Discover Anguilla! Located in the Caribbean Sea, Anguilla is a UK overseas territory, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Laid-back and unspoiled, it’s a luxury island paradise with white sand beaches, lush vegetation, and an atmosphere so friendly it will make you never want to leave.
Explore secluded coves reached by boat, visit sites for prehistoric petroglyphs and head underground at Big Spring Cave. Anguilla features also include shopping, dining, and rich history, adding to its captivating and irresistible charm. Wait until you read about the best Anguilla restaurants, you’ll be booking your next flight tomorrow!
The tourism industry has been very important for the island’s economy, accounting for about half of GDP and employing one-third of the workforce. The name Anguilla is an anglicized or latinate form of earlier Spanish Anguilla, French anguille, meaning eel, after the snake-like fish that was easily caught in its waters.
Anguilla is a fascinating destination for any traveler. There are so many things to see and experience, whether it’s snorkeling and diving off powdery sandy beaches, hiking through the rain forest and spotting exotic wildlife, eating local cuisine, or just relaxing in warm tropical waters. Anguilla is a great place to visit!
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The 8 Best Anguilla Restaurants
Anguillan cuisine is a mixture of African, European, and native Caribbean cooking. The diverse culinary traditions show the various cultures that shaped it. Anguillian cooking primarily consists of local seafood, including fresh fish, callaloo (taro leaves), edible seaweed, mongo beans, an excellent vegetarian dish made from scotch bonnet peppers, saltfish, and ackee. Besides the seafood, the Anguilla people also use poultry, pork, goat, mutton, and beef meat. Goat is the most commonly eaten meat in Anguilla, and it’s used in a variety of dishes. The official national food of Anguilla is pigeon peas and rice.
In Anguilla, the restaurant scene is unlike any other in the world. Here, you’ll find everything from European to African and Mexican food. It’s almost as if they want to throw every known food in the world into a pot and stir. But of course, with a Caribbean flair. There are simply so many options! In fact, it is said that there are more places to eat in Anguilla than residents. The next time you’re in Anguilla, get ready to taste a little piece of the Caribbean, and don’t miss out on these coolest restaurants!
SunShine Shack
Rendezvous Bay Beach Rendezvous Bay, 2640, Anguilla // +12644760649
Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, is one of the most amazing beaches in the Caribbean. Lying on the sand beneath swaying palms as warm turquoise water laps at your feet; sounds like heaven! When it’s time to eat, you won’t want and won’t have to leave this tropical island paradise cause there is a place called SunShine Shack.
At SunShine Shack, you can enjoy delicious food grilled to perfection and served on a simple menu: chicken, ribs, snapper, lobster, and other seafood.
Enjoy a relaxing tropical getaway in one of Anguilla’s most famous bathing and beach destinations. Visit The SunShine Shack for a laid-back, tropical island experience that will bring you back to the old days when the beach was the place to be. Live music on weekends, cocktails, and beer, with generous portions of some of the most fantastic food on Anguilla island. Don’t bother with expensive restaurants when you can experience straight-up sunshiny fun right there!
Straw Hat Restaurant
Frangipani beach resort, 2640, Anguilla //+12644978300
A trip to Anguilla wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal at Straw Hat on the beach in Meads Bay. Established in 1996, Straw Hat is an open-air restaurant with a collection of beach cabanas and tables overlooking spectacular views and sounds that will leave you relaxed and ready to enjoy all Anguilla has to offer. They serve island-inspired food with locally sourced ingredients. Order some of their specialties like Spicy Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich, Land of Sea Reuben, Ceviche and Crispi Plaintain Chips, Straw Hat burger, Big eye tuna flatbread, a variety of salads, desserts, and a lot more.
With a welcoming atmosphere, attentive service, and tremendous food, including seafood, steaks, and vegetarian dishes, the Straw Hat has been a success story for more than two decades. Relax and let their friendly staff pamper you with casual Anguilla elegance. Visit them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and let your senses be taken on an island journey.
Ocean Echo Anguilla
P.O. Box 000, Meads Bay Westend, Anguilla AI2640 // +12644985454
Since its birth in 2013, it has been working hard to offer its guests the best dining experience. Here is the place where you would be able to taste the very best in both international and Caribbean cuisine, as well as acclaimed cocktails served to a higher level. Ocean Echo restaurant in Meads Bay is fronted by the ocean and, in the midst of appealing restaurants, offers a dining experience second to none. Order their signature dishes such as Grilled Lobster, Grilled BBQ Baby Back Ribs, New York Striploin, Ocean Echo Burger Specialty, Rasta pasta, Sautéed Curry Shrimp, Scrub island grilled Crayfish, and many more.
The view from this five-star eatery is breathtaking, with more than a 180-degree panorama that includes some of the most famous hotels and attractions on the island. You will be welcomed with a pleasant atmosphere that complements live music. The surroundings are always complemented by an excellent set, sure to please anyone who wants to enjoy their time at maximum level.
Mango’s
5VG2+335, Barnes Bay 2640, Anguilla //+12644976479
Mango’s Seaside Grill is one of the most famous restaurants on the island. This open-air eatery offers the finest in seafood and cuisine, rated among the best in the Caribbean. The culinary team at Mango’s prides themselves on the quality of their dishes and will do everything possible to make your evening special with a variety of scrumptious entrees sure to please every taste.
Order a Mango’s special burger, a fish sandwich of the day, Rasta or Seafood Pizza, and a variety of salads and desserts. As you wait for your meal, be sure to enjoy one of their mai tais or choose from the distinctive wine list featuring organic wines while you take in the wonderful ambiance of being outdoors, surrounded by palm trees and tropical plants at Mango’s Seaside Grill. Enjoy spectacular ocean views, a casual atmosphere, and fresh, delicious, and nutritious cuisine daily. This restaurant creates an intimate and friendly late afternoon and evening dining experience!
Da’ Vida
W9M+X68, The Valley 2640, Anguilla // +12644985433
Turn off your cell phone, slow down, and relax. For a gastronomical experience, you will enjoy it in a place where time doesn’t matter. Da’ Vida Restaurant & Spa is the place to be while in beautiful Anguilla, British West Indies. Experience the sounds of the sea lapping on the shoreline of this private cove on the island paradise. You will find a menu showcasing the finest Caribbean and European dishes made by their authentic French-trained chef.
From the spectacular setting to the award-winning cuisine, this island hideaway offers more than just a pretty location. Order signature dishes like Ahi Tuna Tartar, Bay Garden Lobster Spring Roll, Little Bay Oriental Snapper, Mandarin Glazed Grilled Salmon, Da’Vida Signature Platter, and a lot more. Da’ Vida beachfront restaurant is a truly remarkable, unique, and unforgettable dining experience, overlooking spectacular sunsets over the Caribbean Sea in natural surroundings with Casuarina trees, tropical flowers, and grasses.
Picante
West End, 2640, Anguilla // +12644981616
Picante is well known on the island for serving up fine Mexican food that is well priced and served in a unique atmosphere. The two owners, Theron and Chloe, are friendly and knowledgeable about the business. It is a story of love and friendship, a story that began in the same small fishing village of Rendezvous, Anguilla. The charming and cozy atmosphere of Picante brings together travelers and locals alike for an experience to be remembered for years to come.
Try their Grilled Chili-Queso Corn on the Cob, variety of burritos, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, Platos de Carnitas, and more. Picante serves a delicious range of homemade south-of-the-border specialties with a Caribbean twist and uses only the freshest products to create their delicacies. They also serve extensive tropical cocktail drinks, ensuring that each visit to Picante is one to remember.
Veya Restaurant
Reverend Carty Road, Sandy Ground, Anguilla +12644988392
Veya restaurant provides a wonderful retreat from the busy world just outside the door. You can enjoy a delicious dinner in an intimate, tropical setting. As you start to get hungry, you notice that everyone is looking at the same thing – a delicious, steaming platter of fresh seafood being placed on a nearby table. The scent is tantalizing, so you get up and go over to take a look; it looks and smells so good. You didn’t really want dinner, but now, why not?
A variety of soups, salads, Korean BBQ pork tenderloin, Jerk Tuna, Sauteed Shrimp, Grilled Crawfish, and butter-poached Lobster is some of the dishes that their menu offers, an ever-changing selection of culinary triumphs. That’s exceptional cuisine from an internationally trained chef. Visit the Veya restaurant and enjoy the international cuisine with a Caribbean flair!
Ember Restaurant
Lower South Hill, The Valley, Anguilla //+12644982411
A gorgeous view over the water, a relaxed setting, and excellent customer service are just some of the reasons why it is worth making a reservation right now. At Ember, you’re in for an unforgettable experience that has earned them many loyal diners who visit again and again. You will find the most delicious dishes on this stylish terrace overlooking the sea. Order a wood-roasted Crayfish Scampi, grilled big eye tuna, red snapper fillet, and wake your taste buds.
Chic yet casual, Ember appeals to all tastes, featuring an extensive wine list and live entertainment for an evening to remember. Ember’s famous brunch buffet attracts guests from all over the world! Whether you’re looking for a place to eat seafood, enjoy a drink outdoors, or dance under the stars, Ember is the perfect place for your Anguilla vacation.
Anguilla Culinary Experience
No other island in the Caribbean can rival Anguilla’s array of eateries, both casual and fancy. From beachside BBQs to gourmet meals prepared by renowned chefs, there is no food lover who will go away from here unsatisfied. While some travelers still associate Anguilla with its former status as a notorious hideaway for the rich and famous, others see this English-speaking island as one of the most delicious destinations in the world.
Anguilla’s first culinary attribute is its diversity. The island’s hundreds of hotels, villas, and resorts feature everything from gourmet French cuisine to beach barbeque, and there is no end to interesting shops, cafes, and restaurants where ingredients are locally sourced. Anguilla’s rich culinary contribution to the Caribbean derives from migration patterns. Being an offshore island, Anguilla has attracted populations from all over the world, each bringing their own food traditions with them.
Tempting your taste buds from the moment you set foot on the island, there’s no time like the present to consider what to eat when visiting Anguilla. Whether you’re craving a simple Caribbean lunch of goat and rice or dinner in an upscale dining room, Anguilla has it all. A stay on this private island provides the perfect opportunity to experience the full range of cuisine.
Visiting other destinations in Central America? Check out our other delicious guides:
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- The 11 Best Dishes Representing Authentic Panama Cuisine
- 15 Best Costa Rican Dishes
- Nicaraguan Food
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever