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There are 85 restaurants on the Cayman Islands with a huge variety of cuisine. Some of them are obvious tourist traps while others offer world-class dining.
This article will detail what I consider to be the top 9 restaurants on Grand Cayman—for every budget.
Choosing just 9 was a very difficult task because I could have listed 20 or even 30. However, if you were a friend coming to the Cayman Islands for 10 days, these are the 9 restaurants I would take you to.
Obviously, the first day you’d be tired so we would go to the burger bar. The other 9 days would look like this:
1. Bacaro
Bacaro is a Cayman Yacht Club restaurant that offers a superb combination of warm hospitality and mouth-watering Italian food and wine.
When you dine at Bacaro, you can enjoy your lobster bites or zucchini parmigiana while sitting one veranda, watching the yachts sail by. It’s certainly a pleasant experience.
If you’re not ready to order, Bacaro’s cellar offers some of the best premium wines in the Cayman Islands. With good timing, you could also enjoy an “aperitivo”.
In Italy, an aperitivo is a pre-meal drink that whets the appetite and is served during a special happy hour. At Bacaro, happy hour is 5-7 pm (Tues-Sat).
2. Morgans
From the ocean to your table and onto your fork—that’s the Morgan’s way in a nutshell.
Morgan’s is an elegant waterfront restaurant where you can enjoy the best fresh seafood while enjoying the panoramic views of Governor’s Creek.
The restaurant is owned and run by husband and wife team Richard and Jane. They have made it their mission to provide the best seafood on Grand Cayman.
Although the seafood risotto and local lobster are too good to miss, diners in search of meatier options can opt for a 10 oz Jerk Burger or 14 oz rib-eye steak.
3. Vivo
Vivo is an alternative cafe and restaurant that specializes in providing the best “food for the soul”.
In this case what’s good for the soul is equally good for the body. Vivo’s eco-friendly menu offers some of the best vegan and vegetarian options on the island.
This popular West Bay restaurant also offers a good selection of gluten and dairy-free dishes.
Lionfish is one of the more interesting options on the menu.
The population of lionfish in the Western Atlantic is growing at an alarming rate and disrupting the food chain.
Vivo is doing its bit to help by adopting an attitude of eat ’em to beat ’em.
4. Casanova
Casanova is a restaurant for lovers of good simple food and wine. This Italian Restaurant with a view offers a combination of the best in Mediterranean and seafood cuisine.
The wine list is equally varied and contains something for all tastes. Not sure what to choose? There’s always an expert sommelier on hand to help you decide.
Dining in a group? No worries. The main restaurant can cater for most party sizes, inside and outside on the terrace.
The Casanova Wine Cellar is the perfect venue for an intimate sit down dinner or small cocktail party. For larger groups, the upstairs restaurant is the place to go.
5. Ragazzi
Ragazzi is another popular Grand Cayman Italian restaurant and it’s an absolute must for pizza lovers. This warm and vibrant restaurant with its authentic Italian wood-burning pizza oven offers the best pizzas on the island.
As you would expect from any self-respecting Italian restaurant, the Ragazzi wine list is pretty good too. Apart from offering some of the best wines from Italy, it has a wide selection of wines from all over the world.
There’s a good atmosphere in this restaurant and it’s become a firm local favorite and don’t go thinking Ragazzi is just about Pizzas. The menu includes many traditional Italian pasta dishes and seafood specials.
6. Heritage Kitchen
It’s hard to know where to begin with Heritage Kitchen. It’s a true hidden gem that many Grand Cayman visitors are unlikely to experience.
Apart from being one of the cheapest places to eat on Grand Cayman, Heritage Kitchen offers some of the most authentic fish dishes on the island.
A popular local haunt, Heritage Kitchen is a truly awesome choice for a relaxed Friday night.
Whether you go for the home-cooking-style food or just to enjoy the views of the beach, this is an amazing place to go. Order your fish and eat it with your toes in the sand.
7. Any Camana Bay Restaurants
Camana Bay is the shopping hotspot of the Cayman Islands. Whenever I go to eat in Camana Bay, I like to have an “apéro” at Abacus West Indies Wine Bar before going for my meal.
Then I cross to Abacus for my meal. Or Agua, or The Waterfront, or Pani the Indian. Really all restaurants in Camana Bay are good!
8. Burger Shack
It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how sophisticated you think you are, sometimes a good burger is the only thing that will do.
You know it’s true. Why fight it? If you want to enjoy the best burgers on Grand Cayman, I can highly recommend Burger Shack.
The Shack Burger is my personal favorite. It contains 100% Aberdeen Angus beef and tastes great. Better than any big chain burgers I’ve ever tried.
However, chicken lovers may prefer a Burger Shack Cock-a-Doodle and there’s a veggie burger option too.
9. Yoshi Sushi
If you want good sushi at a purse-friendly price, I suggest you go to Yoshi Sushi. You won’t be disappointed, I guarantee it, and the cocktails are awesome!
Above all, as for the location, it couldn’t be better. You’ll find Yoshi Sushi slap-bang in the middle of Seven Mile Beach. Great sushi and best happy hour—what more could you want?
This is no hidden gem though. Plenty of Grand Cayman visitors are directed here, so it’s a good idea to get a reservation in early. If you don’t someone else is sure to beat you to it.
What about Coconut Joe’s!
?? 🙂
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Coconut Joe. I used to have their West Bay Salad all the time but they sadly removed it from the menu 🙁
There’s a new place in Camana Bay called Union Grill. Great steaks and seafood. Should on the list for sure.