Want to Eat and Drink Like a Local in St. Kitts? Don’t Miss These Island Favorites

From laid-back beach bars and local cafés to fine dining establishments, there’s plenty to delight the adventurous foodie in St. Kitts.

For a truly local experience, head to the screened-in porch at El Fredo’s Restaurant and Bar in Basseterre for lunch. The kitchen itself is the size of a closet, but the aromas wafting from it — channeling garlic, curry and spices — signal that big, bold flavors are simmering inside. Selections range from Creole snapper, curry conch, garlic shrimp and chicken roti served with mashed bananas or rice and pink peas.

Spice Mill Restaurant at Cockleshell Beach offers a bon vivant beach club by day and a Bohemian-chic, open-air restaurant by night. Located at the southern end of St. Kitts on a private beach, you can see the lights of Nevis twinkling across The Narrows at night. The delicate seafood risotto with pumpkin, parmesan and truffle-scented oil is a must try. If you’re there for lunch, make a day of it with a dip in the ocean and a lounge session on a daybed.

For a similar day and night scene head to the Carambola Beach Club in nearby Friar’s Bay. The mouthwatering sushi menu is a standout at this restaurant, where they also serve a variety of surf and turf entrée options. For a more laid-back approach, try Reggae Beach Bar & Grill in Basseterre for mahi-mahi sandwiches enjoyed with your toes in the sand. And if you’re in Nevis, swing by Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill for the Killer Bee Rum Drink, a deceptively strong punch with a carefully guarded secret recipe.

Come nightfall, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino is conveniently located within walking distance of “Da Strip,” the heart of St. Kitts’ nightlife. Start your evening with a fresh fruit mojito at the resort’s bar and then venture out to the row of colorful beachfront watering holes blaring anything from reggae and reggaeton to Top 40 and house music. The strip attracts locals and travelers alike, and the scene from bar to bar ranges from low key to high energy.

Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack Bar & Grill is the place to be on a Thursday night; Vibes Beach Bar is the spot on Fridays; and ChinChilla’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar draws the ex-pat med student crowd. Here’s a tip: Wear comfortable shoes for your night out. Chances are your bar crawl will involve traipsing through the sand.