7 Best Restaurants in The Cayes and Atolls, Belize

Chef-owner Darren Casson has done it again with this global fusion restaurant (with a pan-Asian bent), lighting the way for a culinary scene to unfold on North Caye Caulker. Dynamite dishes include orange peel firecracker ribs and an aged rib eye with chimichurri sauce. At lunch, you'll also find classics like quesadillas or the daily Belizean special. Located at Blu Zen Resort, Lotus is not as atmospheric as the more intimate Hibisca by Habanero, but the menu is at least as interesting. 

Want to treat yourself? Head up to the magnificent Matachica Resort and dine leisurely in its tropical-chic veranda. In 2021, two celebrated chefs crafted a new vision for Mambo, dividing it into two––a bit confusing, but a game changer. You can now enjoy the all-day "light fare" and casual ambience of Mambo Bistro, as well as the more sophisticated Mambo Restaurant (which is dinner-only and has a "resort casual" dress code). Both options are outrageously stylish, splurgy, and delicious––we're talking an in-house mixologist and a prix-fixe weekend brunch. At the Bistro, people clamor for the chewy sourdough breads and pizzas, while seafood mains, like the banana leaf snapper, are the highlight of Mambo Restaurant. The kitchen uses ingredients grown at Matachica's sister property, the jungle lodge Gaia. Breakfast and lunch are less pricey. Note that only guests 10 and up are at allowed at Mambo Bistro, while only guests 16 and up are allowed at Mambo Restaurant: it's not your place for multigenerational occasions. Call ahead to see if a complimentary boat can be arranged to pick you up in town. 

Even if you're not overnighting at Victoria House, you can still enjoy its sumptuous setting over elegant dishes at Palmilla. While Palmilla is known for dinner, we recommend the more affordable breakfast and lunch, when you can enjoy the gorgeous patio in daylight. Meditative sea views and the resident iguanas set the scene at these hours. The chef does an especially fine job with seafood, notably the grilled lobster. Palmilla offers free transportation to guests within a 2-mile radius.

A hip, LA-style restaurant of local renown, Red Ginger enlivens the island's food scene—no sea views here, but the gorgeous teal palm-leaf motif anchors you in the Caribbean. At dinner, start with ginger punch and chipotle shrimp salbutes, then accompany your entrée with a hand-selected wine. (Co-owner Mukul Kanabar might just be the only Belizean-certified sommelier in Belize!) Breakfast and lunch are superb, cheaper, and more casual. Our favorite time to go is weekend brunch, when you can sip a mimosa over an elaborate sesame shrimp eggs Benedict. Dishes at Red Ginger can at times slump under creative ambition (seafood ceviche doesn't always need a modern twist, for instance), but it's still great for a splurge. A bonus: the owners have done excellent public service projects in Belize, including giving about 80 full high school scholarships to the children of employees. 

Glowing with lamplight, Hidden Treasure brings to mind a treasure chest cracked open, and indeed it's a gem. Tucked away on a residential back street, this open-air restaurant offers sophisticated dishes with local flavors. Try the signature barbecue ribs, which are seasoned with traditional Garifuna spices and glazed with pineapple sauce. Owner Ruben Muñoz, who was born in Belize City, opened Hidden Treasure in 2008; since then it's become one of the most renowned spots on the island. A  gorgeous lounge upstairs---floored with bamboo, mahogany, and cabbage bark wood---hosts special events. Hidden Treasure offers a complimentary shuttle service to guests staying in or south of San Pedro Town. 

Escargot and foie gras in Belize? Why, yes––the famous "Pat the Frenchman" has created a culinary experience so impressive you'll write home about San Pedro's sizzling food scene. Chef-owner Patrick Parmentier does marvels with butter, olive oil, spices, and all other good things in his succulent dishes. In the backyard, Le Jardin––a beautiful garden furnished with handmade tables under wooden pergolas––is ideal for a predinner cocktail. With so much imported, including the culinary style, this isn't your spot for local flavor; but it's fun for a change of pace. The food is out of this world, and so are the prices. Frenchy's is small; reservations are encouraged. 

Simple decor and few walls make space for this rooftop's real ambience: the Caribbean horizon and watercolor sunsets. Some of the prices are jaw-dropping, but so are the culinary creations: executive chef and San Pedrano Samuel Gonzalez has a way with local ingredients and all things seafood. From-the-land dishes shine, too: options such as the bleu cheese-crusted filet mignon use ingredients the island seldom sees. It's possible to pop into Rain for a cocktail and watch the sunset. Just below Rain is Aqua, another of Gonzalez's high-profile restaurants, known for exquisite sushi. Both are attached to the resort Grand Caribe.