15 Best Restaurants in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

Background Illustration for Restaurants

The food on T&T is a delight to the senses and has a distinctively creole touch, though everyone has a different idea about what creole seasoning is (just ask around, and you'll see). Bountiful herbs and spices include bay leaf, chadon bene (aka culantro, and similar in taste to cilantro), nutmeg, turmeric, and different varieties of peppers. The cooking also involves a lot of brown sugar, rum, plantain, and local fish and meat. If there's fresh juice on the menu, be sure to try it. You can taste Asian, Indian, African, French, and Spanish influences, among others, often in a single meal. Indian-inspired food is a favorite: rotis (ample sandwiches of soft dough with a filling, similar to a wrap) are served as a fast food; a mélange of curried meat or fish and vegetables frequently makes an appearance, as do vindaloos (spicy meat, vegetable, and seafood dishes). Pelau (rice, peas, and meat stewed in coconut milk) is another local favorite. Crab lovers will find large bluebacks curried, peppered, or in callaloo (Trinidad's national dish), a stew made with green dasheen leaves, okra, and coconut milk. Bake and shark (lightly seasoned, fried shark meat) is the sandwich of choice at the beach.

What to Wear. Restaurants are informal: you won't find any jacket-and-tie requirements. Beachwear, however, is too casual for most places. A nice pair of shorts is appropriate for lunch, and pants or sundresses are probably a better choice for dinner.

Aioli

$$$$ | Maraval Fodor's choice

Executive chef and owner Johnny Aboud set a new benchmark for fine dining and attentive service in Trinidad when he opened Aioli. Deep earth tones and subtle lighting make the interior seem miles away from its location in an upscale suburban mall, and the Mediterranean-inspired menu features beautifully presented dishes—from straightforward risottos to extravagant favorites like roasted rack of lamb. While Caribbean spiny lobster is the norm in most restaurants in T&T, fans of Maine lobster will find their beloved crustacean on offer here. The three-course lunch, offered from Tuesday through Friday, is a prix-fixe menu.

Buzo Osteria Italiana

$$$ | Newtown Fodor's choice

This chic spot is tucked away on a side street in the Newtown area of uptown Port of Spain, but every taxi driver knows where it is. Chef Cristian Grini always serves classic Italian favorites—the authentic, surprisingly affordable pizza is probably the island's best—and the bar attracts young professionals and hipsters who come for the excellent cocktails and late-night desserts. This restaurant is associated with the even more upscale Prime Restaurant, so the service is impeccable.

6A Warner St., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-223–2896
Known For
  • Comprehensive Italian wine list
  • Historic building location
  • Friendly staff and laid-back ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential

Chaud

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Style meets substance at veteran chef Khalid Mohammed's restaurant. Famous for his obsession with freshness and his extravagance (he presents food that rises off the plate like a Manhattan skyscraper), expect a menu of classic European dishes reinterpreted and paired with distinctively Caribbean touches like cassava (manioc) hash. Although the prices are high, it's well worth it for a special romantic evening. Those on a budget might want to try a meal at its sister property, Chaud Café, located at 1 Woodbrook Place.

6 Nook Ave., St. Ann's, Trinidad and Tobago
868-621–2002
Known For
  • Imaginative dishes
  • Prix-fixe lunches
  • Quiet location near the Normandie Hotel
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential

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Joseph's

$$$ | Maraval Fodor's choice

Lebanese-born chef Joseph Habr has been serving fine cuisine at his Maraval location for over a decade and has more than 25 years of experience. There's an Arabic element in even seemingly conventional dishes, and the restaurant is a lovely open affair, with a dining room that looks out on a lush garden, complete with the sound of flowing water and chirping crickets. Joseph visits every table and is always happy to offer recommendations. If in doubt, it's impossible to go wrong with any of the lamb offerings. The truly adventurous may special order Joseph's renowned kibbeh nayeh—a generous portion of Lebanese lamb tartare.

3A Rookery Nook, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-622–5557
Known For
  • Lavish mezzes
  • Delicious lamb specialties
  • Amiable chef and owner
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.

Mélange

$$$$ Fodor's choice

You'll find some of the island's most imaginative food at this elegant establishment, an institution on restaurant row for over a decade. Chef and owner Moses Ruben creates delightfully balanced dishes with unusual pairings like Chilean sea bass with toasted coconut; it's also worth leaving room for dessert.

40 Ariapita Ave., Woodbrook, Trinidad and Tobago
868-628–8687
Known For
  • Eclectic menu
  • Attentive staff
  • Cozy, retro interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Mon. No lunch Sat.

Prime Restaurant

$$$$ Fodor's choice

On the ground floor of the BHP Billiton tower, this upscale establishment caters to businesspeople armed with large expense accounts and demanding tastes, though subtle lighting, understated decor, and an attentive staff also make it ideal for a romantic dinner. The menu is varied, but most people come for the excellent Angus steaks; a well-chosen vintage helps take the edge off the inevitably large bill. The restaurant is behind the Marriott and next door to the Movietowne complex.

Invaders Bay, Port of Spain, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-624–6238
Known For
  • One of the island's best wine cellars
  • Impeccable service
  • Raw bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential

Veni Mangé

$$$ Fodor's choice

Set in a traditional West Indian house filled to the brim with Caribbean art, this restaurant is the creation of Rosemary (Roses) Hezekiah and her late sister, Allyson Hennessy, a Cordon Bleu–trained chef who was a local television celebrity. The creative creole menu changes regularly, but there's always an unusual vegetarian entrée; the callaloo is considered one of the island’s best; and the chip chip cocktail, a restaurant rarity, is deliciously piquant. If it's available, be sure to try the signature stewed oxtail with dumplings.

67A Ariapita Ave., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-624–4597
Known For
  • Authentic "Trini" dining experience
  • Enthusiastic hostess
  • Chatty bar patrons, including artists and sports celebrities
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No dinner Mon., Tues., and Thurs.

Angelo's

$$$$

Popular with locals and visiting businesspeople alike, Angelo's—opened by a Calabrian chef who married a Trinidadian—has an innovative Italian menu that changes regularly, and there's always a daily special. The restaurant is on Ariapita Avenue, which locals now refer to as the strip or simply "the avenue."

38 Ariapita Ave., Woodbrook, Trinidad and Tobago
868-628–5551
Known For
  • Family-run feel
  • Risotto frutti di mare
  • Excellent cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.

Apsara

$$$$ | Newtown

This upscale eatery is one of the few in Trinidad that features genuine Indian cuisine and not the local (though equally tasty) version. The name means "celestial dancer," and the food here is, indeed, heavenly, though ordering from the comprehensive menu is daunting; don't be afraid to ask for help (the husseini boti kebab—lamb marinated in poppy seeds and masala—is an excellent choice). Service can be a bit slow at times, and the prices are fairly high.

MovieTowne Blvd., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-623–7659
Known For
  • Colorful decor
  • Convenient mall location
  • Authentic Indian atmosphere

More Vino More Sushi

$$$

This popular after-work drinking and dining spot serves consistently excellent sushi; indeed, it was the first sushi establishment on the Ariapita Avenue dining strip. Eat on the outdoor deck amid the sights (and traffic sounds) of "the avenue," or sit indoors for a cooler, quieter, and more intimate experience with a view of sushi masters preparing the "Maracas" roll (tuna, cucumber, tobiko, onion, and a dynamite sauce) and other crowd pleasers.

23 O'Connor St., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-622–8466
Known For
  • Grapevine-draped patio
  • Wine selection and bottles for purchase
  • Roadside takeout service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Tamnak Thai

$$$ | Belmont

One the few restaurants in Trinidad serving Thai (and Japanese) cuisine, including tasty and economical vegetarian dishes, is in a beautifully renovated colonial house on Queen's Park Savannah. On the patio, you're surrounded by flowing water and lush foliage (insect repellent is a must, as the mosquitoes seem more ravenous than the diners); the elegant dining room is a cooler and more intimate experience. Service can be erratic at times.

13 Queen's Park E, Port of Spain, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-680–0233
Known For
  • Authentic Asian dishes
  • Beautiful interior with unbeatable Queen's Park Savannah views
  • Valet parking
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.–Mon., Credit cards accepted

Tiki Village

$$$

Port of Spainers in the know flock to this teak-lined dining room on the eighth floor of the Kapok Hotel, where the solid menu features fantastic Polynesian and Asian fare. The Sunday dim sum—with tasting-size portions of dishes such as pepper squid and tofu-stuffed fish—is very popular.

Town Retaurant & Bar

$$$

Though the menu is skewed toward Chinese cuisine, this extremely popular eatery offers everything from ravioli to lobster thermidor. Young professionals flock here in the evening to enjoy the cocktails, lively atmosphere, attentive but laid-back service, and consistently good (and reasonably priced) food. Parking is always an issue in the area; don't be fooled by the men on the roadside offering to find you a parking spot and "look after your car" for a price.

51 Cipriani Blvd., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
868-627–8696
Known For
  • Convivial atmosphere
  • Value for money
  • Friendly staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Trotters

$$$

Although Trinidad has several American sports-bar chains, this local version easily beats them at their own game, with more than 20 giant screens showing the latest in international sports and lively crowds gathered at the huge, central bar; although some dining areas are more isolated than others, it's virtually impossible to escape the cheers. The food includes excellent burgers, hearty salads, Italian favorites, and steaks; the servers, bedecked in pins and safari hats, are efficient and attentive.

Wings Restaurant & Bar

$

Rum shops and good food are an intrinsic part of Trinidad life, and both are combined in this colorful eatery, which is open from 10 to 6. Regulars from the nearby university and industrial park flock here at lunchtime to enjoy a wide selection of spicy local Indian food. It can get a bit loud, but at least there are fans to keep the heat under control—just barely. If the atmosphere is a bit too much there's always the option of takeout. To get here, turn off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway at the FedEx building (north side of the highway) in Tunapuna, and take the first left.

16 Mohammed Terr., Trinidad and Tobago
868-645–6607
Known For
  • Authentic Trinidad curries
  • Lively local ambience
  • Cheap and cheerful food and drinks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner

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