Editor’s note: Being from New York City, food and restaurants is my love language. When I travel anywhere, restaurants and food are always at the top of my mind. Anguilla’s culinary scene piqued my interest, so who better to weigh in than my friends at the Anguilla Tourism Board who know the island inside and out? This guide is filled with insider tips, hidden gems, culinary festivals you need to experience and so much more, from the ones that know it the most. Be sure to save this for your trip down to the gorgeous island.
The Only Guide to Anguilla Restaurants That You Need
Anguilla is a small island packing major flavor, and it’s repeatedly proven why it’s home to some of the best food in the Caribbean. Dine in oceanview restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs, attend annual food festivals to experience the best flavors on the island, and learn how to prepare these delectable dishes with interactive cooking classes. There is so much to discover in Anguilla!
I spoke to Nisha Dupis, Marketing Officer at the Anguilla Tourism Board, about the culinary scene in Anguilla.
SECTIONS:
- Best fine dining in Anguilla
- Hidden gem restaurants in Anguilla that locals love
- Unique dining experience in Anguilla
- Crafting a true taste of Anguilla
- Anguilla’s food festivals worth flying for
- Immersive food tours in Anguilla
- How to get to Anguilla from New York City
Best fine dining in Anguilla
UJ: What are some of the top gourmet restaurants in Anguilla known for their fine dining experiences?
NS: Anguilla is renowned for its luxurious dining scene. Here are six of the top gourmet restaurants:
Hibernia Restaurant & Art Gallery
- Cuisine: Fusion of French, Asian, and Caribbean influences
- Harbour Ridge, Island Harbour 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-497-4290
Experience: Located on the northeastern coast of Anguilla, Hibernia offers a unique dining experience focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The setting is intimate and art-filled, with an emphasis on personalized service. The menu features creative dishes that blend global flavors, often with an artistic presentation.
Salt at Four Seasons Resort Anguilla
Image source: Four Seasons Anguilla
- Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean with a Caribbean twist
- Barnes Bay, 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-497-7000
Experience: Salt is one of the premier dining options at the Four Seasons Resort. It offers a sophisticated ambiance with breathtaking ocean views. The menu showcases Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with local ingredients, with an emphasis on seafood. The restaurant is known for its elegant setting and refined service.
Image source: Cap Juluca
- Cuisine: Peruvian with a contemporary twist
- Maundays Bay, 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-497-6666
Experience: Uchu is an exquisite dining venue at Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel. It offers a unique take on Peruvian cuisine, featuring dishes like ceviche, grilled meats, and seafood with a modern flair. The setting is luxurious, with views overlooking Maundays Bay, making it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner.
- Cuisine: Authentic Italian
- 6W25+2RP, Sandy Ground 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-497-8668
Experience: Dolce Vita is a beloved Italian restaurant located on Sandy Ground. It’s known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and authentic Italian dishes. The pasta is handmade, and the seafood is fresh, often caught locally. The beachfront location adds to the charm, making it a popular choice for both locals and visitors.
- Cuisine: Caribbean-inspired with global influences
- 6W2C+M6V, Reverend Carty Road, Sandy Ground, Anguilla
- +1 264-498-8392
Experience: Nestled in a tropical garden, Veya offers a “cuisine of the sun,” blending Caribbean flavors with international culinary techniques. The ambiance is both exotic and elegant, with a treehouse-like setting. The menu is inventive, focusing on bold flavors and fresh, local ingredients.
Blanchards Restaurant and Beach Shack
- Cuisine: Caribbean and American fusion
- Meads Bay, 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-498-6100
Experience: Blanchards Restaurant and Beach Shack is an iconic restaurant in Anguilla, known for its relaxed yet upscale atmosphere. The menu offers a mix of Caribbean-inspired dishes and American classics, all prepared with a gourmet twist. The beachfront location on Meads Bay adds to the dining experience, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts.
UJ: Can you highlight chefs or restaurants that have received notable awards or recognition?
NS: From award-winning chefs to world-class dining establishments, there’s a reason Anguilla has been voted Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination 2024 by the World Travel Award. Here are a few of the restaurants putting Anguilla on the culinary world map for dining:
- Blanchards, Travel +Leisure World’s Best Awards 2023
- Ember, World Culinary Awards, 2023
- Salt @ Four Seasons, Anguilla’s Best Hotel Restaurant 2023
Hidden gem restaurants in Anguilla that locals love
UJ: Can you recommend a few hidden gem eateries that offer authentic local cuisine?
- The Valley 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-498-2639
A cozy, casual eatery that serves up a variety of authentic Anguillian dishes. It’s a popular spot among locals, known for its friendly atmosphere and hearty portions.
- South Hill Village 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-476-1456
The menu often includes local favorites like stewed goat, oxtail, and grilled fish, all prepared with care and attention to detail. The ambiance is warm and inviting, focusing on providing an authentic dining experience.
- Long Bay Village 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-235-6670
A favorite among locals for its mouthwatering barbecue. This unassuming roadside spot offers some of the best grilled meats on the island, including chicken, ribs, and fish. The food is simple but packed with flavor, and the prices are very reasonable. It’s a great place to experience authentic Anguillian barbecue in a laid-back, casual setting.
- Rendezvous Bay Beach Rendezvous Bay, 2640, Anguilla
- +1 264-476-0649
A popular beachfront eatery where you can enjoy local cuisine with your toes in the sand. Known for its grilled lobster, chicken, and ribs, this casual spot offers a true taste of Anguilla’s culinary heritage. The relaxed atmosphere and live music often add to the appeal, making it a perfect place to chill out with a cold drink and some great food.
These establishments maintain authenticity by offering flavours that are fresh and rich, preserving the warmth of home-cooked food made with attention to detail.
Unique dining experiences in Anguilla
UJ: Are any restaurants offering a particularly unique or memorable dining experience, such as beachfront dining or historical settings? How do these unique dining environments enhance the overall culinary experience?
NS: Dining in Anguilla is more than just good food. Some Anguilla restaurants create an entire experience dedicated to pairing unforgettable cuisine with the island’s unmatched beauty.
Image source: Scilly Cay
Dining at Sandy Island or Scilly Cay, the island’s off-shore cays, offer one of the most unique dining experiences in Anguilla—a day trip to a private island. Accessible only by boat, these small, family-owned island restaurants are famous for their fresh grilled lobster, crayfish, and chicken, served with their signature rum punches.
The experience is truly one-of-a-kind. Barefoot dining right on the beach, surrounded by crystal-clear waters, is a perfect spot for a leisurely, laid-back meal in paradise.
Crafting a true taste of Anguilla
UJ: How do these restaurants incorporate local flavors into their gourmet menus?
NS: Food in Anguilla is inspired by cuisines worldwide, drawing influences from West African, European, Latin, Creole, and indigenous culinary traditions. What makes dining in Anguilla so special is how it’s embodied these cooking traditions over the generations to craft a culinary identity of its own.
These establishments maintain authenticity by offering flavors that are fresh and rich, preserving the warmth of home-cooked food made with attention to detail.
Many of the Anguilla restaurants source ingredients from local farms, like Vinty’s Veggies, which provides fresh produce grown on the island. By partnering with local farmers, these restaurants ensure that their menus are not only fresh and seasonal but also supportive of the local economy.
Aurora Resort, for example, takes local sourcing to the next level with its hydroponic farm, where they grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and greens used in their restaurants, such as Tokyo Bay. This farm-to-table approach ensures the freshest ingredients while reducing the need for imported produce, thus enhancing the local flavor profile in their gourmet dishes.
Anguilla’s roadside markets and stalls are scattered across the island, often run by local farmers and vendors. These markets typically sell fresh, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Common items include mangoes, guavas, tamarinds, peppers, and a variety of leafy greens. Some stalls also offer homemade jams, sauces, and baked goods.
Anguilla’s food festivals worth flying for
UJ: What are some of the major food festivals held in Anguilla?
NS: Anguilla hosts several vibrant food festivals yearly that celebrate the island’s rich culinary traditions and showcase its diverse flavors. These events are a great way to experience the island’s culture, sample local dishes, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Here are some of the major food festivals in Anguilla that are worth flying for, alongside insights from the Anguilla Tourism Board.
Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE)
Overview: Typically held in May, ACE is a premier food festival that brings together top chefs from Anguilla and around the world. The event features gourmet dinners, cooking demonstrations, and interactive culinary experiences highlighting the island’s best ingredients and dishes. Visitors can enjoy a mix of fine dining events and more casual, beachside meals, all while learning from culinary experts.
The refined atmosphere focuses on gourmet dining, wine pairings, and culinary artistry. Many events within ACE, such as chef’s table dinners and cooking demonstrations, are intimate affairs, often held at luxurious venues like high-end resorts, private villas, or beachfront locations. This creates a more exclusive and personalized experience, where guests can interact closely with the chefs and enjoy a curated culinary journey.
While rooted in tradition, ACE also celebrates the evolution of Anguillian cuisine by encouraging chefs to experiment and innovate. The fusion of Caribbean and international flavors at the festival highlights the versatility of Anguilla’s culinary offerings and introduces new interpretations of traditional dishes.
For local restaurants, ACE plays a crucial role in promoting Anguilla as a top culinary destination. The festival helps to attract food enthusiasts to the island, increasing tourist visits and, consequently, restaurant business throughout the year. The long-term impact is positioning Anguilla as a must-visit location for gourmet travelers, which benefits the entire local food industry.
Overview: One of Anguilla’s most beloved festivals, Festival Del Mar celebrates the island’s maritime heritage and love for seafood. Held in the fishing village of Island Harbour during the Easter Weekend, the festival features fresh seafood prepared in various ways, from grilled lobster to conch fritters. In addition to the food, there are boat races, live music, and cultural performances, making it a lively and family-friendly event.
Beyond the food, the festival incorporates cultural activities such as boat races, fishing competitions, and folk music and dance performances. These events highlight the island’s traditions and provide a platform for locals to express their cultural identity. The festival is also an opportunity for younger generations to connect with their heritage through the sharing of stories, recipes, and customs.
For local chefs, fishermen, and small businesses, Festival Del Mar is an important source of income. The influx of visitors, both local and international, during the festival provides a significant boost to the local economy. It’s an opportunity for small vendors to showcase their skills and products to a larger audience, potentially attracting new customers and business opportunities.
Overview: Welches Fest offers a rich, immersive experience that celebrates Anguilla’s agricultural and culinary traditions in a warm, community-focused setting. The atmosphere is authentic and welcoming, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the heart and soul of Anguillian culture.
The festival features live music and performances that highlight Anguilla’s cultural heritage. Local bands play traditional music, and there are often performances of folk dances and songs. These cultural elements add to the festive atmosphere, providing entertainment and a deeper connection to the island’s traditions.
In addition to the food and music, Welches Fest includes displays of traditional crafts and demonstrations of old-time skills like broom-making, basket-weaving, and thatch-roofing. There are also competitions and games that harken back to simpler times, such as tug-of-war and sack races, further contributing to the nostalgic and community-focused atmosphere.
Immersive food tours in Anguilla
Want to take a piece of Anguilla home with you after your stay on the island? Learning local cooking techniques lets you bring the rich flavors of the island everywhere you go. Visitors can participate in Anguilla cooking classes on the island to master the art of cooking island-style seafood and other dishes. Check out this highly recommended cooking class from our friends on the island.
Aurora Resort’s Chef Joe’s sushi cooking classes feature everything you’ll need to know to master the art of sushi–making at home. After crafting your own sushi creations, indulge in a delectable second course prepared by the chef, followed by a delightful dessert.
Conclusion
Anguilla has restaurants catered to everyone and it’s easy to experience the diverse culinary options. Whether you’re looking for fine dining experiences at upscale restaurants, the low-key ambiance inside beach shacks that will surprise you with tasty homestyle cooking, or the delicious restaurants established inside the island’s major resorts, you’re going to be in for a real treat.
How to Get to Anguilla from New York City
Are you inspired to book your trip?
There are plenty of options! In good news, there are direct flights but you’re going to have to schlepp to JFK, but it may be worth it to skip a stopover. From New York (JFK), American Airlines operates several weekly flights to Anguilla! The flight time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. (That’s a shorter flight time than to the west coast)
You can also take American Airlines from EWR or LGA with a stop in Miami. And if you haven’t been to LGA recently, you’re missing out on the ‘Best Airport in the US,’ according to Forbes Travel Guide.
Delta and JetBlue also operate flights, with one-stop via Saint Martin (SXM) or San Juan. Check all airlines for more details.
*This article was written in partnership with the Anguilla Tourism Board
