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Probably the most famous Jamaican dish is jerk pork—the ultimate island barbecue. The pork (purists cook a whole pig) is covered with a paste of Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento berries (also known as allspice), and other herbs, and cooked slowly over a coal fire. Many aficionados believe the best jerk comes from Boston Beach, near Port Antonio. Jerk chicken and fish are also seen on many menus. The ever-so-traditional rice and peas is similar to the moros y cristianos of Spanish-speaking islands: white rice cooked with red kidney beans, coconut milk, scallions, and seasonings.
The island's most famous soup—the fiery pepperpot—is a spicy mixture of salt pork, salt beef, okra, and the island green known as callaloo. Patties (spicy meat pies) elevate street food to new heights. Although patties actually originated in Haiti, Jamaicans excel at making them. Curried goat is another island standout: the young goat cooked with spices is tenderer and has a gentler flavor than the lamb for which immigrants from India substituted it. Salted fish was once the best that islanders could do between catches. Out of necessity, a breakfast staple (and the national dish of Jamaica) was invented. It joins seasonings with saltfish and ackee, a red fruit that grows on trees throughout the island. When cooked in this dish, ackee reminds most people of scrambled eggs.
There are fine restaurants in all the resort areas, many in Kingston and in the resorts themselves. Many restaurants outside the hotels in Mo'Bay and Ocho Rios will provide complimentary transportation.
What to Wear: Dinner dress is usually casual chic (or just plain casual at many local hangouts, especially in Negril). There are a few exceptions in Kingston and at the top resorts; some require semiformal wear (no shorts; collared shirts for men) in the evening during high season. People tend to dress up for dinner; men might be more comfortable in nice slacks, women in a sundress.
One of Kingston's best fine dining experiences, this restaurant is known for its intimate atmosphere and creative menu, which garner rave reviews for classic international dishes that incorporate local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is small, so it doesn't feel overwhelmingly crowded, and guests can choose to dine indoors or on the patio.
The intimate atmosphere, classy decor, and top-notch liquor selection make this quaint restaurant a popular date-night spot. The menu reveals plenty of international influences—Korean barbecue ribs, Thai curried shrimp, and New Zealand lamb chops are among the favorites. On Wednesday evenings, Jamaican-style seafood is the specialty. On the north side of the city, it's one of Kingston's more upscale eateries, with a friendly staff and soft, relaxing background music.
This open-air restaurant right on the beach is Negril's go-to for delicious lobster that you select and the staff prepares anyway you like—grilled, curried, or roasted. You can also get delicious king crab here, along with fresh fish and shrimp. Dine on the restaurant's deck or on the beach.
The intimate ambience, varied menu, excellent service, and contemporary decor have made this one of the top restaurants in Kingston. The menu features mainly European dishes, but Caribbean influences are strong. Weekend brunch features delicious cocktails, gourmet pancakes, chicken and waffles, and other specialties. A second location, Fromage Brasserie, is located in Kingston's Marketplace village.
As part of the restoration of Downtown, Kingston's most beloved seafood restaurant opened a location at the Victoria Pier; the original location is still in Port Royal. The restaurant, designed with windows and glass doors to take in the water views, serves up classic Jamaican seafood dishes with sides like rice and peas, bammy (thick flatbread made from cassava), and crackers. The open-air third floor has a lively bar and a terrace overlooking Kingston Harbour.
Upscale Caribbean cuisine, stunning cliff-side dining, and romance make this one of the best places to eat on Negril's West End. Watch the spectacular sunset while enjoying a cocktail by the simple thatched bar and eatery, decorated with funky art. For a special, intimate dinner, you and a guest can dine in the private, candle-lit area. You can dress up or dine in casual wear.
This popular, open-air spot serves delicious Italian food—pizzas, pasta, and local seafood dishes—in a relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant is beautifully lit with stylish all-white decor in the main dining area, along with private cabanas, an outdoor dining area, and a bar. A DJ keeps guests entertained throughout the night.
This hidden gem of a French restaurant is a rarity on the north coast—a chance to enjoy excellent service and deftly prepared dishes like grilled calamari and salmon fillet. This rarely crowded spot has all-white decor, soft background music, and colorful artwork, and there's an extensive wine list.
Local celebrities, residents, and tourists frequent this beachside restaurant that serves some of the best seafood in Ocho Rios. The namesake signature dish can be prepared in a variety of ways: curried, jerked, barbecued, cracked, or grilled. Other seafood dishes, like fish, conch, and shrimp—along with chicken—are also popular, and the bar serves a mix of cocktails and drinks. The restaurant is steps from Fisherman's Beach (near the port), where you can get a boat ride or relax and vibe to the music.
Along Montego Bay's Hip Strip, this colorful restaurant is a favorite spot for families thanks to its 110-foot waterslide into the sea, water trampolines and slides, and a sunset deck. When it's time to settle down for lunch, the menu offers some Caribbean-influenced items such as jerk burgers and seafood dishes, along with lots of all-American fare. At night, the slides are closed, and the restaurant takes on nightclub vibe with a dance floor and DJs.
The colorful decor, authentic Jamaican food, and rustic, country ambience at Miss T's Kitchen will give you the feel of a true Jamaican culinary experience with a few vegan and vegetarian options thrown in. Anna-Kay Tomlinson, the charming "Miss T," turned her love and passion for Jamaican food into one of the town's most popular Jamaican eateries. Guests can dine in the main dining area or in the wine bar.
This family-operated restaurant is small and casual, but don't be fooled by its size, as the delicious seafood meals will have you wanting to return again and again. The food is made with fresh, local ingredients and is so beautifully presented, you'd think you were at a much more spendy restaurant. Eat in the brightly colored dining room or outside at a picnic table.
After tropical drinks at the deck bar, you'll be ready to dig into the traditional Jamaican fare and Jamaican-influenced seafood dishes at this open-air restaurant located on Montego Bay's Pier 1 waterfront. Occasional party cruises leave from the marina, and on weekends and holidays the restaurant is mobbed by partying locals.
This restaurant's name perfectly describes its location: directly by the sea cliff, and with spectacular scenery and views. The menu features traditional Jamaican dinner dishes, as well as seafood dishes, soups, and salads. The open-air layout allows guests to enjoy the gentle breeze from the sea, and the dining room features rustic furniture. Guests are encouraged to call ahead with their order, as all meals are freshly prepared.
A Negril institution since the hippie days of the 1960s and 1970s, Rick's is one of the resort town's best-known landmarks and attracts busloads of revelers for sunset every evening. Love it or hate it, it's worth experiencing at least once on a trip to Negril. The live reggae band that performs several days per week for the sundown hours gets the party mood in full swing, and the local boys jumping off the nearby cliffs are often joined by high-spirited tourists. While the liquor flows you can also dine at the restaurant serving pasta, seafood dishes, and Jamaican desserts.
This restaurant is a must for dinner at least once while visiting Jamaica, as the menu features both traditional Jamaican cooking and Rockhouse's interpretation of "new Jamaican cuisine," inspired by the many cultures that have come to the island. The open-air dining area has huge comfy bamboo sofas where you can relax for an aperitif or after-dinner drink; tables are arranged near the cliff for sensational seaside dining. For special occasions, private tables for groups can be set up in a cabana, on an intimate terrace, or on a lower deck. The staff is friendly and attentive. Much of the food is organically grown right across the road.
This hugely popular spot on a stunning stretch of beach in Salem buzzes with guests relaxing over drinks and sea views and listening to DJ tunes on weekend evenings. The menu features best hits of the seafood favorites—lobster, conch, crab, shrimp, and octopus. Various chicken dishes, salads, and wraps are also offered. Dine inside, or opt for a table outside, as long as you're okay with getting sand in between your toes.
Named for the massive almond tree growing through the roof, this Ocho Rios restaurant is one of the most romantic restaurants in the resort town. The menu is a mixture of Jamaican and international dishes including seafood, a variety of chicken and beef, and other traditional Jamaican meals. For many, the evening starts with a drink at the terrace bar overlooking the sea followed by dinner alfresco (or in the dining room).
Set on the roof of the R Hotel, this Caribbean-fusion restaurant helmed by renowned Jamaican chef Brian Lumley and offering expansive views of the Kingston skyline is an ideal spot to celebrate a special occasion. The restaurant features a small pool closed to guests during dining hours, and on weekend evenings, a DJ takes center stage, playing music until closing time.
Open all day and right on the beach, this charming thatch-roof restaurant is one of the top spots for dinner on Negril's 7-mile (11-km) strip of sand. The menu specializes in Jamaican cuisine with an international twist, with meals covering sea, breeze, and land. All food is cooked to order, so come prepared for a long languorous meal. During the day you can lounge on beach chairs. The restaurant will bring you here for free if you're staying in Negril.
The Charela Inn's pretty restaurant is lit up with strings of Christmas lights, with tables set out on the beach (there's also a covered patio area in case it rains). There are Jamaican favorites on the menu along with the likes of escargot, crepes, and soufflés. A different five-course menu is offered each night in addition to the à la carte dishes. The French-Jamaican owners get much of the produce here from the hotel's own farm, and the delicious pastries and desserts are all homemade. Thursday night brings live jazz, blues, and vintage reggae and on Saturday there's folkloric music, drumming, and dancing while you dine.
This eatery set in a former slave quarters has a loyal following for authentic Jamaican meals, seafood dishes, and delicious jerk (marked with the restaurant's very own special jerk sauce). The restaurant is in the town's center and is just a short walk away from the Falmouth Port. Delivery and free Wi-Fi are available.
Although open only since 2020, this rustic, casual eatery in quiet Richmond has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants on Jamaica's north coast. The menu is divided into Jamaican, American, Asian, and vegetarian sections, and portions are hearty. Most nights a DJ entertains the crowds, and on Friday there's a live band.
Diners can enjoy versions of traditional Jamaican street food in the comfort of a colorful, cliffside restaurant. The menu features traditional house-cooked Jamaican meals and seafood dishes. There's also a bar and great music (DJ or live band) to keep guests entertained. It's a great place to grab a drink (they offer a variety of Jamaican rums) and watch the sunset, too.
This outpost of the Jamaican chain is the most modern in the country, while remaining true to the brand's casual dining and sports-bar ambience. Everything about the restaurant screams "Jamaican pride," from the Usain Bolt statue out front and the gift shop's exclusive Brand Bolt merchandise to the authentic Jamaican food, like jerk seafood, classic red peas soup, jerk chicken and pork, and delicious cocktails.
This thatched-roof restaurant on Seven Mile Beach draws crowds with its water trampolines, waterbeds, swing chairs, beach chairs, and umbrellas, and there's always some form of entertainment—often it's a live band. But the food is terrific, too, from fresh seafood to traditional Jamaican classics. There's also a coffeehouse and a gift shop.
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