The Ultimate Guide to Bajan Food and Drinks

Barbados is a food paradise, with a vibrant culinary scene and delicious food to suit every taste. From the west coast to the south coast, the island has a variety of restaurants serving up everything from fresh seafood to traditional Bajan dishes.

Earthy spices, flavourful herbs, and fresh seafood are the order of the day in Barbados. These ingredients are used to create a wide variety of delicious dishes, from simple street food to sophisticated fine dining.

If you're looking for a dining experience that will tantalize your taste buds, Barbados is the perfect destination.

Food In Barbados 

With fresh fish, flavoursome herbs and a rich culinary history, Bajan cuisine has a wealth of traditional dishes to offer. We can guarantee that you’ll leave this tropical paradise aching to replicate the delicious food you’ve sampled on your holiday.

Flying fish and cou cou

Beloved by tourists and locals alike, flying fish and cou cou is considered the national dish of Barbados. Often served with a rich, spicy gravy, this dish packs plenty of flavour. The flying fish itself is either fried or steamed, then served on cou cou, which is a combination of cornmeal and okra.

Bajan macaroni pie

The ultimate comfort food, nobody can turn down a plate of Bajan macaroni and cheese pie. By far one of the most popular foods in Barbados, this macaroni dish is made with cheese, onion, mustard and ketchup then baked with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs. Enjoy it on its own or as a side dish to a main meal. 

Bajan Fish cakes

Cod is fried in a blend of herbs and spices, making every mouthful of this flaky food a real treat. Bajan fish cakes are often paired with a hot pepper sauce and salt bread, and makes for a great snack after sightseeing.

Cutters

Looking for a light lunch? Cutters are a type of Bajan sandwich made from savoury salt bread. It’s often topped with fresh fish, ham, egg or salad with a dollop of pepper sauce.

Bajan Rum punch

Barbados is known the world over for its rum punch. A mix of dark Caribbean rum, nutmeg, sugar syrup, bitters and lime, this drink is cool and refreshing – and just the tipple for sitting beside the pool. From resort spots to Bridgetown bars, you’ll be delighted to know it’s served pretty much everywhere.

Conkies

Satisfy your sweet tooth with conkies. A concoction of cornflour, coconut, pumpkin and cane sugar, this soft, sugary dish is wonderfully indulgent. The smooth mixture is hand wrapped in a steamed banana leaf, creating an incredible texture that you’ll want to sink your teeth into straight away.

Barbados National Dish

Unlock the vibrant cultural tapestry of Barbados with its beloved national dish, Flying Fish and Cou Cou. Adored by locals and loved by visitors, this delightful dish features tender, seasoned flying fish perfectly pan-fried or deep-fried, accompanied by a creamy blend of cornmeal and okra known as Cou Cou. Reminiscent of the island's African heritage, the dish not only satisfies hunger but also showcases the essence of Bajan hospitality, history, and traditions. Flying Fish and Cou Cou can be found across Barbados, inviting you to experience the soulful flavours and warm embrace of the island's culinary delights.

Drinks In Barbados

Barbados, known as the "Gem of the Caribbean," offers not only pristine white beaches and breath-taking landscapes but also a vibrant and diverse drinks culture. From signature rum cocktails to refreshing fruit punches, the island's beverages have captivated both locals and visitors for centuries. Barbados is renowned for its rum production, dating back to the 17th century. One must-try Barbados drink is the famous Rum Punch. This fruity concoction combines rum, lime juice, sugar, nutmeg, and bitters, creating a harmonious blend of flavours that whisk you away to a tropical paradise.

Barbadian Rum

Step foot on to this sun kissed island, where the vibrant scent of sugarcane fills the air, and a captivating sense of tradition envelopes you. Barbados has been perfecting the art of rum-making since the 17th century, and they have mastered it with expertise and finesse. Prepare yourself for a sensory journey as you indulge in the irresistible flavours of Bajan Rum. From smooth and velvety aged rums with notes of vanilla, to the fierce kicks of spiced rums infused with exotic spices, there is a taste profile to suite every palette.

Barbados Restaurants 

With its eclectic culinary influences and wide number of eateries ranging from gourmet dining to casual roadside stalls, Barbados can be considered the culinary capital of the Caribbean. These are our favourite places to dine on the island. 

West Coast Restaurants Barbados

Embark on a culinary journey along Barbados' West Coast and discover a vibrant tapestry of restaurants, including iconic establishments such as Lone Star and The Tides. Lone Star offers a charming beachfront setting, where you can indulge in delicious seafood dishes while soaking in breath-taking ocean views. For an elegant fine dining experience, The Tides is a must-visit, with its sophisticated ambiance and gourmet menu that showcases the finest local produce.

The Lone Star Restaurant

With a prime location on Barbados’ glamorous Platinum Coast, the Lone Star Restaurant is the ideal destination for elegant beachside dining. Sit back and savour the relaxed atmosphere and fabulous sea views as you dig into a fusion of European classics mixed with Caribbean influences.

Ignite your taste buds with rustic wood-fired pizzas, a mouth-watering array of expertly prepared local seafood – think mirin and soy glazed barracuda, or swordfish baked in parchment paper with white wine, garlic and herbs.

There’s also a delicious cocktail menu for those looking for a special treat – indulge in a tropically sweet Fruitini or classic Mojito Royale, or wake up your palate with a satisfyingly tart Lonestar Sour in the new cocktail lounge. Early risers can even enjoy a hearty breakfast served right on the beach.

The Tides Restaurant

With a spectacular beachside setting in Holetown, The Tides Restaurant offers fine dining in breezy, elegant surroundings. Executive Chef and owner Guy Beasley is trained in the classical French style of cooking. His dishes are designed to delight all the senses, presenting the finest local ingredients with a sophisticated twist.

Indulge in a jerk seasoned lollipop pork chop served with wholegrain mustard mash, sautéed spinach and roasted butternut squash, topped with carambola, raisin and peanut chutney and finished with red onion jus.

Those who love seafood should opt for the catch of the day, served with curried almond coconut and raisin jasmine rice and chargrilled vegetables, topped with a passionfruit sauce and tropical fruit salsa.

The Cliff Bistro Restaurant

The appropriately named Cliff Bistro occupies a dramatic cliff-edge setting overlooking the Caribbean Sea, lending it a romantic atmosphere, and making it one of our top spots for an intimate dinner. Covid-19 had a drastic impact on this popular eatery and so now the bistro is only open on Wednesdays and Sundays but still continues to offer an enticing menu of innovative fusion dishes that combine the best of Barbados cuisine and world flavours.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, two days a week, you can expect a wide menu with everything from grilled octopus and chili wings to mixed seafood linguine and coconut dahl.

Daphne’s

Over the last decade, Daphne’s has become a Barbadian institution, thanks to its warm island hospitality and menu of modern Italian cuisine. With a spectacular waterfront setting on Barbados’ west coast, this acclaimed restaurant offers a dining experience that is both refined and welcoming – the perfect accompaniment to Executive Chef Marco Festini Cromer’s enticing seafood, pasta and meat creations.

It’s a winning mixture that has attracted the likes of Rihanna, Simon Cowell, Gerald Butler and Claudia Schiffer over the years. Follow in these celebrity footsteps and try the grilled octopus with cherry tomatoes and olives, followed by linguini with shredded spicy crab, before savouring the likes of blackened dorado with fried couscous and spicy lentil salsa.

Start planning your dream holiday to this tropical destination with Best at Travel. We offer a variety of luxurious resorts in Barbados at incredible prices.