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$$$ | | Eclectic
This elegant yet unpretentious spot (the owners, Scott and Kate Cole, don't mind if you show up in anything from a dripping wet bikini with a cover-up to a ball gown) brings fine dining and a touch of class to the Esperanza waterfront. Local herbs and fruits, such as quenepas and breadfruit, appear in artfully prepared dishes that the Coles call "fun, funky island food." Scott is the chef, known for seafood specials highlighting the daily catch, as well as dishes you're unlikely to find elsewhere in Puerto Rico, such as braised goat masala. Kate is the consummate hostess. The wine list is large (note: there's a $25 corkage fee) and the cocktail menu is small but but inspired. Six stable doors open to ocean views. Lucky walk-ins can grab a seat at the more casual high-bar tables, but for the full experience, make a reservation.
148 Calle Flamboyán, Esperanza, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Excellent service
- Good choice of wine and cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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$$ | | Caribbean
Overlooking the Caribbean in Esperanza and geared to tourists, this longtime, open-air favorite has playful rain-forest murals climbing its walls. Claim a spot at one of the curvy, teal-colored, concrete tables or under an umbrella out front, and order the red snapper sandwich (popular at lunchtime) or the jerk chicken. Salads are excellent, including the Caribbean (field greens with mango, avocado, and plantain), but be sure to save room for the namesake dish: deep-fried bananas with finger-lickin' hot honey sauce. When the sun goes down, Bananas is one of the hot spots on this side of the island.
142 Calle Flamboyán, Esperanza, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Party atmosphere
- Excellent salads
- Deep-fried bananas with hot honey sauce
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$$ | |
This restaurant takes its name from the nearby site of Culebra's heaviest traffic—the arrival and departure of the water taxi. The menu leans toward grilled meats, from hamburgers and wraps to sirloin steaks. If you're stopping by for lunch, make sure it's before 3, when the kitchen closes to prepare for dinner. Daily specials often highlight the restaurant's forte: creole-style seafood, including swordfish and yellowtail, as well as lobster. The adjacent open-air bar is usually packed with expats and a whole cast of local characters. It can get noisy, and the service is anything but doting, so don't expect a quiet dinner for two.
Calle Fulladoza, Dewey, Culebra, 00775, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Creole-style seafood
- Burgers and other bar food
- Laid-back atmosphere
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$$ | | Caribbean
At some point during your time in Vieques, you should end up at Duffy's, the island's most popular hangout, where customers tend to sit elbow-to-elbow around the bar (the owner is a real character, and locals love to to chew the fat with him). Don't dismiss the food, though: in addition to burgers, fries, and other standards, there are chalkboard specials like conch fritters, scallop ceviche, grilled rib eye, or pan-seared pork loin—all a cut above the usual beach fare. Wraps, sandwiches, and fried finger foods round out the menu.
140 Calle Flamboyán, Esperanza, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Good bar food
- Lively atmosphere and waterfront location
- Cheap drinks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | |
Pull your dinghy up to the dock, and watch the resident iguanas plod past this simple, open-air, tin-roof restaurant on a rough-plank deck beside the Dewey canal. Tarpon cruise past, and the to-and-fro of boaters completes the show at Culebra's favorite watering hole and gringo hangout. Mamacita's menu changes nightly; though heavy on burgers and sandwiches, it includes some excellent seafood. Hours vary by season.
66 Calle Castelar, Dewey, Culebra, 00775, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Grilled seafood
- Lunchtime burgers
- Casual setting
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This unassuming lunch spot is a favorite for locals. They serve classic Puerto Rican dishes from a takeout counter with generous servings at an affordable price. You can dine in or take your food to-go.
15 Calle Pedro Marquez, Culebra, 00775, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Pernil
- Arroz guisado (with gandules, longaniza, chorizo, or jamonilla)
- Roasted chicken
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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$$ | | Puerto Rican
Closed Permanently
A mix of locals and tourists frequent Conuco, soft-spoken Puerto Rico native Rebecca Betancourt's homage to local food with an upscale twist. Barnlike open windows look out onto one of Isabel Segunda's main streets, and within, the airy room is simple but cozy. A back patio offers alfresco dining. Start with sangria rum punch, then move onto any of the menu's many selections—they're all that wonderful. Piping-hot arepas are piled high with pepper and octopus salad, while small tostones rellenos (fried plantains) are shaped into cups filled with a citrusy ceviche. Sorullitos (cheesy corn fritters) and bacalaítos (cod fritters) are reimagined with modern flair. The only thing that outdoes the flavors of a juicy churrasco (skirt steak) and overflowing seafood mofongo is the wow-factor of Betancourt's presentations.
110 Luis Muñoz Rivera, Isabel Segunda, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Seafood mofongo
- Sangria rum punch
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | | Caribbean
Closed Permanently
The W Retreat & Spa's full-service restaurant is a delight, especially at dinner, when locally sourced ingredients are given contemporary twists by the exceptionally skilled kitchen team. Vegetarians will feel especially well catered-to, with a choice of nearly 10 creative entrées, none of which is the usual meat-free suspect—no veggie burgers or pasta primavera here. Practically every table is alfresco, as even indoor tables enjoy an ocean breeze, thanks to the open wall design. Service is attentive and the wine cellar is extensive.
W Retreat & Spa, Rte. 200, Km 3.2, , Vieques, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Fresh and locally sourced food
- Atmospheric setting with ocean breezes
- Extensive options for vegetarians and vegans
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$$ | |
Closed Permanently
Contemporary Caribbean is the specialty of Chef José Pagán, who serves breakfast and dinner (no lunch) at Club Seabourne's on-site restaurant. Seafood is Pagán's strength, and some less common ingredients, including shark, find their way onto his menu.
Rte. 252, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Caipiriñas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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| | Mexican
Closed Permanently
The former Café Media Luna metamorphosed in June 2009 as a colorful Mexican restaurant and bar decorated with Taxco silver mirrors, sombreros, and prints of Pancho Villa, Freda Kahlo, and other notable mexicanas. Very atmospheric! During our visit the menu was limited to light fare, including sizzling gourmet lobster fajitas and tacos. Light eaters can snack on succulent crispy chips, and "snakebites," a house specialty of jalapeño pepper and jack cheese wrapped with bacon, served with roasted corn salsa. The owners were planning on opening a full-service fine-dining restaurant on the third floor. The ground-floor bar is cozy, while the rootop bar serves up great views over town with its margaritas and cocktails.
351 Calle Antonio Mellado, Isabel Segunda, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon. No lunch.
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$$$ | | Caribbean
Closed Permanently
It's hard to imagine a more romantic setting than this dining room with unbeatable views of the ocean. Through the open doors are smaller tables scattered around the open-air terrace. An à la carte menu features main courses like lamb chops with a rosemary passion-fruit goat cheese or the yuca mofongo with seafood. In low season, dining is sometimes restricted to the less elegant terrace. Breakfast is also served, both to hotel guests and visitors.
Blue Horizon Boutique Resort, Rte. 996, Km 4.2, Esperanza, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Great ocean views
- Upscale Caribbean-inspired dishes
- Guava French toast
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$ | |
Closed Permanently
Culebra may be small, but that doesn't mean it's immune to mainland crazes like the recent food-truck trend. El Panino doesn't cruise the streets, though; it's typically parked in a gravel lot between the airport and El Pueblo. As the name suggests, Chef Carlos's specialty is the panino, but don't expect Italian classics; his sandwiches have a Puerto Rican twist. Wash them down with fresh juices made from local fruits, including mango and tamarind.
Beside the Avis lot, Dewey, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Puerto Rican-style pressed sandwiches
- Outdoor seating
- Fresh juices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | | Puerto Rican
Closed Permanently
When you hanker for hearty platters of real local fare with real island-born locals, this is the place to be. Bustling at lunch and by night, this open-air colmado (grocery-restaurant) presses up against the main Isabel Segunda–Esperanza road. It's barely more than a shack with a counter and shaded aluminum and plastic seating out back. Service is laid-back to the max, but it's worth the wait for albondigas (meatballs), crab empanadas, chicken with rice and beans, barbecue ribs, and—for the daring—boiled pigs' ears. Locals sometimes kick up their heels out back, where there's a pool table and slot machine.
Rte. 997, Km 1, Isabel Segunda, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Crab empanadas
- Albondigas
- Ultra-casual setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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| | Steak House
Closed Permanently
When islanders go out to dinner, they often end up at this spot far away from the beach. But its location on a secluded hilltop doesn't mean fewer crowds, especially since July 2009, when chef PeterBurbela took over with his "gourmet eclectic cuisine," such as flaky margarita pizza appetizer, oven-roasted Thai crab cakes, and a divine lavender crème brûlée. He promises to retain the restaurant's claim to fame: namely, its sizzling steaks, which range in size from petite to hearty—the rib eye, one of the most popular items, weighs in at 20 ounces. The second-floor terrace might remind you of a tree house, as it looks directly into the branches. The restaurant is on Route 201, between Isabel Segunda and Esperanza.
Crow's Nest, Rte. 201, Km 1.6, , Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.–Thurs. No lunch
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$ | | Japanese
Closed Permanently
This casual spot is one of the most popular eateries on Culebra. Chef Jennifer Daubon uses only the freshest local produce and catch of the day to inspire a menu heavy on appetizers, light bites, and sushi. The menu changes daily—check the chalkboard—but chicken wings at happy hour and a variety of unique sushi rolls are most popular. Order at the bar, and grab a seat inside or on the back patio to witness the the sights of Culebra.
Hotel Kokomo, Calle Pedro Marquez, across from the ferry dock, , Culebra, 00775, Puerto Rico
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$$$$ | | Caribbean
Closed Permanently
Local dining reaches new heights courtesy of celebrated chef Alain Ducasse at Mix on the Beach. The multi-Michelin-decorated restaurant at the W Retreat & Spa—Ducasse's first in the Caribbean—puts a French twist on Caribbean-Latino cuisine. And although it's some of the priciest cuisine on the island, it's worth the splurge. The bi-level dining terraces overlook a sensational swimming pool complex that at night is delicately lit to perfection. The rollicking ocean provides the soundtrack to some seriously romantic al fresco dining. To share, the Caribbean paella with local lobster delivers in spades, while server after server can been seen delivering the moist salty cod to neighboring tables. At breakfast, the housemade strawberry jam goes beautifully with flaky, fresh croissants, and for dessert, the Ducasse candy bar—akin to a fancy KitKat—is a must-try.
W Retreat & Spa, Route 200, Km 3.2, Isabel Segunda, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
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$$$ | |
Closed Permanently
The beautifully decorated dining rooms at this local favorite are consistently packed. The menu, billed as "cuisine inspired by travel," is literally all over the map, drawing inspiration from both European and Asian traditions, yet it all works. The menu is an amalgam, from balsamic drizzled mozzarella to sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna with seaweed salad to baby-back ribs. This seemingly incongruous assortment comes together beautifully in well-executed dishes. Use Google maps for navigation, or you may be led astray.
Rte. 201, Vieques, 00765, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Globally influenced cuisine
- Very welcoming atmosphere
- Good drinks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$ | | Café
Closed Permanently
More often than not when locals go out for breakfast or lunch, they head to this little café on Dewey's main street. At the counter, you can order any number of delicious breakfast or lunch sandwiches, some of them only a few dollars and big enough to share. The Cuban is a favorite, as are the pastries. It opens before sunrise, but get here early, as the place closes mid-afternoon. Service defines "island time," so relax with a gourmet coffee while you wait.
Calle Pedro Márquez at Calle Castelar, Dewey, Culebra, 00775, Puerto Rico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner