21 Best Restaurants in Cayman Islands

The Ritz-Carlton's all-purpose dining room, which features tall potted palms, soaring ceilings, a black-and-beige color scheme, and twin wine walls bracketing a trendy family-style table, transforms from a bustling breakfast buffet to an elegant evening eatery. Sinatra and Ella keep a sultry beat, while the kitchen jazzes up standard meat-and-potatoes dishes with inventive seasonings and eye-catching presentations. Splendid aged Niman Ranch steaks come with five sauces and rubs, from five-peppercorn to béarnaise. The calorie- and cholesterol-conscious can savor the likes of melt-in-your-mouth ahi tuna poke. Then surrender to the chocolate and sea-salt-caramel candy bar. Nightly happy hour (5–7) offers superb bar snacks like tempura Brie with local pepper jelly and jerk maple-glazed pork belly. The wine list is pricey but well considered; the creative craft cocktails also make surprisingly splendid pairings.

Actuaries, bankers, and CEOs frequent this contemporary throwback to a colonial country club for lunch and for "attitude adjustment" happy hours with creative cocktails and complimentary canapés. Inviting fusion farm- and sea-to-table cuisine, which emphasizes local ingredients whenever possible (the restaurant has its own boat and garden), includes terrific bar tapas. Dishes deftly balance flavors and textures without sensory overload: this is serious food with a sense of playfulness. Save room for dessert, from an artisanal cheese plate to an ice-cream-and-sorbet tasting menu and elaborate architectural confections. Lunch is more reasonably priced but equally creative; the adjacent Market excels at takeout, and the wine list is well considered.

Classic Caribbean dishes use produce from local farms in a homey environment. Great beach views and a tropical atmosphere round out the experience. The restaurant works equally well as a chilled-out lunch spot as it does a laid-back party venue. Try the sweet-potato-and-cheese empanadas, Mr. White pizza, or green papaya salad. Enjoy the sounds of the sea lapping against the shore. After lunch, flop onto a shaded lounger and rest up ahead of the spectacular sunset display.

The market is always packed. Get some coffee or tea, or design your own wrap or salad.

This easygoing vegan café whips up simply glorious plant-based plates. Or just get a flat white (with almond milk), homegrown kombucha, or vegan cookie.

Ads trumpet that this restaurant—overlooking a garden with a cheery tropical motif—is "where the islanders dine"; indeed they have since the Robinson family started selling takeout from its kitchen in 1965. The West Indies breakfast, themed lunch, and Taste of Cayman dinner buffets are legendary spreads. Local food (curried goat, oxtail with broad beans, turtle soup, and heavy cake) is authentic, hearty, and cheap. Pricier global dishes range from chop suey to enchiladas and fine Indian vegetarian options like samosas and masala dal (lentils simmered with green chilis).

This animated space celebrates all things fun and Caribbean with pastel walls; cobalt glass fixtures; National Archive photographs and old newspapers about the spot's namesake, Cimboco, the first motorized sailing ship built in Cayman (in 1927); and flames dancing up the exhibition kitchen's huge wood-burning oven. Everything from breads (superlative bruschetta and jalapeño cornbread) to ice creams is made from scratch. Artisanal pizzas come topped with balsamic-roasted eggplant, pesto, and feta or with jerk chicken with Bermuda onions. Signature items include banana-leaf-roasted snapper and fire-roasted bacon-wrapped shrimp. Amazing desserts include a sinfully rich brownie. The popular breakfast and brunch are equally creative.

This classic clapboard seaside shanty couldn't be homier: constructed from an old fishing vessel, the structure is an authentic representation of original Caymanian architecture. The deck is perfectly placed to savor the breezes and water views, and the chill Caribbean vibe makes it feel as if you're having the freshest seafood at a friend's home. The owners source fresh, local ingredients wherever possible and have developed relationships with Caymanian fishermen, who often cruise up to the dock with their catch. Savor jerk fish tacos, saltfish fritters, coconut shrimp with pineapple-tomato salsa, and golden crunchy breadfruit fries. Landlubber selections run from pork chops with pineapple butter to baby back ribs braised in Jack Daniels. Free Wi-Fi and occasional DJs are bonuses.

This busy and eclectic eatery has a vast menu (Cajun to Chinese), including smashing breakfasts and 10 kinds of burgers (fish and veggie versions are available). The decor is dramatic—crimson booths and walls, flat-screen TVs lining the counter, steel pendant lamps, an exhibition kitchen, gigantic flower paintings, and Andy Warhol reproductions. Other options include a Caesar salad, samosas, Philly cheesesteak, and chicken fajitas. It's noisy, buzzing, and hip—but not aggressively so.

The closest thing to a genuine sports bar and nightclub on Little Cayman, the Iggy caters to the aquatically minded set with a marine mural, wood-plank floors, mounted trophy sailfish, lots of fishing caps, and yummy fresh seafood. Conch fritters are near definitive, while lionfish fingers—when available—with jerk mayo are mouth- and eye-watering. Prix-fixe theme nights offer fine value: pizza, fajitas, curry, and more. Drink in the smashing sunset views on the delightful patio overlooking the water, and also drink the house specialty Iguana Punch (rum, rum, more rum, and coconut rum with orange and pineapple juices).

Icoa, the goddess of water, worshipped by the Indigenous people of Venezuela's Paria Peninsula, was renowned for her exceptional beauty and alluring perfume. Innovative Dutch chef Jurgen Wevers crafts food that likewise stimulates the senses with cutting-edge cuisine, from Thailand to Tunisia and Tampico, taking center stage. Asian street food reigns supreme: taste buds tango to a duck-confit rice crepe with shiitakes, fired shallots, basil, cucumber, and hoisin-lemongrass broth. Fresh-baked breads make a meal in themselves. The adjacent space has been converted into a contemporary wine bar called ENOTECA with its own light menu. Desserts are remarkable, and you can also buy handcrafted chocolates infused with fresh Key limes, passion fruit, pineapple, and Cayman honey.

Nestled in the backyard of Seven Mile Beach, Ms. Piper’s cottage holds mementos of her travels, influencing the dishes, drinks, decor, music, and special touches. Her kitchen is a reflection of her life journey—a representation of her cultural and spiritual pursuits as well as her celebration of graceful aging that is abundant and never-ending. Ms. Piper has created a space marked by free spirits, fashionable wanderers, spirited youthfulness, and natural femininity. 

This fun, funky seaside spot brims with character and characters (a soused regular might welcome you by reciting, "The daily lunch special: chilled barley soup . . . That's beer"). Expertly prepared local fare (Cajun chicken, conch steak, or Cayman rock lobster escoveitch, served with rice and beans, plantains, and fried festival bread) is a bargain, especially at lunch, though the chef also surprises with such gussied-up fare as shrimp in Pernod sauce and turtle steak in Port. The nutty nautical decor—brass ships' lanterns dangle from the ceiling, and steering wheels, lacquered turtle shells, and fishing photos adorn the walls—contrasts with cool mirrored ads for Gitanes and Mumm Cordon Rouge and the trendily semi-open kitchen with fresh fish prominently displayed. The jukebox jumps (country music rules the roost), and the tiki-torch-lit terrace offers stunning views and fresh breezes.

Inspired by the vibrant culture and glamour of the 1960s jet set society, Saint June provides an inviting atmosphere where guests can savor refreshing cocktails and exquisite dishes. Signature creations include local favorites like jerk chicken with mango slaw, and South American dishes such as Argentinean beef empanadas and Mexican esquites (toasted corn). Guests may also enjoy the Tourist Tree, made from local botanicals, or inventive drinks like Chic and Skinny, blending mezcal with local flavors. All this, surrounded by the stunning beauty of Seven Mile Beach.

This cheerful, cherished locals' secret serves haute comfort food—great burgers, wahoo-mushroom bites, and fabulous fish tacos—that elevates pub grub to an art form at bargain prices. Even the poolside building, painted a delectable lemon with lime shutters, multihue interior columns, and orange and blueberry accents, whets the appetite. Wash your food down with a signature libation like the Painkiller, and take advantage of affordable nightly dinner specials such as red snapper amandine in lemon butter caper sauce, and Cuban roast chicken marinated with sour orange, garlic, lime, and olive oil.

Ultracontemporary design with industrial elements (exposed piping, raw timber, tugboat salvage) is a counterpoint to the down-home fare at this bustling glorified diner, whose choice seats are on the patio. Comfort food aficionados can launch into the splendid chicken and waffles, meat loaf, and poutine. The kitchen is also adept at more inventive dishes, such as a polenta-portobello burger with goat cheese and a pork belly taco with cilantro and spicy kimchi sauce. Finish off your meal with the enormous cinnamon bun, though it might finish you off.

The Wyndham Reef Resort's all-purpose dining room (formerly known as Pelican's Reef) converts into a refined space come evening, with its marine murals and nautical paraphernalia (rigging, fishnets) illuminated by candles and clever partitions made of framed sails enhancing its intimacy. Most of the kitchen hails from the Caribbean, but even the buffets merrily marry culinary influences from India to Italy, with dishes such as saffron-infused hummus and spring rolls with wasabi. Regular menus are somewhat stodgier, from shiitake burgers to seafood linguine. Occasional limbo contests and the iconic Barefoot Man's inimitable song stylings on Thursday can change the vibe from romantic to raucous.

This peaceful waterfront restaurant offers one of the best views in Cayman. You may be wowed by the gluten-free yet delicious dishes—all Caribbean inspired, of course. Tucked neatly under the Lighthouse Point Hotel, the café uses only sustainable, organic local products including freshly made kombucha and juices. For lunch or dinner, must-tries include the coconut ceviche to start and the fish burger or vegan curry.