News

The BVI’s Coolest New Eatery is a Road Town Rooftop

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - September 8, 2018 - 10:28 am

By Alexander Britell

There’s the sort of soundtrack you’d expect to find in Peckham or Paris, with panoramic views of brilliant green hills and tables hand-built from wine barrels.

On a hot afternoon in Tortola, this is the coolest place in town, a who’s who of Road Town and a buzzing culinary hotspot.

If you recognize the uniforms, it’s because they’re inspired by those from the legendary Calmos Cafe in St Martin, a favorite of Chef Regis Bourdon.

This is The Rooftop by Brandywine, and it’s the newest hotspot in the British Virgin Islands.

If you recognize the name, that’s because The Rooftop is from the same team behind Tortola’s legendary Brandywine Estate restaurant, which closed after last year’s storms and is now on the road back to recovery.

A lunchtime appetizer of foie gras.

When Brandywine shuttered, its chef, Regis Bourdon, spent months spearheading an effort to feed meals to local kids and helping repair roofs in the BVI — and when the time came, he saw this empty rooftop in the Cutlass Building in Road Town, the next step pure inspiration.

Chef Regis Bourdon.

Bourdon and his team built the entire restaurant themselves: the box-shaped kitchen, the wine-barrel tables, everything.

The eatery has also been graced by artwork from local watercolorist Riona Welford, who has adorned the walls with intricate murals.

Bourdon and his team built all the tables by hand.

Today, it’s a chic bistro, with Mediterranean fare and a host of creative tapas dishes, including excellent French-focused fare.

“It’s very laid back,” Bourdon tells Caribbean Journal. “I like that it’s easy to move around the tables, you have easy access. It’s a place where people can buzz around.”

It’s become the place to see and be seen in Road Town, perfect for a meal or just some wine and tapas, a place where you can spend all afternoon.

So what will happen when Brandywine reopens?

Bourdon, a native of the South of France, says The Rooftop is here to stay.

Because it’s a place where staying for awhile is exceptionally easy.

— CJ

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


Royal Caribbean’s New Cruise Ship Has a Rooftop Bar, a Waterpark and the Largest Pool at Sea

star of the seas

You step into a glass dome floating high above the ocean. To your right, divers plunge from platforms. Above, aerialists twist through light. Somewhere behind you, a DJ is spinning beside a suspended infinity pool. This isn’t a dream — […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


Related Posts Norwegian Aqua in port.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Newest Ship Is Now Sailing to the Caribbean From Port Canaveral

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Aqua, has officially arrived at Port Canaveral in Florida. The launch comes as Caribbean cruise demand continues to rise, with major lines expanding service from Florida ports, including the recent high-profile launch of […]


The Tiny Caribbean Island of Anegada Is Filled With Jaw-Dropping, Uncrowded Beaches, Colorful Bungalows and More Lobster Than You Can Imagine 

the white sand beach on loblolly bay on the caribbean island of Anegada

The lobster is the first thing you notice on this Caribbean island. It’s everywhere, on every menu, on the signs and, at some establishments, right off the dock. It’s part of the identity here on the tiny Caribbean island of […]


This Home Just Hit the Market in the British Virgin Islands for $5.5M

the home is on great camanoe.

It’s one of the most striking listings in the British Virgin Islands: Indigo Point, and it’s now on the market.  The home, which was completely refurbished back in 2022, is listed with Christie’s International Real Estate British Virgin Islands for […]