Dine-and-Date: 5 Cayman Restaurants to Enjoy Romantic Island Life

Food Lists Dine-and-Date

Whether you’re watching the stunningly colorful sunset from the famed Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman or from a poolside lounge chair on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac, an evening on any of the Cayman Islands blooms with romance. Keep the momentum going toward a truly great night with a delicious dinner at these five restaurants that are not only great for couples, but also embrace authentic island life.

1. Cayman Cabana
Grab your honey and go on a Thursday to start with a drink at Cayman Cabana’s rowdy bar, then head down toward the water for the weekly farm-to-table harvest dinner. Everything served comes from local island farmers and fisherman, and each seven-to-eight-course menu embodies the history of the islands. When I went, we had a fresh coconut-themed dinner, complete with house-made coconut bacon and coconut ceviche. If you get time to speak to the owner, Luigi Moxam—which you will, because he chats with everyone at the farm-to-table dinners—ask him about island culture. As a Caymanian born and bred, he has a deep appreciation for the islands.

“Most people say the Cayman Islands don’t have a culture, but they’re wrong,” he said. “The people from here, from multiple generations, they know. Turtle hunting, maritime history, cottages, farming, hurricane survival, jungle medicine—stuff like that. It’s a melting pot because it was the main trading post for the Caribbean back in the early days, but there’s a definite island culture that’s not what people think. It’s not just rich people, vacation homes and resorts.”

2. Grape Tree Café

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It may not look like much—no more than a beachside hut next to a gas station—but don’t let the Grape Tree Café’s exterior stop you from trying the award-winning food. The menu is small, with a selection of fried fish (try the wahoo, it’s steaky and filling), roast snapper, jerk chicken, conch fritters and corn. It’s perfect for an extra casual date; you can sit at one of the palm-frond covered tables and enjoy a sunset out in the open breeze, or go in the afternoon and watch fisherman come back in with their catch down the beach. Make sure to try the Swanky, the Cayman Islands’ version of lemonade.

3. The Brasserie
True, there’s no beach view at this bistro set off the main drag in George Town, but the seafood comes straight from the ocean and the rest of the menu is sourced from right next door. Literally. The Brasserie has its own garden attached to the building. If it’s a nice night, opt for a garden table inside the greenhouse. Every ingredient is seasonal and based on availability, spurring a menu change every night—so sometimes it’ll be fresh lobster, some nights a steak, other times coal-grilled fish. Can’t decide what to get? Pick the blind tasting menu, the chef will create a five-course meal prepared special just for you and your date.

4. Le Soleil d’Or

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Take a break from the resorts on Grand Cayman with a trip to rustic Cayman Brac, an island covered with coral fossils, caves and hiking trails. Spend the night at Le Soleil d’Or, a resort with a cozy Mediterranean feel and the best restaurant on the island. Everything they serve is seasonal, sourced from the resort’s 20-acre farm sitting up on the cliff next to the hotel. Ask for a tour before dinner so you can see exactly where your food is coming from. Plus, the tour guides often pull fresh fruit and veggies off the plants for guests to try. After dinner, get a couple’s spa treatment with ingredients sourced from the farm.

5. Rum Point Club

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It’s always a party at Rum Point, a local hangout with party lights, music, hammocks and a rocky beach with a perfect sunset view. The name is appropriate, too; it’s called Rum Point because back in seafaring days, barrels of rum would often wash ashore here from sinking ships. Grab a mudslide at the Wreck Bar—the spot is famous for them—then relax with your other half in one of the big hammocks while you wait for your dinner reservation at Rum Point Club. The menu is seafood-heavy (obviously) and a little more upscale. Expect to pay between KYD$25 and KYD$40 per entrée. Opt for the signature dish, the seafood hot pot. It’s a blend of shellfish, mahi and mushrooms in a Caribbean coconut broth, served with rice.

Photo by H. Michael Miley, CC BY-SA 2.0

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor, focusing on culinary travel. She has written for The New York Times, Yahoo Travel, National Geographic Traveler, Porthole Cruiser, Midwest Living, and Taste of Home Magazine. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at www.jenniferbillock.com and follow her on Twitter @jenniferbillock.

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