Anguilla Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, And Scilly Cay: 3 Stunning Offshore Islands in Anguilla

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, And Scilly Cay: 3 Stunning Offshore Islands In Anguilla

Published May 25, 2022

The Caribbean island of Anguilla is one of the most impressive beach destinations I’ve ever seen. This British Overseas Territory boasts almost forty miles of breathtaking tropical coastline that ranges from soft, white sand beaches to dramatic rocky cliffs. However, some of the best beaches in Anguilla aren’t even located on its main island at all!

If you’re going to Anguilla, you absolutely need to visit one or more of the offshore cays. The three I’ll feature in this blog are only accessible by boat or water taxi, but they make some of the best day trips you can take during your visit to paradise!

Each of the three Anguillan islets below offers amazing beaches, a restaurant and bar, and its own unique character. To skip down to one in particular, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Prickly Pear Cays
Sandy Island
Scilly Cay

1. Prickly Pear Cays

The Prickly Pear Cays are the most remote of the offshore islands we visited, but they are also the most impressive. Located a couple miles northwest of the main island of Anguilla, this pair of cays feels like an undiscovered secret. Prickly Pear is rocky with some vegetation, and the water surrounding it is absolutely gorgeous. The beach on Prickly Pear might be my favorite in all of Anguilla.

Beaches on Prickly Pear

As mentioned above, Prickly Pear is actually two islands. Visitors are able to explore the eastern one. This cay has an unbelievably pretty white sand beach on its northern side, while the rest of the coastline is made of sharp, jagged coral. You can stroll along the sandy shore barefoot, but flip flops or shoes are a must if you want to explore beyond that.

Compared to beaches on Anguilla’s main island, Prickly Pear is pretty empty. There are a couple of umbrellas and chairs set up near the restaurant (which is the only man-made structure on the island), but if you walk further, you’ll probably have the beach to yourself.

Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant

In addition to its jaw-dropping beach, Prickly Pear is home to one of the country’s premier culinary destinations. The Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant (website | Facebook | Instagram) served one of the most memorable meals we had in Anguilla. Its open-air, picnic-style dining area might be the most idyllic setting for a meal in all the Caribbean.

Upon arrival, order a rum punch to sip on as you take in the scenery. They serve a set menu that includes all of the most iconic Anguillan delicacies: ribs, chicken, fish, shrimp, rice and peas, and lobster. It’s a bit pricey at a little over 100 USD per person (as of spring 2022), but it is worth the splurge.

Everything was flavored to perfection. The butter sauces served with the fish, shrimp, and lobster were all slightly different. Each one complemented the flavor and texture of the seafood it was drizzled over!

While you’re here, you’ll be treated to a symphony of little yellow birds chirping away and fluttering around. They’re called bananaquits, and they’re super friendly. If you sit near the birdfeeder, some will land on your hands or legs (it doesn’t hurt and they never tried to bite or attack us). And if you’re not paying attention, they could go after your drink cup and steal a sip of rum punch!

To top this all off, the servers, cooks, and boat crew at the Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Everything about this lunch feast was spectacular, and I’m sure I’ll be talking about it for years to come. In short, foodies and beach lovers will not want to miss the Prickly Pear Cays!

How to Get to Prickly Pear

The Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant offers water taxi services on days that they’re open (50 USD round trip as of spring 2022). The boat departs and returns to Sandy Ground. Since the restaurant is only open for lunch, you’ll need to depart in the morning and return in the afternoon.

We drove to Sandy Ground a little before 10:00 a.m., and we actually got to head over to Prickly Pear with the crew! This was such a treat because we had about an hour to enjoy Prickly Pear all to ourselves before the other day trippers arrived!

What makes Prickly Pear special?

The ocean off Prickly Pear is some of the most gorgeous water I’ve ever seen, not only in the Caribbean but all around the world. Words and pictures can’t fully capture how beautiful this remote islet is. If you’re visiting Anguilla and only have time to do one day trip, I would say go for Prickly Pear. You won’t regret it!

2. Sandy Island

This tiny island is aptly named: a beautiful beach wraps all the way around it! Sandy Island is closer to Anguilla than the Prickly Pear Cays, so the boat ride out here is a little shorter.

We visited Sandy Island on the only cloudy day during our weeklong stay in Anguilla. As such, the pictures in this section don’t do it justice. I’m sure the water here is even more amazing on a clear, sunny day!

Beaches on Sandy Island

It only takes about ten minutes to walk completely around Sandy Island, which has no rocky ground and minimal vegetation. The entire island is the beach! Lounge chairs are set up facing west, so visitors tend to congregate on that side of the cay.

Sandy Island Restaurant

Sandy Island’s only building is its bar and grill, which offers a large variety of tropical cocktails and all the Anguillan classics mentioned above. Unlike the Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant, Sandy Island Restaurant doesn’t serve a set menu. You can see all their mouth-watering choices on their website.

We started off our visit on the right foot by trying their signature Jo Jo Rum Punch and the High Tide, a coconut rum drink with blue Curaçao.

For lunch we ordered lobster, a crayfish tail appetizer, ribs, and grilled mahi mahi. Everything was delicious and succulent, including the sides!

The cool thing about all of Anguilla’s most iconic dishes (lobster, fish, peas and rice, ribs, etc) is that every single place makes them differently. Each restaurant we tried (not only on these offshore cays but also on the mainland) uses their own spices and seasonings, so it’s a lot of fun to try lobster and ribs from a bunch of restaurants and experience the variety of flavors.

How to Get to Sandy Island

Similar to Prickly Pear, the restaurant here provides water taxi service, which is added to your bill. The journey over is quicker and smoother, and this one also departs from Sandy Ground on the Anguillan mainland. It costs 40 USD per person roundtrip (April 2022). Departures are more frequent than to Prickly Pear.

What makes Sandy Island special?

On Sandy Island, the food is good, the drinks are strong, and the water is warm and clear. It’s a very relaxing place to spend the day, and it’s probably the best of the three islands mentioned in this post for swimming (the water off Prickly Pear was a lot rougher).

3. Scilly Cay

Prickly Pear and Sandy Island have some things in common, but Scilly Cay offers a totally different experience. It’s only a stone’s throw from the mainland, located off the coast of Island Harbour. This little fishing village on Anguilla’s north shore has a unique vibe, a preview of what you’ll find on Scilly Cay.

Beaches on Scilly Cay

Scilly Cay is tiny, and only about a quarter of its perimeter is sandy beach. But don’t let this stop you from visiting! It still offers stunning views of shallow, light blue water and the main island of Anguilla.

In addition, Scilly Cay’s defining feature is the waist-high wall made of conch shells that encircles the island. In all my years of visiting Caribbean countries, I’ve never seen anything like it! The geometric patterns created by the stacked shells are mesmerizing and make for some really unique photo ops.

Gorgeous Scilly Cay Restaurant

As you might’ve guessed, the restaurant on Scilly Cay is this tiny island’s main attraction. It’s known for its cheap yet strong rum punch and delicious seafood. Enjoy your beautifully plated feast and libations under the cool shade of a shelter or in a little enclave of tropical plants with a view of the sea.

How to Get to Scilly Cay

Scilly Cay offers a short ferry to and from the island for 5 USD per person for a round trip which is included in your restaurant bill. You just walk out onto the fishing dock and wave over to the island. It’s close enough that the boat captain will see you! Just note that Scilly Cay is not open the entire week. Their current schedule seems to be Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Check their social media (Facebook | Instagram) to confirm days and hours.

What makes Scilly Cay special?

Even though it’s so close to Anguilla, Scilly Cay feels like a totally different world. It was the most crowded of the three offshore islands we visited, but this didn’t detract from the visit at all. If you’re looking for a fun, social experience complete with live music and delicious drinks, head straight to Scilly Cay!

Other Offshore Islands In Anguilla

Besides the ones mentioned here, the territory of Anguilla includes a few other outlying islands. These are Dog Island, Anguillita, Scrub Island, and the extremely remote and desolate Sombrero (Hat Island). As far as I can tell, no regular boat tours service any of these, nor do they have any facilities for dining or lodging. I’m guessing the only way to visit any of these would be private charters.

One Final Note: Visit All Three If You Can!

If you’re headed to Anguilla soon, prepare to be blown away! The main island and these offshore destinations have beaches will have you wondering if you’re dreaming. Choosing between the Prickly Pear Cays, Sandy Island, and Scilly Cay is tough. If you have time to visit all of them, you absolutely should!

Have you been to one or more of these little slices of paradise? Are you planning a day trip to one and have a question? Feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on May 25, 2022

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, And Scilly Cay: 3 Stunning Offshore Islands in Anguilla appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Beaches In Anguilla: Best In The Caribbean, Best In The World

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 17 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Beaches In Anguilla: Best In The Caribbean, Best In The World

Published May 17, 2022

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

I’m going to make a bold claim: the island of Anguilla has some of the best beaches in the world! Now, I admit that I haven’t been to every beach on Earth, so I could be wrong. But I have seen beaches on five continents. I’ve also traveled to numerous countries and territories in the Caribbean that have phenomenal shorelines. And they all pale in comparison to Anguilla’s fine, white sand and immaculately clear waters.

Of course, the “best” beaches anywhere is a matter of opinion. But I think a lot of travelers would agree that Anguilla can’t be beat. In addition to the full spectrum of blues you’ll see in the water, Anguilla’s beaches are uncrowded and unspoiled. While some are lined with resorts, no beach on the island is overrun by tourists or hotels. On many (or even most) of them, you will probably have a long stretch of sand to yourself.

Anguilla has a total of 33 beaches. This means you’ll have to prioritize which ones you visit unless you stay for long time. My friend Ismael and I spent a week there and felt like we had ample time to enjoy about a dozen different beaches. This blog post will highlight all of those! To skip down to any beach, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Best Beaches in Anguilla
Really Good Beaches
Honorable Mentions
Offshore Islands

The Best Beaches In Anguilla

The following four beaches were my absolute favorites on the island.

Shoal Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, many
Crowds: Moderate
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Not remote

Shoal Bay is Anguilla’s most famous and iconic beach. It’s been listed as one of the best beaches in the world, and for good reason. It faces north towards the open ocean, which means the shallow water close to shore is a gorgeous shade of light blue, while the water on the horizon is a deep navy. Shoal Bay is long and flat with fine, white sand. The waves are gentle, which makes it the perfect place to swim.

Shoal Bay is home to hotels, restaurants, and beach bars. Despite this, it wasn’t crowded when we visited in April. The pastel-colored umbrellas you’ll see along the main stretch accentuate the already amazing palette of blues and whites created by the sand, sea, and sky.

Be sure to walk up to Shoal Bay’s easternmost point, which has a totally different vibe than the rest of the beach. There aren’t any resorts up here, so it feels a world apart from the wide open beach only a few hundred feet away.

Rendezvous Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, a handful of options
Crowds: Moderate
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Not remote

If you only have time to see two beaches in Anguilla, visit Shoal Bay and Rendezvous Bay. They’re both equally amazing, but being on opposite sides of the island, they have pretty different vibes. Shoal Bay is a quieter, more relaxing beach that attracts older folks and couples. In contrast, Rendezvous seems to be more popular among families.

The water at Rendezvous Bay is lighter than at Shoal Bay, and this beach offers a good view of Saint Martin (as do all Anguillan beaches that face south). The sand here is just a shade yellower, but it’s just as soft.

A number of hotels line Rendezvous Bay, as do some beach bars and waterfront eateries. In fact, I ate one of my favorite meals during my trip here! To learn more about that, be sure to check out my Anguilla food guide.

Savannah Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, one: Palm Grove Barbeque Grill
Crowds: Minimal
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Fairly remote

I wouldn’t describe any beach on Anguilla as crowded. But if you want an excellent beach almost entirely to yourself, head over to Savannah Bay. There are no resorts or rows of umbrellas lining its narrow sandy shore. As such, you’ll have to bring whatever beach accessories you might need.

Savannah Bay is not hard to get to: the final stretch of road is dirt, but it’s not rough. Perhaps due to its location on the far northeast side of Anguilla, few tourists seem to come all the way out here. When we went, there was maybe one other small group of people enjoying beach.

The northern end of this beach has some rocky areas and tidepools, while everything south of there is pretty sandy. The bay is shallow and there are virtually no waves, so it’s another great beach for swimming.

Savannah Bay is home to a single beach bar and restaurant housed in a colorful shack. It offers breathtaking views of the water that you can enjoy while sipping a rum punch or feasting on lobster. To read more about the restaurant, click here!

Captain's Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: None
Crowds: None
Ease of Access: Difficult
Remoteness: Very remote

Of all the beaches on this list, Captain’s Bay is probably the most difficult to get to and the most remote. However, it is well worth the effort for adventurous travelers. It might even be my favorite beach on the main island of Anguilla!

Located on Anguilla’s northernmost point, Captain’s Bay has glittering blue water that crashes up onto soft white sand. Captain’s Bay Beach isn’t super long, and on both sides are large patches of sharp coral. Be careful not to cut your feet on them.

You might be wondering: what is that unusual building in all of these pictures? We wondered the exact same thing. At the time, it even looked abandoned. But it turns out that this is Villa Exclusivity, and as the name suggests, it’s supposed to be one of the most luxurious private vacation rentals on the island.

In fact, if you search for Villa Exclusivity online, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious way to book it or get in contact with the owners. You might have to have a personal connection in order to even inquire about it!

So, why is getting to Captain’s Bay so difficult? The answer is that the only dirt road to get there is really rough. We took our rental car and cringed every time we hit a rock or pothole, fingers crossed that we wouldn’t pop a tire or break something. Eventually, we parked the car on the side of the road and walked the rest of the way. Attempting to drive further would’ve almost certainly damaged the vehicle.

We probably walked about fifteen minutes to the beach after parking. We didn’t pass a single person or vehicle on the way out there, and the beach itself was empty too. Be sure to exercise basic safety precautions, including not leaving valuables in your rental vehicle. With that said, Captain’s Bay is truly stunning! If you’re up for a little adventure, you won’t want to miss this one!

Really Good Beaches

I recommend exploring this next set of beaches if you’ve already seen Shoal Bay and Rendezvous Bay.

Maundays Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, a few connected to the Cap Juluca resort
Crowds: Moderate
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Not remote

Maundays Bay is a short distance to the west of Rendezvous, and it’s got a somewhat similar vibe. The color of the water is similar, and so are the gentle waves. However, I personally liked Rendezvous a little more than Maundays. That’s probably because the latter is dominated by a single resort: the Belmond Cap Juluca.

Regardless, Maundays Bay is still a public beach (like all beaches on Anguilla). You don’t need to be a guest at the Cap Juluca to enjoy this beautiful water! With that said, Maundays felt a little less casual than the other beaches on the island.

The Cap Juluca is a truly luxurious resort with rooms costing thousands of dollars per night. It’s architecturally stunning, with Moroccan-style domed villas. However, it makes Maundays feel like the most developed beach on this list. It’s undoubtedly gorgeous, but in my personal opinion, it doesn’t have as much local flair as Shoal Bay or Rendezvous.

If you drive down to Maundays Bay via Samuel Fleming Road, you’ll be treated to a view of adjacent Cove Bay and Cove Pond as you head down to shore. We only briefly checked out Cove Bay, but it looked like a much quieter beach with beautiful green water.

Sandy Ground

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, many
Crowds: Moderate
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Not remote

Located on a strip of land between the ocean and a salt pond, Sandy Ground is a small beachfront village on Anguilla’s northern side. I like Sandy Ground because it’s got a really local vibe with a wide variety of restaurants to try and a few boutique hotels.

The beach here is nice, but it’s more of a harbor for boats than a place to set out a towel and umbrella. Sandy Ground also serves as the terminal point if you want to go visit the Prickly Pear Cays or Sandy Island.

There aren’t many beaches on Anguilla that face west, but Sandy Ground is one of the few that does. As such, it’s a great place to catch the sunset! In fact, I highly recommend eating dinner at one of the restaurants here and watching the sun go down as you dine on lobster, BBQ ribs, or Italian cuisine.

On a side note, Route One offers a nice panoramic view of Sandy Ground over by Tasty’s and the intersection with Back Street.

Meads Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: Yes, many
Crowds: Moderate
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: Not remote

Meads Bay is where the Four Seasons Anguilla can be found. It’s a long open beach that had the strongest waves we saw on the island (we visited in April). Meads Bay is pretty, but in all honesty I think Shoal Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and Maundays Bay are all more impressive.

Little Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: None
Crowds: Minimal
Ease of Access: Difficult
Remoteness: Very remote

You may have noticed that all of the beaches featured so far have been pretty flat. Not Little Bay! This sandy cove is surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, making it one of the more difficult beaches to access in Anguilla.

In order to get over here, you’ll need to head first to Crocus Bay Beach. There you’ll see a sign (pictured below) instructing you to call Calvin, who indeed did pick answer our call and was available to ferry us over. You just have to let him know what time you’d like to return, and we found that an hour or two was the perfect amount of time to relax at Little Bay.

Technically, you could climb down from the hill, jump into the water, and swim a short distance over to the sand. But there is no clearly marked trail or path to get down. Google Maps isn’t helpful either (as of spring 2022). It’s almost certainly much safer to use the water taxi service than attempt to hike down.

Little Bay has warm, clear water to swim in. It is also a destination for luxury boat tours, so you may not have this hidden cove completely to yourself. A few groups came and went while we were visiting, but Little Bay never came close to feeling crowded.

Honorable Mentions

The following three beaches are great if you have time to spare and want to explore even more of Anguilla’s stunning shoreline.

Shoal Bay West

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: None
Crowds: None
Ease of Access: Relatively easy, we parked in this empty lot here
Remoteness: Very remote

This long, quiet beach can be found on Anguilla’s far west side. It faces south and offers a view of Saint Martin. We visited late in the afternoon, so we didn’t have the best lighting to see the color of the water. Nonetheless, it was still a pretty stretch of coastline.

The most noteworthy thing about Shoal Bay West is the fact that it is home to a massive abandoned resort called the Covecastles. These modern beachfront buildings are all standalone villas, and apparently the complex used to be very fancy.

Covecastles reportedly suffered a number of problems and it closed in 2018. The villas are now vacant; most have missing windows and doors, exposing the interiors to the elements. The vibe here was sort of eerie, but it was still interesting to check out. This large beach had only one other person on it when we visited, so I would exercise basic safety precautions if you decide to venture over here.

Sandy Hill Bay

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: None
Crowds: None
Ease of Access: Easy
Remoteness: A little remote

This calm, clear bay is not as picturesque as some of the other beaches in Anguilla, but it was a relaxing place to go for a dip and cool off after a long day out in the sun. There was only one other person here when we arrived, so you’ll probably have Sandy Hill Bay to yourself if you decide to visit.

Crocus Bay Beach

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Dining Options: A few
Crowds: Minimal
Ease of Access: Relatively easy
Remoteness: Moderately remote

With so many phenomenal beaches on the island to choose from, most tourists seem to overlook Crocus Bay. This lowkey beach has calm, glassy water (at least, it did when we saw it). It’s a really relaxing one to check out, and I would say that if you’re going to come out here, you should try to use Crocus Bay as a jumping-off point to make the boat trip over to Little Bay!

Offshore Islands

Did you know that a number of small islets and cays surround the main island of Anguilla? A few of these are actually home to the most jaw-dropping beaches in the British Overseas Territory, so you won’t want to miss them! Check out my separate blog post to learn more!

Which Beach Will You Visit First?

Anguillan beaches really are in a league of their own. None of these pictures do them justice; you simply have to feel the amazing sand and ocean breeze in person! If you’re headed to Anguilla or are already there, I’m so excited for you to see what the island has to offer. If you’ve already been, leave a comment and let me know which beach was your favorite! Thanks for reading!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on May 17, 2022

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Beaches In Anguilla: Best In The Caribbean, Best In The World appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 03 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide

Published May 3, 2022

Anyone who loves the beach needs to put Anguilla at the top of their travel wish list. Its sandy shores are some of the best I’ve ever seen throughout my travels. But Anguilla’s other main draw is its stunning culinary scene! During our week-long visit to the British West Indies, my friend Ismael and I had so much fun beach hopping and trying as many restaurants and bars on the island as possible!

This post is meant to be a guide for travelers headed to Anguilla. The first half features some of the island’s must-try delicacies, all of which pretty are widely available. The second half features some of the restaurants we found. Foodies won’t want to miss all of the amazing flavors Anguilla has to offer!

To skip down to any dish or restaurant below, click or tap the relevant link!

Anguillan Delicacies to Try
Anguillan Restaurants
International Cuisine
- Dolce Vita (Italian)
- Picante (Mexican)
Restaurants on the Offshore Islands

Disclaimer For My Food Guides When patronizing restaurants, bars, and cafes for my food guide blog posts, I always pay full price. I never request discounts or free menu items in exchange for being featured here. As such, all opinions are completely my own!

Anguillan Delicacies to Try

Caribbean cuisine in general is packed full of spice and flavor, and that’s especially true in Anguilla! After you visit a few restaurants that serve local dishes, you’ll get a sense of what the most iconic meals are. Here are some things you should try while on the island!

Lobster

Of all the Caribbean destinations I’ve been to, Anguilla is the one where lobster is most prevalent. It’s especially delicious here, and when it’s cooked well, the soft white tail meat just slides right out of the shell. We tried lobster multiple times because each place prepares it in a unique way.

Fish

As you might expect, seafood is a major component of many Anguillan dishes. Mahi-mahi and red snapper are common here, as well as saltfish.

BBQ

Barbecue is a staple in Anguilla. It’s generally more budget-friendly than seafood dishes, especially when you get it from a roadside stand. The meat was so juicy and tender every time we ordered it! A few barbecue places we tried are featured below. These were some of my favorite casual meals during our trip.

Oxtail

Oxtail is a little tough to eat given that it’s a somewhat chewy and comes on bones with lots of ridges on them, but it is a really flavorful cut of meat that I recommend you try in Anguilla.

Goat Stew

Goat is a very common protein eaten in Anguilla, and it’s got a stronger flavor than beef or pork. Goat stew or curry is usually served with chunks of meat on the bone, and it’s sure to be one of the most fragrant and hearty dishes you have here!

Peas and Rice

Order any dish listed above and there’s a good chance it’ll be served with a scoop of peas and rice. If you think rice is a boring carb with no flavor, think again! This common side dish is brimming with aromatic spices. It’s one thing I really look forward to eating every time I’m in the region. No two recipes for peas and rice are the same, so I never even come close to getting tired of it!

Plantains

We ate some plantains during our visit to Anguilla, but I actually am including this here on my list because they weren’t as common as I’d thought they would be. Plantains are one of the most important ingredients in Caribbean food, but that seemed to be less true in Anguilla. Perhaps the relatively dry climate on the island made it harder for them to grow here historically.

Breakfast - Fry Cake Sandwiches

The most common fried bread treat on the island are Johnny cakes. These are small, round, medallion-shaped savory bread cakes with a little hole in the middle. You’ll probably have them at some point during your trip, but I’d also like to draw your attention to fry cake sandwiches.

We found them at Hall’s Unique Bakery in The Valley. Hall’s serves them for breakfast, but you have to get there early: they tend to sell out quickly! These pastries have a variety of protein and cheese fillings to choose from. Fry cake sandwiches are the perfect breakfast food that will hold you over until lunchtime.

Rum Drinks

No trip to a Caribbean island paradise is complete without a healthy dose of rum! You can get it in almost any fruity cocktail you can think of from a variety of restaurants and beachfront bars.

Anguillan Restaurants

Now that you know what types of meals are typical in Anguilla, the second half of this blog post will tell you where to go to get them!

Beachfront Restaurants

Many of Anguilla’s best restaurants are blessed with amazing beach views and direct access to the sand and sea. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out the following section for recommendations!

Palm Grove Bar and Grill - Nat's Place

Address: 7227+QW Mount Fortune, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmGroveAnguilla/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmgroveanguilla/

This festive beach shack is the only dining option on Savannah Bay Beach, one of my favorite beaches on the island! If you’re headed out this way, I highly recommend you plan for a lunch at the Palm Grove Bar and Grill, which offers amazing tableside views of the bay!

Nat’s Place offers many of the Anguillan classics featured in the first half of this blog post, and I couldn’t resist ordering lobster here. It came out smelling delicious and smothered in a delicious butter sauce. While you wait for your meal, order one (or two, or three) rum punch to sip on. It’s a refreshing pink drink here with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top!

Ocean Echo

Address: 5VH5+WP Long Bay Village, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OceanEcho264/

Ocean Echo overlooks Meads Bay, a wide open beach facing north. The vibe here is perfect, with a large open-air dining area and an extensive menu of comfort food and fruity drinks. We ordered burgers, wings, and a pizza, and everything was delicious!

SunShine Shack

Address: 5VGP+XH Long Bay Village, Anguilla
Website: https://sunshineshack.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarveysSunshineShack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineshack_/

This beach bar is an absolute must-visit! Located on idyllic Rendezvous Bay, SunShine Shack will immediately catch your attention. Colorful flags flap in the wind, and their row of umbrellas is impossible to miss.

The SunShine Shack serves unique drink specials and one of the most indulgent meals we had on the island: shrimp skewers and fried calamari appetizers, plus glazed BBQ and chicken with peas and rice and crispy fries! If you’re looking for a feast with an ocean view, this is it!

Roy's Bayside Grill

Address: 5WX5+4J Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Website: http://www.roysbaysidegrill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoysBaysideGrill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roysbaysidegrill/

This casual restaurant is one of many that can be found at Sandy Ground. They serve pretty typical Anguillan food, and when we went, we ordered a few drinks and lobster curry, which was a unique twist on Anguilla’s most popular seafood.

BBQ Shacks

Many cities and states in the US are known for their own local take on BBQ, but so is the island of Anguilla! It’s a more substantive meal than even a large portion of lobster, it’s usually more affordable, and the locally made sauces and glazes are so succulent!

Jelly BBQ

Address: 6W3J+GQ9, The Valley Road, George Hill 2640, Anguilla

This roadside stand is centrally located not too far from the airport, so visitors to the island are likely to see it. We decided to try it for dinner one night towards the end of our trip, and I’m so glad we did. The ribs were so tender that we actually had to get a second order! Their oxtail was also really good, and so was the peas and rice on the side.

However, when we went for a slightly late dinner, Jelly BBQ was already out of some items on their menu! They must sell quickly, so consider trying them for lunch or for an earlier dinner for a larger selection.

Ken's BBQ

Address: 6W7W+QPM, The Valley 2640, Anguilla

This BBQ stand in The Valley (Anguilla’s capital) is an institution on the island; it appears on many restaurant recommendation lists. Located on a little strip of food stalls, Ken’s may look humble, but their BBQ is delicious! Don’t forget to drizzle your order of ribs in their homemade sauce! I also really liked the peas and rice from Ken’s.

Other Options

Sharky's

Address: 5VH8+XR Long Bay Village, Anguilla

We happened to drive by Sharky’s during dinnertime and noticed that it was packed. We decided to try it and were seated after a short wait. To be completely honest, Sharky’s seemed to cater a little more to tourists than locals. But everything was good, from the bottle of white wine we ordered to the risotto to the fish carpaccio.

Tasty's Restaurant

Address: 5WW8+M4H, South Hill, Anguilla, Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TastysRestaurantAnguilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastysanguilla/

Tasty’s was pretty close to our Airbnb, so we tried it for dinner on our first night in Anguilla. The Caribbean curry goat stew and slow cooked oxtail were both really flavorful dishes served with veggies and plantains. The only thing is, I wished their portions could’ve been a tiny bit bigger!

International Cuisine

Don’t get me wrong: Anguillan food is amazing. But if you stay for a week like we did, you might start craving a change of pace in between lobster and BBQ feasts. There are some limited international options on Anguilla, including Mexican, Italian, and Chinese.

Dolce Vita (Italian)

Address: 6W25+2RP, Sandy Ground 2640, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolceVitaAnguilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolcevitaanguilla/

You might be wondering, “Why should I get pizza and pasta in Anguilla when I can get that almost anywhere?” Well, Dolce Vita offers high-class, delectable Italian cuisine with an amazing view of the sunset. In fact, it’s the only restaurant in Anguilla we went to twice.

Start off with a burrata or escargot appetizer and some wine or a negroni. For our main courses, we tried the lambchop, black squid ink risotto, and a few varieties of seafood pasta. I don’t think there’s any way to go wrong here, plus the service is friendly and quick! If you don’t have a reservation at Dolce Vita, I highly recommend you arrive a little early. The house gets packed as the evening goes on!

Picante (Mexican)

Address: 5VC2+QW The Valley, Anguilla
Website: https://www.picantebwi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picanteanguillabwi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picantebwi/

From the main road, Picante looks like a tiny little restaurant that can barely seat a few parties. But what you’re seeing is actually the back of the kitchen! Drive in and you’ll see a large cantina and bar, which (at least when we went for dinner) was packed with people!

The food and jalapeño margaritas at Picante were refreshing and filling. I ordered their taco platter, which was served with both hard and soft shells and a layer of beans and cheese in between.

Restaurants on the Offshore Islands

Before you click off of this blog post and start feasting at one of the restaurants featured above, you should know that three of Anguilla’s most prominent restaurants are located on small offshore islands! Since visiting them by boat is an experience in and of itself, I wrote a separate blog post all about these cays and the culinary experiences they offer.

Bon Appétit!

I’m going to be honest: food (especially at restaurants) in Anguilla is expensive, and it’s one of the main reasons the island is less affordable than some other neighboring destinations. However, almost every meal we had here was its own self-contained culinary adventure! If you consider yourself a foodie, Anguilla is worth exploring in as much depth as you can.

Have you ever been to Anguilla? If you have, what was your favorite dish or restaurant on the island? Leave a comment below! Thanks for reading and have a good one!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on May 3, 2022

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Anguilla Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, And Scilly Cay: 3 Stunning Offshore Islands in Anguilla

1. Prickly Pear Cays

Beaches on Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant

How to Get to Prickly Pear

What makes Prickly Pear special?

2. Sandy Island

Beaches on Sandy Island

Sandy Island Restaurant

How to Get to Sandy Island

What makes Sandy Island special?

3. Scilly Cay

Beaches on Scilly Cay

Gorgeous Scilly Cay Restaurant

How to Get to Scilly Cay

What makes Scilly Cay special?

Other Offshore Islands In Anguilla

One Final Note: Visit All Three If You Can!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

Recent Posts

Meet Your Caffeinated Blogger: Kevin!

Where I Am Now

Categories

Where I’ve Been

Upcoming Trips

Archives

Click To Follow!

Support the Blog!

Subscribe Via Email

Meta

Beaches In Anguilla: Best In The Caribbean, Best In The World

The Best Beaches In Anguilla

Shoal Bay

Rendezvous Bay

Savannah Bay

Captain's Bay

Really Good Beaches

Maundays Bay

Sandy Ground

Meads Bay

Little Bay

Honorable Mentions

Shoal Bay West

Sandy Hill Bay

Crocus Bay Beach

Offshore Islands

Which Beach Will You Visit First?

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

Recent Posts

Meet Your Caffeinated Blogger: Kevin!

Where I Am Now

Categories

Where I’ve Been

Upcoming Trips

Archives

Click To Follow!

Support the Blog!

Subscribe Via Email

Meta

An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide

Anguillan Delicacies to Try

Lobster

Fish

BBQ

Oxtail

Goat Stew

Peas and Rice

Plantains

Breakfast - Fry Cake Sandwiches

Rum Drinks

Anguillan Restaurants

Beachfront Restaurants

Palm Grove Bar and Grill - Nat's Place

Ocean Echo

SunShine Shack

Roy's Bayside Grill

BBQ Shacks

Jelly BBQ

Ken's BBQ