We all love the beach, but there is so much more to discover in the Caribbean — and there’s nowhere better to experience the authentic Caribbean than some of its remarkable cities.
The Caribbean’s urban centers offer a mix of nightlife, culture, art and culinary adventure that will always reward the adventurous traveler. These are our favorites for 2017.
Santo Domingo
The Caribbean’s largest metro area is a pulsing, vibrant city with a modern, energetic vibe. But it’s also home to the Colonial Zone, the oldest city in the New World and a wonderful destination in its own right. The best trips to Santo Domingo combine both of these worlds.
What You Must Do:
Stay at the JW Marriott Santo Domingo
Eat at Pat’e Palo European Brasserie
Drink at the lobby bar at the Hostal Nicolas Ovando
Experience a walk around the Colonial Zone and its myriad sidewalk cafes and art galleries.
Fort-de-France
The beating heart of the French Caribbean, this city is ripped right out of a movie set, with a fascinating mix of bakeries, restaurants, shops and rum bars. It’s also a great jumping off point to see the rest of Martinique, particularly the beach town of Trois-Ilets just across the bay (with regular ferry service).
What You Must Do:
Stay at the Simon Hotel
Eat at La Table de Marcel
Drink at Le Vieux Foyal (and don’t miss the Thursday night biguine sessions)
Experience the cafe at the historic Imperatrice hotel and a visit to the La Favorite distillery.
Willemstad
Curacao is an interesting island — it’s as forward-thinking as any in the Caribbean but also boasts an old-school, historic feel — and this juxtaposition is nowhere clearer than in historic quarter of Curacao’s capital, Willemstad, a great walking city with a host of small bars, galleries, cafes and shopping (try both the Punda and Otrabanda neighborhoods).
What You Must Do:
Stay at the Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village and Spa
Eat at Gouverneur
Drink at Netto Bar (ask for the green rum)
Experience the Kura Hulanda Museum, the museum with the largest African collection in the Caribbean.
Nassau
While it’s a popular cruise port, Nassau remains under the radar as an urban destination for many travelers. But that’s beginning to change, with the debut of a host of new art galleries, a new artisan village at the Graycliff hotel and its always-top-level duty-free shopping.
What You Must Do:
Stay at the Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant
Eat at Cafe Matisse (and Graycliff)
Drink at Bullion, the top bar at the British Colonial Hilton
Experience Hillside House, brainchild of the Bahamas’ greatest artist, Antonius Roberts.
San Juan
There’s more here than just the wonderful Old San Juan. San Juan has become one of the Caribbean’s culinary capitals, with great chef-driven restaurants, cocktail bars and an increasingly hip shopping world.
What You Must Do:
Stay at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
Eat at Yantar
Drink at La Factoria
Experience coffee at Old San Juan’s Cafe Finca Cialitos