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Barbados Restaurants You Don’t Want To Miss

No vacation is complete without some great local food, so here are a few Barbados restaurants you have to try!

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

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Eating great local food is such a crucial part of any vacation. You get a literal taste of the culture and the people. Whether grabbing a fast food lunch or sitting down for an elegant meal, you’ve got to eat. So you may as well try the local favorites! Today, I’m sharing a few of the best spots to get a taste of authentic Barbados.

Barbados Restaurants

Oistins Fish Fry

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

If you’re on the island on a Friday night, you have to get over to Oistin’s Fish Fry. It’s an outdoor market-style series of booths, each selling freshly-made Barbados meals. Plastic tables and chairs are packed with tourists and locals alike, and live music fills the space.

You’ll find all the classics: fish (fried or grilled, caught that day), pork, macaroni pie (a Caribbean take on mac and cheese), and sweet potato pie. And of course rum punch, although Banks beer is probably a little more common here.

Unlike some Friday night fun, you’ll want to arrive on the early end. They’ll run out of some of their best food if you don’t roll up until later! If you aim for six or seven, you’ll get all the best options and still get to be part of the live music.

Champers

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

If you want a nice meal overlooking a gorgeous beach, head to Champers.

Rated the number one restaurant on the island, its elegant atmosphere creates a quiet ocean haven, making you forget you’re only steps from the main road. It almost feels as if you’re on a high-end cruise ship sitting on their massive covered patio, which is where you should request to sit if possible.


Named after the nickname for champagne, it’s pronounced closer to “shampers” than our American “Champers,” but with a cooler Caribbean accent.

The food is excellent and the prices are pretty reasonable for a fine dining restaurant. The wedding reception I attended was here, so I was able to sample a range of their menu, and I loved everything I tasted!

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!
Looks a bit like the view from a cruise ship, right?

Lobster Alive

Craving crustaceans? Try Lobster Alive!

While spiny lobsters aren’t found on Barbados, they’re flown in daily from the nearby Grenadine islands. Naturally, the star menu item here is the lobster. It’s delicious and sweet, and the portions are enormous, so plan ahead. We also tried the conch fritters, a Caribbean staple, and loved them!

If you make a reservation (which you should at dinner), request a table on the sand. There’s something so perfect about eating a seafood dinner with your feet in the sand.

Chefette

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

On the other end of the price spectrum is Barbados’ favorite fast food: Chefette! Their menu reflects the national palette, serving mostly fried chicken with additional offerings of roti, pizza, and ice cream. It’s a great post-beach meal when you’re hungry but don’t know what to grab, or something to eat at the airport (located outside security) if you arrive early. The good news is they’re everywhere, so you’ll have no trouble finding them.

Other restaurant suggestions

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

My friends who grew up there offers some other Barbados restaurants they love that I didn’t get to check out this visit!

Some Travel Tips

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

Two big things to know before you go:

First, Barbados accepts U.S. dollars. The rate is just about $2 Barbadian to $1 US, so everyone takes American money and gives you change in Barbadian. This is a huge help for trip prepping – no foreign currency! – but don’t get stuck with a ton of leftover cash at the end if you can help it.

Another important thing about getting around: taxis don’t use meters. Instead, you tell the driver where you’re headed and they’ll quote you a price (always cash only). You can haggle, and probably should. Prices flux depending on time of day and how touristy of an area they pick you up in, but they are always friendly and have great advice for where to eat and explore.

Also, take note that the large taxis and small buses run in the same small vans. The buses will have a paper sign in the front windshield saying where they cover. They’re quick to stop for you and only about $1 Barbadian each ride, but if you want the direct route you may have to wave off a few buses before you catch a taxi.

Planning a trip? Here’s the number one thing you should do, and some trip planning advice for Barbados!

No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!
No vacation is complete without some great local food! These are a few Barbados restaurants you don't want to miss on your next trip to the island!

There are tons of great finds when it comes to Barbados restaurants, and one trip can’t possibly turn up all of them! When you go, let me know what your favorites are.

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