Best Anguilla Restaurants

Anguilla is an island whose people are dedicated to great eating. From a local neighborhood bar-b-q to "haute cuisine", almost all Anguilla restaurants are bound to please your palate.

On our first trip to Anguilla (March 2002), my Dad and I discovered a colorful little beach bar on Savannah Bay.

We were thirsty and starving after a long day of exploration (my sister was sick, so she and my mom were back at the villa).

To this day, that quiet meal with my Dad, the gentle waves of Savannah Bay in the background, remains one of my best experiences in all Anguilla restaurants.

We split the lobster and crayfish combo, along with a rum punch for my dad (two actually), and a Coke for me. No doubt about it, this was the best meal we had during that trip! And that includes some meals at super-expensive, 5 Star Anguilla restaurants like Blanchards and Mango's.

So naturally, during our month-long return trip, my mother really wanted to try this "best of all Anguilla restaurants" (in the words of my dad). So here we are at the Palm Grove...

The owner of the Palm Grove, Nat, actually remembered us, welcoming us back!

Of course my Dad ordered a rum punch while the rest of us had Cokes. Since I had to continuously remind Dad to drive on the left side of the road after two rum punches last time (heh heh), he stuck to one this time. Here's Nat's wife preparing it...

As you can see, my sister Yuki was rather worried because she doesn't like lobster and crayfish. But I am quite happy with anticipation...

My Dad caved in and ordered the chicken for Yuki, while the rest of us split six crayfish and a five pound lobster.

We actually saw the fisherman deliver our dinner, live!

Nat boils his lobsters to seal in the juices. Then he bar-b-q's and spices them to perfection!

Despite the anticipation, waiting for dinner at the best of all Anguilla restaurants, is easy, because a brisk sea breeze continuously refreshes and the view encourages relaxed daydreaming...

We all lick our lips as Nat approaches...

And the final verdict? Mouth-watering. Nat makes his own special hot sauce which adds even more zest to the experience.

Still the best of all Anguilla restaurants!

Honorable Mentions

Anguilla, of course, is renowned for its 5 Star, super high-end restaurants. After all, they have to keep folks like Robert DeNiro and Michael Dell coming back, right?

Our family has eaten at several, and yes... they are all superb. Surprisingly, though, the better known ones did not make as big an impression with us as our own discoveries. Nor did the more expensive ones ($$$$$) beat out the not-quite-as-wallet-breaking ($$$$). At $$$$, Nat's is still our favorite.

We're not gourmets, however, so take our opinions with a grain of salt... sea salt. In order of our preference, here they are...

da'Vida ($$$$)
da'Vida is Anguilla's finest addition to the island's list of luxury restaurants. It has an ambience and a setting that rivals any 5-star restaurant in St. Barts, located on Crocus Bay, a beach more spectacular than any St. Barts setting, and with the warmest hospitality. Do not miss da'Vida for lunch, dinner and/or tapas.

Straw Hat ($$$$$)
My parents were the first to dine at this delectable eatery. This was the only 5 Star ($$$$$) restaurant that my dad raved about. I begged and begged for a trip back, so I could sample the restaurant's fine food, but it never came. Until a very recent trip... Here's my personal report on Straw Hat.

Coté Mer ($$$$$)
Like Straw Hat, my parents beat us to the Coté Mer rum punch! The restaurant has changed hands to new French owners Stephane and Thomas. They have reinvented the meaning of "Coté Mer," creating a five-star Mediterranean eatery that quickly became one of my parents' favorite spots before becoming a now family wide obsession! Click here for Anguilla restaurant reviews of Coté Mer.

Trattoria Tramonto ($$$$)
Setting eyes on this wonderful west end Anguilla restaurant was love at first sight. Trattoria Tramonto is an upscale beach bar with a relaxed, unpretentious feel. The restaurant wins my vote for "personal favorite" for atmosphere, service, and most of all, food!

Koal Keel ($$$$)
Built in the 1700s, Koal Keel hasn't lost any of its magic! The restaurant went through some rough patches, and was closed for a while, but it was restored and is now open for business. It is here, where My family and I experienced the most beautiful (and tasty!) meal on all of Anguilla.

Oliver's ($$$$)
Our family had an absolutely wonderful meal here. The ambience is relaxed and breezy. When you make reservations, ask for a table by the edge of the terrace. It overlooks Long Beach Bay, with sensational views. And if you are a family of four (or a hungry couple), phone at least four hours ahead of time and order their "Home Style Rock Oven Baked Whole Free-Range Chicken." Stuffed with gingered sweet potatoes, it was absolutely delicious. And the price was the best deal on the menu, too.

Famiglia... An Anguilla Resort Restaurant ($$$$)
This classy restaurant was recommended to us by a dear friend and editor of Anguilla Life Magazine, Claire Devener. It is located in CuisinArt Resort's serene setting and delivers quite a meal! The idea is Mediterranean. The restaurant's concept and menu revolves around Mediterranean food and the way you eat when you're in the south of Europe: Share!

The Barrel Stay ($$$$)
Right on the shores of Sandy Ground, you'll find two Brits who "chucked it all" for this flawless restaurant, the Barrel Stay. Be sure to take the "sunset tip" and have a second helping of the "apple tarte tartin!"

The Overlook ($$$$)
*2009 Note: Temporarily Closed
Best combination of vista and great food. Literally out on a ledge, I don't know which is more sensational, the panoramic view or the magnificent meals. Click to see what I mean.

Scilly Cay ($$$$)
Scilly Cay upgrades the traditional Anguillian BBQ, transforming it into a luxury experience to remember. Scilly Cay is all about the setting. On an island all its own off of the picturesque fishing harbor, Island Harbour, the shores are shallow, still, sandy and always a clear turquoise blue. Is there anywhere so peaceful?

Tasty's ($$$$)
They don't call it TASTY's for nothing. The food must be great if it's not on the beach. Some say it's the best of all Anguilla restaurants (if you exclude the location)... but it's not the fastest, that's for sure!

Altamer ($$$$)
Hungry for a high-end Anguilla breakfast? Altamer certainly delivers with hospitality, service and delicious food. Try the specialty!

Hibernia ($$$$$)
This very high-end, East end Anguilla restaurant has had terrific reviews. And it lived up its reputation with us, too. Click here for more about Hibernia.

Blanchard's ($$$$$)
Probably the most famous of all Anguilla restaurants, due to their books. We ate there on the last night of our first trip to Anguilla. Maybe we expected too much. I'll add a Web page after we try them again. (They have, after all, won the "Best in Caribbean" award.)

Mango's ($$$$$)
A "deluxe beach bar-restaurant" on Barnes Bay. We tried Mango's on the first night of our first stay in Anguilla. Maybe we were tired after the long flight, but it was a disappointment. Too bad, because the beachfront location is terrific, and it was only a hop, skip and a jump from our villa on the same beach.

Do you know where to find the best hot dog, crayfish or french fry on Anguilla? Click here to add it to our Anguilla guide to top eats!

Note: Ever wonder how we rank these restaurants?
Click here to find out.

And that makes me wonder how do you rank restaurants? Do you agree or disagree with our family's opinion? What's your favorite? Click here to share it!