70 Best Restaurants in Cayman Islands

This rustic, waterfront bar is popular for sunset drinks, nightly farm-to-fork dinners, and delicious local offerings like conch fritters, wild snapper, and lobster.

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).

Devotees would probably award four exclamation points to the marvelously moist chicken, slow-roasted on a hardwood open-hearth rotisserie. Most customers grab takeout, but the decor is appealing for a fast-food joint; the clever interior replicates an old-time Cayman cottage. Bright smiles and home cooking from scratch enhance the authentic vibe. Hearty but (mostly) healthful heaping helpings of sides include scrumptious Cayman-style corn bread, honey-rum beans, jicama coleslaw, and spinach-pesto pasta. Prices are even cheaper at lunch.

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 seaside eatery daubed in a virtual rainbow of blues from turquoise to teal serves up fine local food, emphasizing fresh seafood and, on weekends, mouth- and eye-watering barbecue. The lusciously painted outdoor bar offers equally colorful sunsets, cocktails, and characters (one regular swears, "If I were any better, I'd be dangerous," before buying another round). At night, spotlights illuminate the reef sharks and lobsters lurking in the turtle grass below the patio. The congenial owner, Carlton Ebanks, offers regular entertainment from DJs to fashion shows and domino tournaments, whenever possible on weekends in season.

This island institution effortlessly blends upscale and down-home as the capable chefs reinvent familiar dishes to create such delectables as crispy calamari with cardamom-marinated carrots, saffron aioli, chili jam, and chipotle sauce. The interior gleams from the elaborate light-and-water sculpture at the gorgeous mosaic-and-mahogany entrance Bubble Bar to the plush booths with subtly embedded lighting. Take in the remarkable water views through large shutters, but for maximum impact, dine on the multitier patio. Stellar signature items include the conch chowder or ceviche, silken short rib ravioli with truffles and Parmesan foam, and seared scallops with lemon verbena beurre blanc, purslane, and wasabi caviar over squid-ink fettuccine. Locals flock to Sunday brunch and hang out at the dockside Macabuca tiki bar (fab sunsets and sunset-hue libations), which lives up to its mellow name, indigenous Taíno for "What does it matter?"

Arguably Cayman's first true gastropub, Craft impresses with gorgeous postindustrial decor (contrasting warm white exposed brick with gray piping) and contemporary rustic cuisine that defies labels. The kitchen dubs it “familiar food with a twist." The globe-trotting menu changes monthly and the executive chef takes sabbaticals, traveling the world for inspiration. Stellar starters include jerk pork poutine, giant kale-cheddar pierogi with house-made bacon, and addictive beer-battered cheese curds with spicy ranch dip. Every day features a special: "Melting Pot" Wednesday (fondue), Thursday raw bar featuring sublime ceviches, and wild game such as ostrich chili or wild boar rack on Tuesday. Craft takes pride in its remarkable beer selection (including gluten-free options), with tastings, flights, and food pairings. Bourbon and rum lovers have fabulous options, and mixology mavens can dive into the house infusions.

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.

West Bay's popular family-run restaurant serves up legendary raconteur Tunny Powell's fish tea, coconut grouper, barbecue ribs, and fish fry—with a generous portion of local lore and sterling sea views. The colorfully painted, gingerbread-trim lean-to is easy to miss from the main road, so look for it when you're in the area.

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.

This café in the heart of Seven Mile Beach brings healthy, wholesome, and sustainable ingredients to the streets of Cayman. Everything you see is fresh and chemical-free. Owner Lindsay Allen has been reading the labels so we don't have to. One of the standouts, a Thai green curry with soba noodles and cashews, is a great dish to feed your soul and nourish your body. Top it off with a tropical-fruit-laden acai bowl, the stuff of Instagram dreams, which will taste as good as it looks.

Overlooking the North Sound, this beach hangout rocks during the day (fantastic lunches that cost half the price of dinner, festive atmosphere including impromptu volleyball tourneys, and free Wi-Fi) and serves murderous margaritas and mudslides well into the evening to boisterous yachties, locals, sports buffs, and expats. Enjoy smoked mahi-mahi pâté, brick-oven pizzas, hefty burgers, and wondrous wraps, either on the multitier seafood platter with Christmas lights or in hammocks and thatched cabanas amid the palms. Swaddled in white muslin, the nautically themed Upstairs dining room (noted for its rare rum selection) is open nightly except Tuesday (reservations essential) and serves more creative fare at higher prices. The ultimate in romance is the catered Luna del Mar on the Friday evening closest to the full moon. Tuesday beach barbecues are popular (including limbo dancing, live music, half-price drinks, and discounted water taxi service to the "mainland").

Just follow the boisterous laughter and pulsating Caribbean tunes to this hard-to-find mint-green Caymanian cottage, where you feel like you've been invited to a family reunion. The Sunday Caribbean buffet attracts hordes of hungry churchgoers (call ahead to ensure they're open that week), but every day offers authentic turtle steak, oxtail, jerk, and delectable fried snapper with sassy salsas that liberate your taste buds from the humdrum. Avoid the overpriced Chinese dishes. There's also a George Town outpost.

The nondescript building belies the lovely marine-motif decor and luscious seafood at this second-story restaurant overlooking the harbor. Enjoy lobster prepared several ways (all à la sticker shock) along with reasonably priced wine, which you can sample by the glass in the cozy bar. The two musts are the Cayman Trio (lobster tail, grilled mahimahi, and garlic shrimp) and the Pot (lobster, giant prawns, and crab). The wildly popular Friday lunch special is the decadent CI$19 lobster burger, a hefty heifer topped with a perfectly cooked 3-ounce lobster tail, bacon, cheddar, shrimp, jalapeño, and onion rings (add the day's special wine for CI$9/bottle). The kitchen happily provides reduced-oil and -fat alternatives to most dishes; vegetarians love the flavorful chili-lime polenta with grilled artichoke in mango cream and the tofu, zucchini, and yellow-squash spaghetti. The balcony offers a breathtaking view of the sunset tarpon feeding.

This temple to sports and the cowboy lifestyle serves a Texas-size welcome and portions. If it can be barbecued, deep-fried, jerked, pulled, or nacho-ized, it's probably on the menu. Many locals swear the burgers (six options piled high with fixings from pickled jalapeños to pulled pork) and hickory-smoked barbecue ribs are Cayman's best. Such Tex-Mex standards as shrimp fajitas are appropriately mouth- and eye-watering, and regulars lick their chops at the reasonable prices, especially on theme nights, when you can get all-you-can-eat fajitas and Budweiser bucket specials.

Transforms from a casual tiki bar for divers by day to an exquisite high-end restaurant at night. One must-try: the homemade ice-cream sandwich.

It's a toss-up as to which is sexier at this pan-Pacific bistro: the sleek decor or the glistening, artfully presented food. The first, courtesy of Hong Kong designer Kitty Chan, is as sensuous as a 21st-century opium den with a back-lit dragon, contemporary Buddhas, glowing granite bar, wildly hued throw pillows, and enormous mirrors. The bartenders have developed a loyal local following for their flair in more ways than one. The chef's trot effortlessly all over Asia for culinary inspiration: terrific tuna tartare, decadent duck gyoza, killer kung pao chicken, smashing Singapore fried noodles, heavenly honey-glaze ribs, beautifully crispy Okinawan-style pork belly, and two dozen ultrafresh maki (try the signature roll). An extensive tea selection and a sake and wine list are also offered.

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.

In every respect, from the decor to the cuisine, Pani is a joyous celebration of street food from around the subcontinent, with haute gloss. The space breathtakingly creates an Indian street bazaar indoors: bamboo-and-burlap awnings, billowing multihue fabric, representations of such deities as Ganesha, a wall of dyed tea bags, and huge brass tandoor urns in the open kitchen. Among the many standouts (with just the right amount of heat, which the restaurant will happily adjust) are prawn tandoori, wonderfully complex savory chaats, lentil dosas (crepes), and paneer butter masala. The vast vegetarian options are good enough to convert the most ardent carnivores, and the express lunch is one of Cayman's best bargains.

Neapolitan-style pizzas, shawarmas, and flatbreads are served in a garden flanked with leafy palms and an authentic Italian brick oven.

A faux cow and pig greet you, and you can savor Miss Rankin's scrumptious turtle stew, lobster curry, and jerk dishes in her alluring garden. Don't miss her homemade bread pudding for dessert. If you're cooking in your condo, consider the ultrafresh produce and meats from the adjacent Rankin's butcher and farm. It's open continuously from 7:30 am to 8 pm.

Pappagallo, Italian for "parrot," hauntingly perches on the edge of a lagoon in a 14-acre bird sanctuary. Inside, riotously colored macaws, cockatoos, and parrots perch on swings behind plate glass, but Italian-born chef Alex Menegon's food is definitely not for the birds, especially his sublime risotto, pasta, and oh-so-yummy osso buco. The lost-in-the-jungle exoticism is enhanced by locally hewn stones, bamboo, homemade rope, and thatched palapas for outdoor seating. Yet the sleek deco-inspired black marble and polished brass accents bespeak the underlying seriousness. Be sure to thank Bogey, the African gray parrot, who really rules the roost.

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.