20 Best Restaurants in Anguilla

Creative cuisine, an upscale atmosphere, attentive service, and an excellent wine cellar please the star-studded crowd at Blanchards, one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean. Ever changing but always good, the contemporary menu, with items such as the warm Brussels sprout Caesar and the sesame-crusted sea bass, wins over even the most sophisticated palates. Proprietors Bob and Melinda Blanchard moved to Anguilla from Vermont in 1994 to fulfill their culinary dreams. A festive atmosphere pervades the handsome, airy white room, accented with teal-blue, floor-to-ceiling shutters to let in the breezes, and colorful artwork by the Blanchards' son Jesse. No matter what, do save room for dessert---even though choosing will not be easy.

The romantic open-air setting of Celeste by Kerth Gumbs on a promontory overlooking Meads Bay sets the stage for a memorable meal. The menu is created by famed local chef Kerth Gumbs, who has made quite a name for himself in London, including appearing on Young MasterChef and Great British Menu. Back on his home island, he cooks up creative dishes with international flare, using as many local ingredients as possible. At breakfast, there's an extensive selection including salmon eggs Benedict. Dinners include whole fish, beef tenderloin, lamb chops, and scallops, among many others. Keep this restaurant in mind for a special occasion---it absolutely will not disappoint.

As the only steak house on the island, D Richard's just off the golf course at Aurora Anguilla hits all the marks expected with the classic cuisine. Large high-quality steaks made in a Josper oven, comforting side dishes, beautifully made salads (using greens and produce from the property's hydroponic garden) grace the menu. Martinis (and other cocktails) are made ice cold to your liking and the wine cellar features so many options that an iPad is brought to your table allowing you to glance through the offerings easily. During the day lighter lunch fare (think steak sandwiches and eggplant milanese) is served and grab n' go breakfast is available for those with early tee times.

On beautiful Meads Bay, this restaurant continues to receive raves. Chef Alain has created a lovely open-air restaurant that turns out carefully prepared and nicely presented French food accompanied by good wines and personal attention. A delicious starter terrine of feta and grilled vegetables is infused with pesto. Hand-chopped Jacala steak tartare and olive oil–poached mahimahi with curry-lemongrass sauce are entrée standouts. Lighter lunchtime options include a cucumber-yogurt soup garnished with tomato sorbet. After lunch you can digest on the beach in a Fatboy lounger, but save room for dessert.

A not-to-be-missed restaurant where Caribbean flavors steal the show, Sharky's is a result of Chef Lowell Hodge's perfectionism. He does a few things here and does them well, as a usually full house well attests ("house," by the way, is an operative word---you'll dine on the front porch of a private home). The very creamy cinnamon spice soup is a great prelude to the Anguilla lobster cakes, mingled with red pepper. An outstanding entrée is the jerk shrimp served with creamy mashed potato or the chef's famous lobster stir-fry. Leave room for dessert because the black cake, a recipe that has been passed in the chef's family from generation to generation, is a must try. If you prefer your dessert poured into a glass, try the island flavored coconut mojito.

A charming owner, a gorgeous oceanfront location, sophisticated and original food, and friendly service are why this stylish restaurant on the beautiful Meads Bay has been in business since the mid-1990s. Whether for breakfast, lunch, late afternoon snack, or dinner, you will find appealing, tasty, and fresh choices to mix up or share. Try the lobster johnnycake Benedict for breakfast, the big-eye-tuna flatbread carpaccio for lunch, and the curried goat for dinner. Fish of the day is truly caught that day, and vegetarians and kids find many options, too. The coconut curry cauliflower comes highly recommended. The view of the stunning beach just a few feet away makes it difficult to leave this restaurant after your meal. The good news is that you don' t have to. Take a lounge chair and umbrella and stay for drinks, where the friendly beach service makes sure you won't have to lift a finger. 

This sophisticated sushi and teppanyaki restaurant owes its raves to its chef from Nobu in London; if you love sushi, dinner here is a must. Chances are you will find local chefs and other restaurant people here on their night out. The sake bar features terrific cocktails with names like Eager Ninja and Saketini, and chefs slice up ocean-fresh fish for sashimi and sushi both traditional and otherwise. Hot pots, rice dishes, Wagyu beef, and yakitori skewers round out the menu. There are even sushi classes for those looking for an interactive dinner experience.

On the suavely minimalist four-sided verandah, stylishly appointed tables glow with flickering candlelight from sea urchin–shape porcelain votive holders. Chic patrons mingle and sip mojitos to the purr of soft jazz in a lively lounge. Co-owner Carrie Bogar's "cuisine of the sun" features ingenious preparations, first-rate provisions, and ample portions that are shareable works of art. Sample Moroccan-spiced shrimp "cigars" with roast tomato–apricot chutney or Indian spiced yellow pea soup. Jerk-spiced tuna is served with poached pineapple, plantain chips and red pepper, and butter-poached lobster is divine, as is warm chocolate cake with toasted almond ice cream. Consider splurging on the exquisite five-course tasting menu. For a relaxing casual evening, head downstairs to Meze at Veya to lounge in an open-air Moroccan tent while you share small tapas-style Mediterranean plates. There's live music nightly and Omari Banks, one of the island's best musicians, plays on Monday and Friday.

This spin-off on the sands of Meads Bay Beach is the perfect antidote to high restaurant prices. Right next to Blanchards, this chartreuse-and-turquoise cottage serves delicious lunches and dinners of mahimahi BLT, all-natural burgers, tacos, and terrific salads and sandwiches, and there are lots of choices for children and vegetarians. Frozen drinks like mango coladas and icy mojitos please grown-ups, while kids dig into fresh-made frozen-yogurt concoctions. Organic produce and happy smiles are always on offer. You can dine at picnic tables or rent a beach chair.

Diners are welcome to hang around on the beach.

Dining at this locally owned, fine-dining restaurant on the pristine beach at Crocus Bay is a delight. A semi-open design allows the sounds and smells of the ocean to tantalize your senses while you dine on exquisite Asian-Mediterranean fusion dishes like mushroom and kale risotto and pan-seared miso grouper with lemongrass beurre blanc. Start your evening at the lounge adjacent to the main dining room with tapas and drinks before heading to your table, or make it a fun night of handcrafted cocktails and bites like the lobster spring roll and the "Spice of Life" rum concoction.

Da'Vida Beach Club is a nice, more relaxed lunchtime alternative to neighboring Da'Vida. Sitting on the stunning, calm beach at Crocus Bay, this spot is perfect for a stress-free day complete with delicious lunch options and a comprehensive cocktail and mocktail menu. Lounge under swaying palm trees or rent snorkeling equipment and fall in love with the underwater world here. Pedal boats and kayaks are also offered to take a tour of the bay on, or even make the short trip to nearby Little Bay. The Shrimp Caesar Salad pizza is a must-try.

Serious Italian cuisine and warm and attentive service are provided in a romantic beachside pavilion in Sandy Ground. It all starts with meticulously sourced seafood and freshly made pasta, which stars in classic lasagna, linguine with clams, seafood risotto, and a meatless eggplant parmigiana. A carnivorous quartet can preorder suckling pig or sample first-quality chops and steaks. Italian wine fans will discover new favorites. There's live music on Friday.

This middle-of-The-Valley landmark serves generous portions at small prices, and the selection is large for a small restaurant. With such a variety and low prices, lunchtime finds the neighborhood hangout packed with locals. The decor is nothing to speak of, but this is a great place to people-watch while enjoying these and other island-tinged specialties like beer-battered shrimp, fish-and-chips, jerk-chicken Caesar salad, snapper creole, and buffalo wings.

Part of the neighboring Malliouhana Resort, this trendy beach shack has a local, laid-back atmosphere. Have lunch on the colorful benches or sit in comfortable lounge chaises under bright umbrellas while you enjoy Thai-inspired island cuisine. From lobster pizza to shrimp pad Thai, there are no misses on this menu. On the weekend, dance under the stars with your toes in the sand to music by local bands, and witness the spectacular sunsets on Meads Bay. 

This casual, feet-in-the-sand bistro right on beautiful Shoal Bay East is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The soups, salads, and simple grills here are served in generous portions with a bit of French flair, and the delicious pizzas are cooked in a stone oven. Come for lunch and stay to lounge on the beach chaises ($20 for two includes umbrella). In the evening, the restaurant has an intimate, romantic ambience with ocean waves providing the soundtrack to your simple yet tasty dinner. 

Sparkling-fresh fish specialties have starring roles here. Sit in this semi-open-air restaurant on beautiful Barnes Bay and enjoy the salty breeze and sounds of the waves rolling in as you dive into light and healthy dishes like spicy grilled whole snapper and Cruzan rum–barbecued chicken. The warm apple tart and coconut cheesecake are worth a splurge. Sit on the Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean while you sip on a glass of wine from their extensive wine list. 

It's nonstop every day from lunch until late at this relaxed and friendly restaurant, great for salads, burgers, grills, pasta, and fresh fish. A couple of times a week there is live music as well as the possibility of dancing with an excellent island cocktail in hand. Take a seat at one of the beachside tables and enjoy the view.

This casual, wildly popular bright-red roadside Caribbean taquería, opened by a young California couple, serves huge, tasty burritos with a choice of fillings, fresh warm tortilla chips with first-rate guacamole, huge (and fresh) taco salads, seafood enchiladas, chipotle ribs, and tequila-lime chicken grilled under a brick. Passion-fruit margaritas are a must, and there are some serious tequila options. The creamy Mexican chocolate pudding and a bananas Foster chimichanga make great choices for dessert. Seating is at picnic tables; the friendly proprietors cheerfully supply pillows on request. Reservations are highly recommended as this spot usually has a line out the door. 

Tasty and shareable small plates, a friendly beach vibe, and gorgeous sunsets are on offer here, as are cool music, gentle prices, and potent tropical cocktails. The menu changes seasonally, but it always features tapas brought to a new level, usually traditional foods prepared in unconventional ways. Favorites include arugula and watermelon salad, mahimahi in a spicy garlic tomato sauce, pulled-pork sliders, and tuna poke with crispy wontons. Try the banana rum. This is different and highly satisfying fare.

Satisfying everyone's taste buds since 1999, this roadside restaurant in South Hill is a well-known spot for locals and visitors alike. You'll find that breakfast, lunch, tapas, or dinner at Tasty's is, well, very tasty. The restaurant is open from 9 am all the way through to 10 pm, making it the perfect first stop if you land hungry, and it's just a few minutes' drive from the airport or the ferry terminal. Chef-owner Dale Carty trained at Malliouhana, and his careful, confident preparation bears the mark of French culinary training, but the menu is classic Caribbean with a creole edge. It's worth leaving the beach at lunch for the seafood salad. A coconut crusted fish with spicy banana rum sauce is superb, as are the Thai inspired coconut curry chicken and the garlic-infused marinated conch salad. Don't be stuffy—try the goat stew. Yummy desserts end meals on a high note. Don't miss the specials, happy hour on Tuesday and Friday, or the Tasty's Sunday brunch. There's live music on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.