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SV-Zanshin
| Picture | Name & Link | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Virgin Islands | |||
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B-Line Bar | Little Jost van Dyke | Accessible only by dinghy, this small daytime bar is one of my favourites in the BVI. They've got a system which allows you to flip a bottle cap into a jar about 6 feet away - if you get the cap into the jar the drink is free. The view from the small sheltered beach is wonderful and I think that they plan on expanding the service to include food sometime soon. |
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Pirate's Bight | Norman Island | Accessible only by boat, it offers food and drink for the family along with a gift shop. Frequent live music. |
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William Thornton, aka the “Willie T” | Norman Island | Accessible only by dinghy, the Willie T is anchored in corner of The Bight and is renowned for wild parties. The days where ladies get free drinks if they jump naked off the upper deck might be over, but depending upon the night and the crowd it is a wild, wild place. While they do have food it is mainly a bar. Beware of mooring too close if you want to retire early. |
| Captain Mulligan's | Nanny Cay, Tortola | Located just outside of Nanny Cay Marina, it offers perhaps the best burgers on Tortola and is a great place to relax. It is a family friendly place much frequented by the local expatriate crowd. | |
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Pusser's | Various | With several locations it is the BVI's closest thing to a chain restaurant (and store, and bar) with the newest location taking over the old “Fat Hog Bob's” location at Hodge's Creek. While I'm not a rum person I do hear that they mix some mean drinks there. My favourite is the Marina Cay location and, when there, the Michael Beans Happy Arrrr show is not to be missed! |
| Peg Legs | Nanny Cay, Tortola | The actual physical bar has moved around several times since I was first there, but the location is great - both for viewing docking manoeuvres as well as for watching boats in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. While the new restaurant has gone upscale and the large and tasty pizzas are no longer on the menu, it is a fun place to dine and enjoy a cold beverage while talking with your bar neighbour. | |
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Trellis Bay Cyber Café | Trellis Bay, Tortola | The Cyber Café is not only the place to catch up on the internet ashore, they serve awesome sandwiches that are not to be missed. The goings-on at the beach can be watched from shaded outdoor seats or from the inside. Although I really don't see that much of a resemblance, I've been asked numerous times if I'm related to Jeremy, the proprietor - although we do share the same stylish haircut. |
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Rudi's Bar | High up, Tortola | The bar is situated high atop the hills in Tortola and has a wonderful view of the north shore, Jost van Dyke and (weather permitting) Anegada. While it is certainly a no-frills location the drinks are good and the setting cannot be beat. While their recommendation of Callwood's Arundel rum as a “fine drinking rum” might have been off the mark (the rum makes a fine paint stripper, though) I loved this place and returned several times (although I only had the rum once). |
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Tamarind Club Hotel | Tortola | This hotel features a pool side bar and is a great hangout for those with vehicular access. |
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Bomba Shack | Tortola | Bomba and his shack are known throughout the BVI and his Full Moon Parties have a well-deserved reputation even further from the shores of Tortola. This is certainly not a family-style bar. |
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Myett's | Cane Garden Bay | Right on the beach with live music and good food it is a fun place to relax and enjoy the sunset. |
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Quito's Gazebo | Cane Garden Bay | Right on the beach and next to the dinghy dock, Quito's has been a fixture in Cane Garden Bay for years. |
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Soggy Dollar Bar | White Bay, Jost van Dyke | The name comes from the time when people would swim ashore from their boats and pay with wet money and this bar is, next to Foxy's, the most well-known one in the BVI. White Bay is beautiful and the bar is on the beach, it is a favourite destination from day-trippers from the USVI as well as boats touring the BVI. Their painkiller is awesome and the atmosphere comfortable. |
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Corsairs Bar | Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke | I enjoy this bar, their pizza is awesome, the company at the bar and restaurant is always interesting and Vinny, the proprietor, ensures that things stay lively. |
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Foxys Bar | Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke | While it is beyond a doubt the most renowned restaurant and bar in the BVI it has become such a tourist attraction that its charms have been overshadowed by commercialism. Nonetheless, Foxy was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2009 for his services towards promoting and shaping the culture of the BVI and it was certainly deserved. |
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Mad Dog Café | Baths, Virgin Gorda | While it is just a small little spot of shade at the tope of the Baths, it serves great food and is a comfortable place to just “Chill”. |
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Top of the Baths | Baths, Virgin Gorda | An idyllic setting with incredible panoramic views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel and Tortola. The food is excellent, I have had the best Gazpacho of my life there! The walk up the path from the Baths is just far enough to make a cool drink and fine meal worthwhile. |
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Seddy's One Love | White Bay, Jost van Dyke | What better logo than “No Shoes, No Shirt, ... no Problem!”. The food is tasty and the atmosphere laid back, this is my favourite food in White Bay. |
| Mineshaft Café | SE Virgin Gorda | Located close to the old Copper mine, the view is outstanding and the food is befitting the location. | |
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The Bath & Turtle | Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda | For over month while I was waiting for my replacement rudder on my old boat to arrive this was my constant hangout. |
| The Rock Café | Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda | A fantastic setting, eating dinner nestled among the rocks for which the Baths are famous. The ambience and food are great at this restaurant. | |
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Saba Rock | North Sound, Virgin Gorda | This is one of my favourite hangouts in the BVI - both because of the proximity to my favourite anchorage and because the bar and restaurant is comfortable with friendly staff and acceptable prices plus good food. |
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Leverick Bay | North Sound, Virgin Gorda | Leverick Bay has two restaurants, and the upper level has some of the best steak that I have ever eaten - anywhere! The location and service is nonpareil! Downstairs is the Jumbies bar, with live music and a much more boisterous atmosphere. |
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Potters by the Sea | Anegada | Along with The Anegada Reef Hotel this serves excellent food and Anegada Lobster. This is one of the few places in the BVI where long pants and sleeves should be worn in the evening - not due to any formal attire requirements but because of the mosquitoes. |
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Anegada Reef Hotel | Anegada | Along with Potters by the Sea, this bar and restaurant serves excellent food and Anegada Lobster. This is one of the few places in the BVI where long pants and sleeves should be worn in the evening - not due to any formal attire requirements but because of the mosquitoes. |
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The Dove Restaurant & Bar | Road Town | A fine dining restaurant close to the main ferry terminal building with a great selection of wines. To date I've only been there once but it was among the best meals I've had in the BVI. |
| Picture | Name & Link | Location | Comments |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | |||
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Maho Bay Camps | Maho Bay, St. John | While climbing all those steps form the beach to the restaurant at the top of the hill is daunting and certainly works up a good appetite, the food selection, quality and quantity makes the trip worthwhile. I think I ate at this camp every night for a week, with a different menu each and every evening. |
| Picture | Name & Link | Location | Comments |
| Saint Martin (both sides) | |||
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La Sucrière | Marigot, St. Martin | The “Formule déjeuner” with a half baguette, jelly, coffee, butter and a croissant for €5.50 was my staple breakfast every morning. I would enjoy a cup or two of coffee and use the Wi-Fi internet connectivity. Later on in the day I'd drop by for something even sweeter and another coffee. |
| Bistro de la Mèr | Marigot, St. Martin | While they always had a barbecue going for grilled meats and fish, I tended to opt for the more traditional French meals and enjoyed the friendly service - despite my best attempts at French they always and inevitably responded to me in English. | |
| Blue Martini Bistro | Grand Case, St. Martin | The town of Grand Case is known for its plentiful and bountiful restaurants and I visited several while on St. Martin. The Blue Martini, while not at the upper end of the Guide Michelin scale, was comfortable and pleasant and had excellent Steak Tartare! | |
| Jimbo's Rock & Blues Café | Simpson Bay, St. Martin | The music is right to my taste and the crowd is a mix of local expatriates and sailors. I loved the food and their happy hour specials are very hard to beat. | |
| Topper's | Simpson Bay, St. Martin | Located close to the SMYC dinghy dock and Kim Sha beach, the food is tasty and price is right. | |
| Picture | Name & Link | Location | Comments |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | |||
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Sunshine Beach Bar & Grill | Nevis | Just a short dinghy ride or swim from the anchorage, Sunshine's combines atmosphere, view and good food with his signature drink the “Killer Bee”. |
| Antigua & Barbuda | |||
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Mad Mongoose | Falmouth, Antigua | A boater's hangout with 24x7 free Wi-Fi - the outside covered seats with power plugs outside are zero pressure, if you don't buy any drinks or food they won't bother you. For what is essentially a bar they serve very tasty food with a varied menu and I left many a Caribbean Dollar at this establishment. |
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Shirley Heights | Shirley Heights, Antigua | This venue is on every tour book's list of place to do and things to see; but for a reason. The views, particularly at sunset (and for those enterprising enough to climb up the hill in the dark the sunrise as well) are spectacular. They have live steel drum music twice a week and good fare inside on every night. Numerous parties make for a lively place, particularly during events such as the Antigua Race Week. |
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Le Cap Horn | English Harbour, Antigua | While the majority of this restaurant serves fine food on heated stones, I have had their wonderful pizza a couple of times. They have a wood-fired pizza oven working at night to make a perfect pizza. |
