The very best bars within the Caribbean have sure attributes: The drinks are frosty, the view is dreamy and the close by sea laps the shores ever so gently. That great set of standards, nevertheless, narrows our checklist of favorites solely barely, so we’ve performed somewhat extra analysis to search out among the finest.
Utilizing our personal journey experiences (and we’re a fan of seaside bars which have nice meals and the anticipated drink), and a few suggestions within the Caribbean from well-traveled friends, right here’s a listing of our favourite seaside bars at ports of name the place Windstar visits:
Antigua: Catherine’s Cafe
The place: Catherine’s Café, English Harbour, Pigeon Level Seaside, Antigua
What’s to love: What stands out about Catherine’s Café isn’t just its cocktails but additionally its delicacies. Its dishes’ roots are planted firmly in French delicacies that’s additional elevated by recent seafood; attempt the recent blue level oysters and, if you happen to really feel like splurging, add some Ossetra caviar to it. Different dishes to attempt embrace a grilled Greek salad, lobster tail and a truffle and leek risotto. Signature cocktails embrace a blood orange gin and tonic, an old school rum punch, and a watermelon martini.
Considerably unusually for a beach-front bar within the Caribbean, Catherine’s Café has a strong wine checklist with an amazing number of French rosés.
Have to know: Catherine’s Café is a couple of 20-minute stroll (or five-minute taxi experience) from the ship’s tender port (close to Nelson’s Dockyard); the entrance desk crew and the restaurant can organize for a taxi, as effectively.
Anguilla: Elvis’ Seaside Bar
The place: Elvis’ Seaside Bar, Sandy Floor
What’s to love: In a nutshell? We “Can’t Assist Falling in Love.” The Soggy Greenback Bar (see beneath, Jost van Dyke) ranks numero uno on many lists, however Elvis’ Seaside Bar on this British abroad territory, is a strong second. The meals fuses the flavors of the Caribbean with conventional Mexican fare with don’t miss dishes like jerk-chicken nachos and slow-roasted “goatchos”.
You’ll discover inspiration from the King within the type of the Love Me Tender libation, a mix of Malibu rum, pineapple juice and a soupçon of Sprite, and the Blue Suede, which blends blue Curaçao, rum, pineapple and cream of coconut.
Peek on the bar’s webcam, and you may nearly really feel that tropical breeze working its magic. In the event you’re a sports activities junkie, you’ll find your crew favorites at its sports-channel wealthy projection TV and if you happen to’re looking for solitude, seize a hammock and sway within the breeze
Have to know: Windstar docks offshore within the Highway Bay Bar space, and tenders ferry friends to the city of Sandy Floor, house to Elvis’ Seaside Bar and a brief stroll away.
Barbados: Johnny Cool’s Jazz and Blues
The place: Johnny Cool’s Jazz and Blues Seaside Bar on Dover Seaside
What’s to love: Johnny Cool’s, which sits on a beautiful stretch of sand and exudes that type of vibe that outcomes from its location, music, meals (the flying fish cutter sandwich will get a rave) and drink (Deputy vs. Banks beers generally is a energetic debate) and the music. No argument concerning the sunsets right here: The photo voltaic present is out of this world…or not less than it feels that means.
Have to know: Windstar docks at Bridgetown Cruise Port. Johnny Cool’s is about 5 miles farther alongside the coast in Oistin’s. Your finest guess is to hail a cab.
Curacao: Kokomo Seaside
The place: Kokomo Seaside and Restaurant in Vaersenbaai, Willemstad
What’s to love: You’re in all probability listening to the refrains of “Kokomo,” the Seaside Boys’ 1988 tune that additionally starred within the film “Cocktail,” lengthy earlier than you understand that this seaside additionally has a great bar and restaurant the place you possibly can order an Aperol Spritz or an Espresso Martini, together with burgers, sandwiches and salads. It’s a quiet place, terrific if you happen to’re in search of an escape from the hubbub of a full-steam-ahead bar scene.
Have to know: Windstar normally docks at Mathey Wharf, a couple of five-minute stroll to downtown Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage web site lauded for its colourful and well-preserved structure and its historical past as a Dutch colonial buying and selling settlement. Vaersenbaai itself is a couple of 15-minute experience from Willemstad. You may cab it, however taxis will be dear so it might be finest to lease a automotive (you are able to do so on the dock however reserve prematurely) if you happen to hope to see extra of the island.
Jost Van Dyke (British Virgin Islands): Soggy Greenback Bar
The place: White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
What’s to love: Soggy Greenback comes up on seemingly each “finest” checklist – for a motive. It’s finest recognized for its Painkiller, a cocktail the place darkish rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut – and right here’s our favourite contact: it’s garnished with freshly grated nutmeg. The Painkiller, in truth, was invented right here within the Seventies. The bar’s title was impressed by the truth that most guests arrived by personal boats and needed to swim to the seaside to get right here. Although it’s famed for its cocktails, we additionally love the recent seafood at Soggy Greenback; favorites embrace the flying fish sandwich and grilled lobster salad.
Have to know: Windstar anchors at Jost and tenders transport you to Nice Harbour. In the event you really feel like strolling, head up and over the hill to White Bay (it’s about 45 minutes or so); generally taxis can be found as effectively. Additionally word that one other bar that’s well-known on Jost Van Dyke is Cunning’s Bar, recognized for its dwell music performances (again within the day, Keith Richard, who owned a home on the island, would wander all the way down to play). To stroll to Cunning’s, you head proper from the tender dock for about quarter-hour (you possibly can see it from the pier).
St. Barts: Shellona
The place: Gustavia
What’s to love: The one seaside bar positioned inside the metropolis of Gustavia (and walkable from the tender pier), Shellona is on Shell Seaside, which impressed the title of the restaurant and bar. You’ll really feel a bit such as you’ve been transported to Greece (which is a departure from the very French-influenced St. Barts) as the atmosphere is hanging; you possibly can swim, take heed to DJs spin tunes, and luxuriate in a fusion of Greek and Caribbean flavors. We love its truffle pizza, numerous mezze and lemon hen. It gives a variety of cocktails although this can be a place simply meant for Greek and French glasses of rose.
Have to know: You undoubtedly must e-book a desk not less than a number of days (if no more) prematurely; the excellent news is you are able to do that by way of its web site. Shellona is a couple of ten-minute stroll from Gustavia’s ferry terminal (near the place Windstar tenders passengers). The seaside right here is, true to its title, stuffed with shells; if you happen to plan to stretch out on the sand, carry bathing towels (or lease a sunbed). And Shellona, identical to so many locations on St. Bart’s, generally is a splurge; a hen burger is €39, pink snapper runs about €46, and a Kobe burger is €150.
St. Lucia: The Bare Fisherman Restaurant and Seaside Bar
The place: Smuggler’s Cove
What’s to love: In the event you’re trying to fulfill your fantasy of a sea breeze that tickles you underneath a thatched-roof place that appears out on the ocean, the Bare Fisherman, a part of the Cap Maison resort, is a wonderful alternative. It’s not a celebration hearty place, however it’s a “sitting fairly” place the place you possibly can benefit from the view, the libations and the meals. Our favourite dishes right here embrace domestically caught snapper, grouper and dorado; if the Creole seafood boil is obtainable as a particular, order it!
As for libations, Bare Fisherman’s home cocktail is made with Tequila Blanco, vodka curacao and lime. The Cream Splash options Baileys, creme de cocoa, ice cream, and nutmeg. There’s a full bar, together with wine and beer, too.
Have to know: Windstar friends greater than doubtless will enter St. Lucia at Pigeon Island’s Rodney Bay on St. Lucia’s northwest coast, the place passengers are tendered ashore. (In some circumstances, your ship can also anchor within the space of Soufriére.) You may cab the two.5 miles to Bare Fisherman from Rodney Bay however attempt to decide on a value along with your driver earlier than you depart. Notice that beachwear is allowed through the day however banned for dinner and that there are a number of steps all the way down to get to the restaurant/bar.
Bequia: Bar One
The place: Port Elizabeth, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
What’s to love: You’ll not be adrift at Bar One, however you may be afloat. You’ll must take a water taxi (or a dinghy or swim if you happen to’re so inclined) to achieve the floating watering gap in Admiralty Bay simply off 7-square-mile Bequia. It’s definitely worth the effort, due to bar “stools” that swing and cocktails that whisper to you that you must by no means go house. Relying on how a lot you imbibe (and that is our one exception to good food-at-the-bar standards) something apart from nibbles isn’t served right here. Simply request a return water taxi to the pier, and board your tender again to your ship.
Have to know: Windstar anchors offshore in Admiralty Bay (the place Bar One is positioned) however name forward to the bar and request water taxi pickup (about 5 to $10 EC). Telephone quantity: 1-784-530-8123. You’ll must tender to the dock at Port Elizabeth, the place you’ll discover your water taxi. Earlier than heading out to the floating bar, take pleasure in a hearty breakfast or lunch or scope out the landside eating places and determine the place to eat after you take pleasure in that first seductive cocktail. You don’t wish to be so relaxed that you just miss your boat!
Editor’s Notice: Do you could have a favourite we must always embrace? Drop a word within the feedback….
