For most travelers, it’s the number one destination-within-a-destination: the beach bar.
As travel trends ebb and flow, it’s a constant, somehow managing to survive as the manifestation of our most romantic Caribbean travel fantasies.
Because there’s just something about a cocktail at the edge of the sand.
And these beach bars are the epitome of the art form, from shacks in the middle of the ocean to buzzy beach lounges to classic beach bars.
With this list, we’ve tried to mix it up, featuring some true Caribbean institutions and a number of newer beach bars that should definitely be on your travel radar.
That includes another welcome new trend: the “gourmet” beach bar, where high-level cuisine marries with toes-in-the-sand cocktail culture, something that’s increasingly popular across the region.
Here are our favorite beach bars in the Caribbean in 2022.
#1: Bikinis on the Beach, St John, USVI It’s the hottest beach bar in the Caribbean since the pandemic, a full-fledged destination beach bar set on one of the most beautiful stretches of sand and turquoise in St John. From the terrific cocktails to a great selection of cabanas, it’s quickly become an iconic, bucket-list stop in the region.
Roxxy Beach, St Maarten It doesn’t get any cooler than this Simpson Bay-area bar, which set a new standard for St Maarten when it debuted back in 2019 and continues to lead with outstanding DJs, gourmet food and a breezy, fun vibe. Plainly, it’s the best beach bar on either side of the island — and as good as it gets in the region.
Loose Mongoose, Tortola, BVI Set on the sands of Trellis Bay, Loose Mongoose is equal parts beach bar and world-class rum bar, a sleek modern outpost built in an impressively sustainable fashion. Downstairs is for cocktails and terrific food, with the upstairs home to the Honor Society, home to one of the best selections of cane spirits in all of the BVI.
Club Tropicana, Bonaire The flagship bar at Bonaire’s buzzing Delfins Beach Resort shares the kitchen with the Brass Boer, the Caribbean outpost of a three-Michelin-star eatery in The Netherlands. That makes for a rather marvelous combination of sophisticated Dutch Caribbean lounge and endlessly creative food.
Karibuni, St Martin It’s the height of the castaway fantasy: a rustic beach bar on a tiny beach-filled island, where the ti’ punch and the accras seem to flow forever. This is Karibuni, the signature beach bar on Pinel Island, just off the coast of Cul-de-Sac in Saint Martin. It’s the sort of place where you simply want to stay forever (and if you like, there’s a Karibuni hotel on the mainland).
Le Petibonum Martinique’s world-renowned beach bar isn’t just a work of art — it’s an example of true Caribbean resilience. When a fire damaged much of Le Petibonum last year, owner and star chef Guy Ferdinand quickly went to work, retrofitting the place with a food truck and remarkably recreating the spirit and quality that had come before. It’s still Martinique’s beach bar Mecca, and a Caribbean institution.
Jacqui O’s BeachHouse, Antigua The moment you walk into this signature Antigua beach bar , you feel it. It’s just a nice place to be, chic but in no way pretentious, with copious comfortable seating right on the sand and outstanding service. And did we mention it’s the home of the best burgers in Antigua?
The Soggy Dollar Bar, BVI You can’t do a list of beach bars in the Caribbean without “Soggy,” as it’s affectionately known by its thousands of die-hard fans around the globe, who come to the blindingly white sands of Jost Van Dyke’s White Bay in their dinghies just for the privilege of savoring the world’s greatest painkillers.
Catherine’s Cafe If you’ve been to Sheer Rocks, Antigua’s premier restaurant, you’ll immediately fall in love with its sister spot, Catherine’s Cafe, which has taken Sheer Rocks’ ultra-cool ambience and breathtaking food to the heart of Antigua’s beautiful Pigeon Point Beach, an instant hotspot on the island (and home to Antigua’s most celebrated Sunday brunch, too).
Yellow Sub, St Martin The newest hotspot on Orient Bay comes from the owners of Le Pressoir, St Martin’s premier restaurant, meaning you get world-class food in a lovely, laid-back setting at the edge of the sand. It’s also home to some of the best ti’ punches on the island.
Chat ’n Chill, Stocking Island, The Bahamas If you had to write a treatise on how to design a Caribbean beach bar, Chat ’n Chill would be on the cover. KB and Kwanza’s hotspot is just that good, delivering all of the essentials: from the conch burgers to signature garlic ‘slaw to the rustic chic design to an almost impossible to beat setting on the brilliant turquoise of Stocking Island off the coast of Great Exuma.
Pete’s Pub, Abaco South Abaco’s Little Harbour is a tiny slice of paradise, a calm maritime sanctuary anchored by this beloved beach bar and pub, where outstanding cocktails marry with delicious seafood. It’s also home to a wonderful sculpture workshop and gallery called The Foundry.
Iggies, St Thomas It’s a name that’s almost become synonymous with St Thomas: Bolongo, the legendary resort that’s easily the island’s most beloved place to stay. And it’s also home to another Caribbean classic: Iggies, which has been reincarnated just above the sand at the resort, a symbol of Bolongo’s infinite resilience — and a terrific place to spend a day.
Barracuda Beach Bar, Turks and Caicos North Caicos is another world entirely from nearby Providenciales, impossibly quiet and home to some truly spectacular beaches — including Whitby Bay, the home of the lovely Barracuda Beach Bar, set at the family-owned Pelican Beach Hotel.
Coccoloba Bar and Grill, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands The flagship beach bar at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, this is the hottest hotspot on Seven Mile Beach. It’s a mix of Caribbean beach bar and Mexican cantina, with superb tacos, a broad selection of tequilas and a lovely perch right above one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Shellona, St Barth It gets its name from its setting at Gustavia’s stunning Shell Beach, and it’s an intoxicating blend of Caribbean beach bar and Aegean lounge, with an all-day scene meant for mezzo, cocktails and frequent dips in the sea.
Peace n Plenty Beach Club, Stocking Island, Exuma, The Bahamas Yes, tiny Stocking Island is home to two different beach bars on this list, including the maritime outpost of the historic Peace n Plenty hotel in Georgetown, where you can take a quick water taxi from the hotel’s dock and instantly be transported to your wildest beach bar fantasy.
Floyd’s Pelican Bar, Jamaica It’s built on stilts in the middle of the sea, now celebrating two decades in its perch about a mile off the coast of Parottee Bay on the south coast of the island. It’s like nothing else in the region, a local and traveler favorite, and the guarantor of an immediately memorable afternoon (especially if you’re staying at the nearby Jakes Hotel.)
Jellyfish, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic It’s almost hard to believe this place is here, tucked among a sea of megaresorts on Punta Cana’s Bavaro Beach. But if you make your way down the dirt road, you’ll discover a funky-looking thatched-roof building that looks like a jellyfish, home to a a multi-level bar and lounge and some of the best seafood on the entire island, all caught by local fishermen.
The Tranquil Turtle, Green Turtle Cay, The Bahamas You can only get to Green Turtle Cay by boat, and for years the signature beach bar at the Bluff House resort has drawn boaters from across The Bahamas. The story here is Bahamian comfort food and delicious cocktails, the perfect recipe for a lazy afternoon on the Sea of Abaco.
Ozmosis Beach Bar, Turks and Caicos Turks and Caicos’ tiniest beach bar is a hidden gem, set at the luxe Palms Resort on Grace Bay Beach. There are just a few stools right on the sand — make sure you get one for a sunset cocktail.
Da Pink Chicken, Cat Island, The Bahamas It’s all about simplicity at Cat Island’s greatest beach bar: it’s open just on the weekends, for three hours a day, serving ultra-cold Kaliks and lazy afternoons to beach lovers on Cat Island. Or, as the bar puts it, it’s a “good place to do nothin’.”
The Naked Fisherman, Saint Lucia It’s one of the more dramatic settings of any bar in the Caribbean, nestled at the foot of the cliffs at Saint Lucia’s fabulous Cap Maison hotel. The story here is all about gastronomy, with magnificent food that’s a mix of Italian and local favorites — and even better cocktails, including the signature TNF Rum Punch.
Sunshine’s, Nevis Like many of the region’s greatest beach bars, this one is all about its wonderfully charismatic proprietor, the eponymous Sunshine, who has been passing out his, well, punchy rum punch called the Killer Bee to patrons for decades in this sought-after spot on Pinneys Beach. Just be careful — the Killer Bees quickly catch up with you.
La Playwood, Grenada Tucked at the entrance to BBC Beach (also known as Morne Rouge), this is the essence of the beach shack, with great food, great music and all the Rivers rum you will ever want.