Places to Eat

handful of exciting new restaurant and bar openings in 2021!

At the time of print, restaurants are grappling over what the next steps are. We hope 2022 offers more clarity, and a reopening plan that effectively supports the needs of Cayman’s restaurant industry.

PLACES TO EAT

For a complete list of Cayman’s bars and restaurants, visit www.caymangoodtaste. com or download the recently launched Cayman Good Taste app, available for iOS and Android. Browse by cuisine type, area, price and more using the comprehensive search capability. You can also find promotions and foodie events. Follow them on Facebook (www.facebook. com/caymangoodtaste) and Instagram (@caymangoodtaste) for regular updates and giveaways. Pick up a copy of Cayman Good Taste magazine from most hotels and grocery stores for your guide on the go.

New Openings Despite the economic impact COVID-19 has had on the hospitality industry, bars and restaurants showed in 2021 that where there’s a will there’s a way. Camana Bay continues to be its very own culinary destination. After running a successful pickup and delivery-only food service in

much of 2020, Tomfoodery Kitchen & Bar opened a bricks-and-mortar location just off the Paseo in 2021. Adjacent to their existing restaurant, the Agua Restaurant owners launched a new cocktail venture, aptly called Next Door. Also new to the Crescent is the Union Grill & Bar, a trendy and upmarket restaurant and cocktail lounge. The Seven Mile Beach strip was introduced to Woto, a melting pot of fresh fish cuisine at the Westin

Beach Resort; Lloyd’s Smokehouse and Grill, a traditional Texas-style smokehouse; Cuba Libre, an authentic Cuban restaurant and lounge; Seven Mile Greens, a fast-casual salad, sandwich and soup shop; Ms Piper’s Kitchen + Garden, an inspired bar and restaurant; Door No.4, a cool cocktail bar in the new Grove development, and Arepa 345, Cayman’s first dedicated Venezuelan food truck. Further north, Tukka West moved into Morgan’s Harbour, and Le Petit Bar opened in Jacques Scott Plaza, and offers artisan charcuterie, wines and spirits. In George Town is Cayman Technology Centre’s Vine and Tap, a dedicated retail and bar space great for events, and a second Starbucks location in Monaco Towers. There was buzz around the new offerings expected at Harbour Walk, however, at the time of going to print, nothing has been confirmed.

Cafés, Bakeries & Bistros The Island is home to several fantastic cafés, where diners can seek out tasty breakfasts and lunches, as well as freshly baked bread, cakes, and pastries. Café del Sol, with locations at Marquee Plaza, SMB, and Country Corner in Savannah, has served coffee and an assortment of baked goods and sandwiches to Cayman for 20+ years. Other established coffee houses

include Paperman’s Coffeehouse which has three locations: the Strand Shopping Centre, Windjammer Plaza and Midtown

Plaza; and Jessie’s Juice Bar and Café in Camana Bay. You can visit The Pantry at Seafire, located just off the lobby of the chic Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, for freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, fresh salads and local fruit smoothies, pressed juices and steaming hot espresso. Icoa Café in Seven Mile Shops on West Bay Road is famous for their tasty cakes and a wide range of lunch options. The Brasserie Market in Cricket Square serves sandwiches and salads, along with soups, hot lunches, pastries, etc. Their daily specials are posted on their Facebook page. In George Town,

you can find Water & the Elephant, a specialty coffee bar and café located in the Cayman Technology Centre; Coffee Point Cayman, a lively spot for the breakfast and lunch crowd with daily changing specials; South West Collective, with a great all-day food menu that includes salads and freshly prepared savoury pies, delicious espressos and fresh pressed juices; and Bluestone Lane Café, a brunch and lunch destination in central George Town with hot and cold caffeinated beverages. Petit Paris, a French bakery in Camana Bay, offers an array of baked goods, lunch items like soups, salads and sandwiches on freshly baked baguettes, sweet treats imported from France and more. Pane & Pasta offers sandwiches and lunch options to go; Carnivore serves delistyle sandwiches, meats, sides and salads for lunch – while you are there, pick up your meat cuts for a quick dinner at home!

West Indies Wine Company now offers a full sandwich and salad menu for a graband-go bistro-style lunch, and Starbucks offers high-quality coffees from around the world, a selection of teas and a range of sweet treats and sandwiches. Gelato & Co. and Häagen-Dazs offer frozen treats for the enjoyment of every age, whether it’s a gelato cake, scoop or a baked good or a HaagenDazs sundae, banana split or cone or cup by the scoop, there’s a flavour for everyone. Over in North Side, Kaibo Beach Espresso coffee shop is open for breakfast from 8am daily. Sample their freshly roasted Colombian coffee and straight-out-of-theoven pastries. Their warm, flaky croissants attract a large crowd daily and go fast. They also offer hot breakfast paninis, bagels and gluten-free muffins and brownies.

Vegetarian & Vegan Food There are several great options on the Island for vegetarians and vegans. Bread & Chocolate, located on the corner of Edward Street and Dr Roy’s Drive in George Town, offers health-conscious yet hearty all-day vegan breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Don’t miss their housemade pepper sauce! Island Naturals Café in Coconut Plaza, off West Bay Road, is a popular lunchtime and early dinner spot seven days a week. They cater to healthy appetites, offering delicious, daily specials with gluten-free and vegan options. VIVO at the Lighthouse Point Resort on NW Point Road in West Bay offers delicious, plant-based food with lots of gluten-free options. Agua Restaurant has a ‘healthy lunch’ section on their lunch menu that includes vegan salads and gluten-free substitutes. Jessie’s Juice Bar and Café in Camana Bay is a popular juice bar offering raw, cold-pressed juices as well

as health foods that are fresh, local, organic and natural. South West Collective in George Town, has a very similar menu with fresh options. Britta Bush, a well-known, natural food vegan chef, owns Saucha (sow-tcha), which produces plant-based, organic and fermented foods, including krauts, kimchi, kombucha and artisan sourdough bread. Available on Bento app and at Artisan Markets and Food Festivals. The Brasserie Market, located off Elgin Avenue, has a wide selection of home-grown produce and many vegan lunch options. You will also find that most menus on the Island feature vegetarian and dairy-free options.

Tillie’s, Yoshi Sushi, Thai Orchid, China Village and even fast casual spots like Singhs Roti Shop, and Al La Kebab have very inclusive menus for dietary substitutions.

Kosher Food The Cayman Islands has a small, vibrant Jewish community and a variety of kosher food products can be sourced in Grand

Cayman. Foster’s (SEE AD PAGE 375), Hurley’s and Kirk Market have a good selection. For kosher wines, try The Tasting Room in Caribbean Plaza and Blackbeard’s liquor stores. The organisation Chabad Cayman hosts regular Shabbat dinners that are open to anyone. Visit www. chabadcaymanislands.com for more information.

Waterfront Dining Cayman has an enviable number of places to eat while overlooking the water. In the South Sound area, there is Grand Old House (Tel: (345) 949 9333), which offers classic and international dishes in an old-world setting, and is a great space for hosting large events, and Sunset House (Tel: (345) 949 7111) a laid back tiki bar serving casual food and great cocktails. Divers can even check out Sunset House’s very own ‘house reef’ before enjoying a meal on the veranda. On the George Town waterfront is Casanova Ristorante (Tel: (345) 949 7633), a lively and familyfriendly, authentic Italian restaurant that specialises in housemade pasta and pizza. Cayman Cabana (Tel: (345) 949 3080) is a very popular bar and restaurant with an expansive oceanfront deck that specialises in serving fresh, locally sourced fare. Da Fish Shack (Tel: (345) 947 8126), serves fresh local fish. The Lobster Pot (Tel: (345) 949 2736) is a popular seafood restaurant with a waterfront deck. George Town Yacht Club (Tel: (345) 947 4892) is located at the Barcadere Marina and has a great seafood and bar food menu. Kids will love the swimming pool! The Seven Mile Beach area has an array of great restaurants with

waterfront views: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (Tel: (345) 815 6912) Tel: (345) 815 6912) features six premier bars and restaurants including: Blue by Eric Ripert, AAA Five Diamond Restaurant; Seven, an upscale steakhouse serving Niman Ranch cuts; Bar Jack, a casual beach bar; Taikun, an authentic Japanese restaurant; Andiamo, where Italian cuisine meets a casual Caribbean ambiance, and Silver Palm Lounge, a refined bar and lounge. Ave (Tel: (345) 746 4111), located at the Kimpton Seafire Resort, offers coastal Mediterranean cuisine. Coccoloba, also at the Kimpton, serves a mix of local and Mexican cuisine. LUCA (Tel: (345) 623 4550), another upscale restaurant on the beach, serves contemporary Italian food. Camana Bay has a variety of waterfront restaurants including: Mizu Asian Bistro + Bar, a stylish Asian-inspired restaurant and bar, Pani Indian Kitchen, authentic Indian cuisine, KARoo, cocktails and tapas; The

Waterfront Urban Diner, American classics for an affordable price; The Brooklyn Pizza + Pasta, flavour-packed Italian and American cuisine in an edgy, urban and industrialchic setting along the waterfront; Union Grill & Bar, a new, chic steakhouse and seafood restaurant on the Crescent, and Agua, a popular waterfront restaurant featuring the best Italian cuisine with a Peruvian twist. West Bay has an excellent choice of upmarket restaurants. Morgan’s is located at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club and has a wonderful seafood menu and a lovely breeze. Also in the Yacht Club is bàcaro (Tel: (345)

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749 4800), an authentic Italian ‘tapas-style’ restaurant and wine bar. Cracked Conch and Macabuca, both offer stunning views and excellent alfresco dining. Visit Cracked Conch for white tablecloth service and a trendy bar setting. Their signature conch dishes are legendary. Macabuca offers a more laidback bar with casual food and great cocktails. Calypso Grill (Tel: (345) 949 3948) is located in Morgan’s Harbour and offers panoramic views of the North Sound with a lovely, cool breeze. Right next door is Tukka West, for a taste of Australian and Caribbean cuisine with a view. In Bodden

Town, there is South Coast Bar & Grill where diners can enjoy tasty local fare right on the beach. Upstairs at Kaibo overlooks the beach and serves upscale cuisine on the seaview veranda. Try the awarded Chefs Tasting Menu and Rare Rum Bar. A water taxi is available upon request and can also take you to the acclaimed Rum Point Club & Restaurant (Tel: (345) 947 9412), home of the Mudslide, beach BBQs and sumptuous seafood dishes. Take a walk after your meal on one of the Island’s longest docks.

Dining On A Budget Dining out in Cayman doesn’t have to break the bank. The Island’s impressive roster of restaurants includes many budgetfriendly options, such as: Al La Kebab,

Burger Shack, Chicken! Chicken!, China Village, Cimboco, Di Kit-Chin, Eats Café, Gino’s Pizzeria, Latin Taste, Pico, Singh’s Roti Shop, The Sunshine Grill, and Wok N’ Roll or try any of the Island’s fast-food restaurants. Discover promotional deals at www. caymangoodtaste.com.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants Most venues with outdoor areas will be happy to accommodate your dog; however, it is a good idea to call ahead to be sure. Some places that are openly dog-friendly

include Coccoloba, The Fish Bowl, Gelato & Co., Häagen-Dazs, KARoo, Macabuca and Salty’s. Keep your dogs on a leash and seated under your table. Food Delivery Service Many local restaurants offer their own delivery services. By ordering directly with the restaurant, you ensure the restaurant isn’t losing any commission to third-party delivery services. Visit the ‘Restaurants that Deliver’ page on www.caymangoodtaste. com for more delivery details. Let’s Eat and Bento allow users to order from a selection of Cayman’s most popular restaurants and track their food delivery in real time using their Apple and Android-friendly apps. Bento also launched ‘Booze by Bento’ in September 2021, and now offers alcohol delivery within its food app. Fine Dine-In (Tel: (345) 623 3463) and Island Grub (Tel: (345) 923 7974), which have each served the Island for a number of years, will deliver food and wine to your door from over 20 restaurants.

Food Trucks Al La Kebab has two food trucks, however Al La Kevroom was temporarily off the road as of September 2021. The operating food truck is parked at the entrance to Selkirk Drive in Red Bay. Also on the same lot is Good Mood Food Co. which serves a variety of tasty and indulgent sandwiches and burgers daily. Burger Shack’s food truck is parked in front of Country & Western Bar seven days a week. Casa 43 offers tacos and Mexican street food from its truck outside the Cayman Islands Brewery on Shamrock Road. The Swanky Stop offers freshly harvested local and seasonal produce and smoothies and is always parked at the Market at the Cricket Grounds six days a week. Arepa 345, located in the Regatta Business Park parking lot, opened in 2021 and offers a variety of Venezuelan arepas and fillings.

Tipping Minimum wage for workers earning gratuities is CI$4.50 an hour so tipping is an important part of a server’s income. Most restaurants include gratuities on the bill, however, it is good to check, as it is customary to leave a tip of around 15%. The Bar Scene Cayman’s bar scene is lively and dynamic! For a full list, visit the ‘Bars’ section on www.caymangoodtaste.com. The most popular ones are as follows:

All Stars Sports Bar (SMB) is a great place to play pool and beer pong. Food is available. Backroom (SMB) offers a setting reminiscent of the prohibition years with great cocktails. The Bird (SMB) is a hugely popular bar and restaurant known for its great vibes, late nights and delicious chicken sandwiches. Cayman Cabana (GT) supports local farmers with their fresh farm-to-table fare. They have a large bar area and outdoor deck. Coccoloba Bar & Grill at the Kimpton Seafire (SMB) is part street taco joint, part beach hut offering expertly mixed margaritas and icy cocktails. Craft F&B Co. (SMB) is a popular gastro-pub with a large list of craft beers on tap. Kaibo Beach Restaurant (North Side) offers a fun and tasty menu as well as signature cocktails and their famous Mudslide. KARoo (CB) is a popular after-work venue, offering cocktails, tapas and a daily happy hour. Legendz (SMB) is a popular sports bar with lots of comfortable seating and big screens. The Lodge (SMB) is a fun, friendly and ecoconscious bar with weekly live music and karaoke events. Lone Star (SMB) is a bustling, Texas-style bar, great for live music and TexMex food. Macabuca (WB) is a great spot to watch the sunset and divers can jump into the water right in front of the bar for a night dive. My Bar at Sunset House (GT) is a relaxed oceanfront bar just south of George Town. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset and planes arriving to Island. Next Door (CB) is a cocktail bar from the restaurateurs behind Agua. As the name would imply, it is located next door to Agua on the Crescent. The recently opened hangout offers a menu of cocktails inspired by Cayman bush medicine. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (SMB) offers a vibrant yet refined nightlife; Silver Palm

Lounge boasts an exquisite cocktail menu, with a resident DJ every Friday and Saturday evening. Taikun, Grand Cayman’s gourmet sushi restaurant, offers delectable Japanese cuisine and the Island’s largest sake selection. Sandbar (GT) is a fun waterfront daquiri bar and grill that has live music weekly. Tillie’s (SMB) is a chic beach bar and great for happy hours. Union Grill & Bar (CB) is Camana Bay’s newest bar and restaurant, located on the water on the Crescent, offering an artisanal cocktail menu. West Indies Wine Company (CB) offers wines and beer on tap and Prosecco, spirits and light bites from its menu. The Wharf (GT) is a premier waterfront restaurant that is known for its Tuesday Salsa Nights and the Boogie Nights Old School Dance Party each last Friday of the month.

The Club Scene Grand Cayman is a small island, so there are only a handful of clubs. Many bars adopt a nightclub feel later in the evening.

Lillies (SMB) is a busy late night lounge and nightclub with a younger clientele, located above The Lodge in the Strand Shopping Centre. The Lodge (SMB) is a late night bar located below Lillies nightclub which hosts a weekly array of fun themed nights and live music. Seven Mile Lounge (SMB) is a late night lounge with live music, booth seating and cocktails. Note: Cayman observes a day of rest on Sunday, so bars and restaurants stop serving alcohol at midnight on Saturday and there is no live music permitted on Sundays. Dine-in beverages continue with Sunday morning brunch openings across the Island and select retail locations now sell alcohol on Sundays during limited hours.

Cigar Bars For the perfect casual cigar scene and a wonderful range of quality cigars, visit Club Havana in Caribbean Plaza. They have a large nonsmoking section, bar area, admirable humidor selection and an in-house torcedor. Backroom in Regency Court boasts an expansive cocktail list and Cuban cigar selection and Stogies Cigar Bar across from the George Town waterfront, offers a selection of spirits and cigars.

Mixology The art of mixing the perfect cocktail is highly regarded on-Island. Luckily, bars and restaurants rise to the occasion, creating wonderful, innovative concoctions. We even have a whole week dedicated to the art of the cocktail every October for Cayman Cocktail Week. See Culinary Events in this chapter for more information. Try Anchor & Den for their gin-centric, apothecaryinspired cocktails and chilled ‘lounge’ vibe, bàcaro for their handcrafted cocktails and delectable small plates, Ave at the Kimpton Seafire for cocktails infused with local exotic fruits and a long wine list, and The Ritz-Carlton’s Bar Jack for the creamiest Piña Coladas