The island of Antigua is a gourmet’s delight. Antigua abounds with a host of superb restaurants and cafes offering a wide diversity of cuisines most with classic Caribbean influences. None are better,of course, than Antigua Village’s two partner restaurants – Hemingsways and Le Bistro. However, we are pleased to list a selection of some of the other excellent places in Antigua to eat. The Owners’ Club at Antigua Village is developing special relationships with a number of restaurants on this list and as arrangements are formalised we will indicate that a special arrangement exists on the appropriate listing entry.
Calabash
Calabash is a brand new restaurant and bar located inside the beautiful Galleon Beach Resort in English Harbour. Aside from its magnificent west-facing sea side location, Calabash boasts some of the best International cuisine in Antigua for both lunches and dinners. True water level sunsets are viewable at Calabash! Come watch the stunning green flashes over cocktails any night of the week. Free taxi service from the English Harbour area or free water taxi service from Nelson's Dockyard - both available with confirmed reservations at Calabash. Open 7 days a week from 11.00am to 11.00pm.
Telephone: (268) 562 4906
Distance From Village: 30 minutes by cab
George
'George' is located on Market Street in St. Johnn's. The restaurant has recreated a tradition of having friends come to visit. A place where you can experience traditional Antiguan hospitality and a laid back atmosphere, where you are always welcome to sit a while and enjoy the view of a bustling St John's whilst being served a refreshing drink and sampling genuine West Indian Cuisine. Many of the daily specials have been favourites in Antigua for years, others offer an exciting twist on old standards. For a truly Antiguan experience Saturday is the day to visit 'George' when such Antiguan specialities as Goat Water, Souse, Conch Water, Pepperpot, and Rice Pudding are served.
Email: george@actol.net
Telephone: (268) 562 4866
Distance From Village: 15 minutes by taxi
Coconut Grove Beach Restaurant: Dickenson Bay
The quintessential image – set amongst the palms on the water’s edge, this excellent open-air restaurant has earned the distinction of being selected as the favourite and most romantic restaurant of Caribbean Travel & Life readers; recommended by Times Newspaper UK as “every visitor’s dream of what a Caribbean restaurant should be” and star-rated in Fodor’s Guide. With its rough stone doors and palms growing up through the roof, it is unique in its truly Caribbean ambience. The freshest seafood on the island, with two tanks containing your choice of live lobster. Full bar. Very popular Happy Hour, 3.30 – 7pm. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Reservations advised.
Distance From Village: Adjacent to the village.
Club Participant: Yes
Le Bistro: Hodges Bay
Chosen by the US television channel Discovery to feature in their ‘Best chefs in the world’ programme, when Le Bistro’s world class chef, Patrick Gauducheau (from Vendee, France’s gourmet region) and Phillippa Esposito prepared and served superb menus typical of this internationally recognised restaurant. This, the first authentic French restaurant on the island, opened in 1981 and has consistently achieved accolades such as in Gourmet magazine. Serving classic French cuisine, the varied choices include such delicacies as stuffed shrimp with light scallop mousse and saffron sauce, crispy duck with aromatic mango sauce. Seafood dishes including a trio of seafish – snapper, dolphin fish, lobster with basil sauce. Also home made pastries. Extensive wine list. Elegant atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and excellent service. Open for dinner only (closed Monday).
Distance From Village: Fifteen minutes by car
Club Participant: Yes
The Beach: Dickenson Bay
Exceptional casual yet elegant beachside restaurant open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A wide ranging menu features a delightfully eclectic mix of local dishes (with particular emphasis on fine fish and seafood), wonderful Italian dishes including superb Pizzas and original pastas, a touch of middle eastern cuisine (Couscous, Hummus etc.) and a terrific array of Sushi. Something for everyone. Great service. Lively bar with terrific ambience. Favourite place for locals especially on Friday nights!
Distance From Village: Adjacent to the village
Bay House Restaurant: Tradewinds Hotel
This informally elegant restaurant and bar is set on the crest of a hill overlooking beautiful Dickenson Bay, enjoying panoramic views and fabulous sunsets from the upper terrace – the perfect spot for a ‘sundowner’. Romantic dining alfresco, in the extensive open dining area or in the air-conditioned dining room, serving consistently excellent contemporary international and Caribbean flavour cuisine. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner (7am to 11pm). Reservations advised.
Distance From Village: Five minutes by cab
Pari’s Pizza and Steak House: Tradewinds Hill
Open since 1981, this long established restaurant and bar, still perfectly run by Pari herself, is situated on the hillside above Dickenson Bay. Delicious pizzas of all varieties are available in the restaurant or for takeaway, plus steaks, baby back ribs and more. The atmosphere is tropical, relaxed and informal.
Distance From Village: Five minutes by cab from Antigua Village
Lashings Beach Café and Inn: Runaway Beach
Cricketer Richie Richardson is often seen here, when not playing for the successful Lashings team, Kent, in England. Situated at the far southern end of this spectacular beach, they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with Happy Hour 5 – 7pm (Friday special ‘After Work Jam’ Happy Hour 5 – 9pm). Informal, interesting dining, beach bar and local special atmosphere and live entertainment Friday and Saturday. Open 24 hours and serves food until 2am.
Distance From Village: Five minutes by cab
Home: Lower Gambles
Set in a typical West Indian house with Caribbean ‘haute cuisine’ as its speciality. Popular with both local islanders and visitors, this friendly restaurant offers a relaxed and leisurely ambience. The chef / owner uses only the freshest market ingredients for the a la carte menu and daily blackboard specials which include Mahi Mahi with plantain mousse in banana leaf, Chicken curry in pineapple boat and grilled pork tenderloin with tamarind sauce. Dinner Monday to Saturday 6.30 to 11pm; lunch served in the garden setting on Saturday from 12 noon, dinner from 7pm. Closed on Sunday.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Hemingways Caribbean Café: St Mary’s Street, St Johns
Located in downtown St. John’s this green and white painted breezy restaurant is upstairs in a typical wooden West Indian house, built around 1829. Breakfast from 8.30am, lunches, dinners, snacks or refreshing drinks are served on the verandah overlooking bustling St. Mary’s Street and Duty Free Heritage Quay. Enjoy burgers, sandwiches, salads, fresh seafood, extensive range of island dishes, delicious desserts, cocktails, all with a Caribbean flavour, and watch the world go by. Closed on Sundays.
Distance From Village: 10 minutes by cab
Commissioner Grill: Between Redcliffe and Heritage Quays, St Johns.
A daily selection of West Indian dishes prepared by the well-known, local chef & proprietor, Conroy White. Beer on draught; noted for grilled fresh seafood, lobster, steak, chicken, ribs, varied salads, sandwiches, breakfast (including a memorable Antiguan menu with saltfish and avocado) and excellent lunches. Popular with both travellers and local business people alike for its food and ambiance. Open at 10am - dinner until 11pm nightly and most public holidays.
Distance From Village: 10 minutes by cab
O’Grady’s Pub: Redcliffe Street, St. John’s
Very popular, this bar and restaurant has a balcony overlooking one of the main streets in the town. ‘English home cooked pub grub’, all served in a relaxed atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, with lively entertainment Wednesday evening. Antigua Hash House Harriers meet here every other Friday evening at 6pm, visitors welcome.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Pizzas in Paradise: Historic Redcliffe Quay
This delightfully rustic 18th Century rum warehouse offers some of the best pizzas in the Caribbean served inside or outside on their courtyard terrace. The Italian/American pizzas are crusty and cheesy and are available with a wide variety of toppings. Big Banana’s Café’menu also features baked potatoes, subs, salads, seafood and homemade desserts, daily specials, and popular choices at the bar along with satellite TV. Their casual dining, attentive service, fine music (live from 10pm Thursday nights) and warm ambience has created a popular lunch and dinner hangout with both visitors and residents alike. Open daily, except Sunday, from 8.30am to midnight. Island wide delivery service is also available from 11am to 11pm.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Miller’s By The Sea: Fort James
Very established comprehensive spot, with extensive outside dining, sunning and dance area spilling onto the beach. Varied live music every lunchtime and evening, choose from jazz, calypso, or Sunday’s Caribbean night. Specialising in fresh sea food, lobster and shrimp, plus daily local specials, and open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Full bar. Beach barbeque on Thursday for lunch and dinner.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Kentucky Fried Chicken: Fort Road and Central St. John’s
Spacious, air-conditioned restaurant offering the Colonel’s famed fried chicken, French fries, salads and cold drinks. Open seven days a week and until midnight Friday and Saturday. Really does taste a great deal better in Antigua than anywhere else in the world!
Distance From Village: Five minutes and ten minutes respectively by cab
Mid-East Fast Food & Bakery: Newgate Street, St. John’s & Redcliffe Quay, St. John’s
A different option – authentic middle eastern food. All breads and pitta freshly baked daily on the premises. Try delicious home-made shawarma (lamb, chicken and vegetarian) and falafel, complete with pickles and salad, plus burgers and more. Cold drinks and fresh juices. Catering services for parties and all other events available.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Philton’s Bakery and Café: Gambles Medical Centre, Friar’s Hill Road (next to Woods Mall)
Just on the outskirts of St. John’s. For fast, friendly service in this cool unique setting. Choose from a vast choice of perfectly prepared and freshly baked breads, muffins, cookies, pastries and enjoy unusually filled, freshly prepared sandwiches. Also daily hot lunch specials that include quiches, pastas, slow roasted chicken and French bread pizza served with your choice of existing salads, fresh squeezed juices, expresso, cappuccino and herbal teas. Once you try Philton’s you’ll be hooked. Philton’s... fresher than ever.
Distance From Village: Ten minutes by cab
Big Banana: V. C. Bird International Airport
Twinned with their well established Pizza’s In Paradise restaurant in Redcliffe Quay and equally well patronised. Striking design, modern interior and air-conditioned, with satellite TV, this location will pleasantly surprise you as one of the best dining deals in Antigua. Open every day from 6am to 10pm. Its worth a visit for their fabulous and innovative breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, even if you are not seeing friends off on a flight or greeting them. Island wide delivery available.
Distance From Village: Fifteen minutes by cab
Sheer: At the Cocobay Hotel, nr. Jolly Beach
One of the most exciting new openings in Antigua for many years. Wonderfully innovative food served in the most lovely setting imaginable. Fabulous.
Distance From Village: Twenty five minutes
Cocos: Jolly Beach
A traditionally styled West Indian building complete with ‘gingerbread’ decorations, its terrific location boasts fabulous views overlooking Jolly Beach. Only the freshest of produce used in their varying menu, including seafood specialities. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Distance From Village: Twenty five minutes by cab
Abracadabra Restaurant and Bar: English Harbour
Firmly established Italian restaurant with even more to offer than simply first-class Italian cuisine and homemade pastas. Open from 10am to 3pm, then 6pm to 1am, you will be greeted with good value and service at this great rendezvous. Late ‘lazy’ breakfast/snacks, 10am to noon, at the café with TV news stations such as CNN and varied international newspapers, lunch, noon to 2pm (last orders), dinner 7 – 11pm with many new, exciting dishes and finally, fresh baked pizza and snacks from 11pm – 1am. Terrific atmosphere, complimentary snacks with cocktails 6-9pm and nightly entertainment.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
The Admiral’s Inn: Nelson’s Dockyard
An historic Georgian (1788) inn featuring quiet, shady terraced dining in a romantic garden setting overlooking the yachts and harbour. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the varied menu offers freshly prepared food, homemade soup and the ‘Yachtsman’s Special’. The all wood, highly polished bar, elegantly restored, still bears carvings of sailors’ names. Here you can enjoy the traditional old English game, the ‘Ring Game’, and darts. The old beamed lounge area, adorned with a vast collection of yacht club ‘burgees’ (club flags) is the perfect setting for a cool drink or snack. On Saturday evenings (in season) they have The Gemonites steel band or the Rio string and flute band who play old traditional West Indian music.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Alberto’s: Willoughby Bay
Set beneath a gazebo open to the sea breeze, Alberto is your host. Specialities include seafood and pasta all with an Italian accent. Good wine cellar. Open for dinner only. Closed Monday and annually from July to October.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Catherine’s Café: English Harbour
On the opposite side of Nelson’s dockyard and reached via the Antigua Slipway road, this is a little gem. Authentic French café atmosphere offering fabulous snacks and meals, with bar, alfresco eating and on the boardwalk overlooking the yachts and splendid views of the harbour.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Copper and Lumber Store: Nelson’s Dockyard
Originally just that, a 19th century copper and lumber store, brilliantly restored and converted to a gracious Georgian inn. The Mainbrace, an English style pub with a mellow and friendly atmosphere; full bar and restaurant open for lunch and dinner. The Wardroom, a stylish renovated old English restaurant with beams, burnished wood and historic prints, offers fine dining around the very pretty enclosed, leafy courtyard. Check for live entertainment here.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
The Inn At English Harbour: English Harbour
In the midst of 10 acres of National Park, excellent international gourmet dining with a Caribbean flavour on the lovely open air Terrace Restaurant high over the harbour. Choose from the table d’hote or a la carte menu, in full candlelit splendour. Full bar. Full English breakfast and lunch also served at the beach restaurant on the water’s edge. Check for weekly entertainment. Open daily (but closed September – October).
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Shirley Heights Lookout: Shirley Heights
The magnificent, most photographed views over Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour are witnessed from this restored 18th century building. The vast and unusual home made menu includes local soups, fresh lobster, local fish, the famed Antigua Black pineapple and calypso coffees served in a pretty blue and white dining area. Alternatively, enjoy lunch outside and take in those magnificent vistas. Spacious, full bar where freshly prepared snacks and meals can also be taken. Traditional sundown watching ritual and terrific barbeque parties held here every Thursday and Sunday with great food, lots of action and six hours of live non-stop entertainment, from a steel band concert to reggae.
Open daily 9am-10pm. Call for summer schedule. “Sundays.. the place to be” National Geographic Traveler
Distance From Village: Thirty five minutes by cab
Southern Cross: Antigua Yacht Marina, Falmouth
An exceptionally well appointed large, airy restaurant atop the marina with stunning views across the yachts and harbour. Elegantly casual dining with a well-priced, varied menu including gorgeous antipasti, unusual pasta dishes and a good selection of lamb, beef, veal, fish and seafood courses, topped off by temptingly different desserts. Lovely comfortable sofa area for coffees, snacks and drinks from the sweeping polished wood bar. Reservations recommended. Open November-May.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Blue Waters: Soldier Bay
With no expense spared, this renovated and refitted hotel is open once again, boasting two restaurants, to the delight of decades of repeat visitors. Situated in an open but covered area, with views to the sea and overlooking a palm garden, The Palm Restaurant, overlooking the Caribbean Sea and lush tropical gardens, is open daily serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cuisine is a mix of first class international and West Indian dishes with an emphasis on freshness and simplicity. The evening menus vary from buffet style themes (Italian, International and Mexican). Poolside barbeques and table d’hote table service. Famous Sunday Brunch, accompanied by one of Antigua’s exciting steel orchestras. For air-conditioned comfort, Viyvien’s is set in intimate surroundings. Executive Chef Massimo Bertela creates dinner only classical cuisine with a Caribbean flavour. The resort is all-inclusive but just call in advance for a complementary pass to visit these superb restaurants.
Distance From Village: Fifteen minutes by cab
Chez Pascal: Galley Bay Hill
Three diamonds rating in AAA 2000 issue for restaurant and hotel, independently run and exotically designed restaurant, boasting fabulous views over Galley Bay. Based in Antigua since 1989, the experienced chef/owner, Pascal Milliant of the French gourmet capital, Lyon, offers beautifully prepared elegant French cuisine (featured on CNN’s Spotlight on Antigua), and his wife, Florence, oversee the friendly and attentive service. A variety of succulent and affordable dishes are served everyday for lunch and dinner in the beautiful, cool interior or on the patio by the romantic swimming pool. Extensive (personally selected by Pascal) French wine list. Reservations recommended
Distance From Village: Twenty five minutes by cab
Harmony Hall: Brown’s Bay
This haven includes the historic plantation style house and sugar mill, dating back to 1843. Idyllic patio restaurant, with a full bar located in the original sugar mill, overlooking the splendid Nonsuch Bay. Reasonably priced a la carte menu specialising in Caribbean and international cuisine. Also including a gift shop, a renowned gallery of Caribbean art and crafts, a swimming pool available for all visitors’ use, and well-priced deluxe villas should you not bear to leave! Open daily from 10am for lunch, tea, coffee or snacks; dinner, Friday and Saturday. Reservations recommended. Very attractively-priced boat trips regularly departing daily from Green Island.
Distance From Village: Forty minutes by cab
O.J’s Beach Bar & Restaurant: Crabb Hill
Charming husband and wife team, Oliver and Angie, have built up an established following of clients – especially for their lobster salad. Open daily from 10am-10pm, they have a simple menu, but what they do is regarded as excellent, with great pride taken in personal attention and service. Follow the signposts just after Darkwood Beach on the west coast and try their economically priced, first rate fresh red snapper, steaks, homemade burgers and sandwiches on the shady terrace, right on the beach. Good assortment of wines and a wide range of beers and soft drinks.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
Turner’s Beach Bar & Restaurant: Johnson’s Point
Perfectly positioned directly on one of the most sublime long stretches of beach on the island. Landscaped gardens, ample parking and open daily from 10am for breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks and dinner. Sit on the large, thatched shady terrace, under one of the beach shades or on the sunchairs provided. Freshly prepared, interesting menu, also famed for excellent local lobster and curried conch. Its locale, food and fine bathing make it well visited.
Distance From Village: Thirty minutes by cab
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