veritable cornucopia for the senses, and its Quinta Avenida boulevard is one of the most walkable places anywhere in the Caribbean.
Cartagena, Colombia
It’s one of the new economic engines of the Caribbean, and this city is also a haven for the gastronomically inclined. It’s notable chiefly for its diversity, on a single block you can find Peruvian, French, Colombian and Asian restaurants, and everything in between. This is a modern Caribbean city with a much older soul.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic’s metropolis is truly the Caribbean city that never sleeps. And when it’s not sleeping, it’s usually eating, at small cafes or cutting-edge restaurants or funky eateries like Meson de Bari (above) , whether in the business district or the Zona Colonial.
Willemstad, Curacao
One of the Caribbean’s more beautiful cities boasts a nice mix of outdoor cafes, restaurants and street food. It’s the latter that stands out, from batido food trucks to French fry stands. It’s eminently walkable, too; Willemstad has the feel of a mainland Dutch city, but never fails to remind you you’re in the Caribbean, especially when you’re eating fresh fruit at the floating market.
Port of Spain, Trinidad
When it comes to street food, Port of Spain is the Caribbean leader. Corn soup, doubles, pholourie, roti … everything you can think of. And it also has an up-and-coming restaurant scene, led by one of our favourite Caribbean chefs, Khalid Mohammed, whose Chaud restaurants are making everyone rethink Caribbean cuisine for the better.
Nassau, Bahamas
This city was home to the Caribbean’s first five-star restaurant, Graycliff, and it hasn’t lost a step since, with a versatile array of eateries from classic French fare to modern Bahamian fusion. And the trip to Potters Cay for fresh conch is worth the trip alone.
Kralendijk, Bonaire
The smallest city on this list is a hidden gem in the region. What it lacks in size it makes up for in diversity and creativity – Bonaire’s tiny capital has terrific restaurants featuring cuisines from at home and around the world, and it also has Caribbean Journal’s #1 restaurant in the Caribbean last year: the exquisite At Sea.
Gustavia, St Barth
St Barth is not a big place, but the quality of food is overwhelming. Even in the tiny capital, Gustavia, food is not in short supply, from classic French cafes to superb sushi to Creole cooking.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston’s star quality is its street food, along with a growing number of young chefs alongside some established culinary veterans. It’s a bit more of an adventure to visit, but worth the trip.