Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Roatan and the Bay Islands right now.
Traditional Bay Island cuisine centers on the obvious ingredient: seafood. The undisturbed reefs and endless waters provide the islands with a bounty of fish such as grouper, wahoo, snapper, and yellowtail, all cooked up in a variety of options. Fried chicken is equally as popular for lunch and dinner. The crispy dish is served along with Honduran staples like rice and beans, plus fried plantain chips. Mainland cuisine such as baleadas (tortillas with beans and cheese) is typically served at beachfront stands or in local dives, although they're not nearly as ubiquitous as on the coast. The Garífuna culture is strongest in Roatán, where residents munch on pan de coco (coconut bread) and dine on sopa marinera (seafood soup) and machuca (a uniquely Garífuna conch stew).
The most fascinating part of the islands' gastronomy, however, is the eclectic offering of international fare. As more foreign expats grow to call the Bay Islands home, more restaurants offering European, Asian, and Latin American delights are popping up. In Guanaja, there are velvety German sausages and roasted pork at a two-story bar-restaurant. Utila boasts eateries serving authentic Italian dinners, American-style brunches, spicy Indian curries, zesty Caribbean barbeque, and cheesy Mexican treats. In Roatán, there's incredible Thai food, Argentine steak joints, brick-oven pizzerias, sushi fusion, and Memphis-inspired smokehouses. The wide variety of cuisines here is a tasty alternative to the ubiquitous seafood or heavier Honduran dishes of the mainland. Most international dishes will set you back around L300 to L450. For the most part, the Bay Islands proudly boast about their lack of American chain restaurants and wealth of local eateries.
Travelers opting to stay in dive hotels (as in "diving") or all-inclusive resorts will have most meals provided as part of the package. In-house meals and buffets tend to serve underwhelming beef, chicken, fish, and pasta dishes, but with the generous portions you'll never be hungry.
Looking a bit like a psychedelic museum, this longtime favorite is decorated with island paraphernalia and tunnels, sculptures, and gazebos built from mosaics of colored glass. The best place to enjoy the big platters of seafood is in the pleasant garden. Stop by for one of the best fresh fruit shakes you'll find on the islands, and top off the evening with a drink in the tree house bar. If you want to stay the night, the Nightland cabins have two double beds, spacious bathrooms, and stunning interior decor.
You'll hear locals still calling this place Tong's Thai, and while former owner Tong left the island long ago, thankfully the cooks stayed on. Spicy noodle dishes are served on the beachfront gazebo, and at night, the candlelit dock makes for a romantic dinner on the water. Honduran twists are added to traditional favorites by adding lobster to pad thai or squid to vegetable curry dishes.
Grilled meats served fresh off the parilla (charcoal grill) are this steak house's specialty. Juicy fillets of beef tenderloin accompany local fare like wahoo steaks and lobster tail. Italian pasta and vegetarian dishes are also available. In the evenings in good weather, there is an option to dine barefoot on the beach with large lanterns lighting your table. The service is friendly but slow.
Set in the intimate garden of a very posh, very private beach club, the eatery serves up high-end surf and turf fare. Grilled lobster, shrimp, and grouper are listed alongside vodka-infused baby back ribs and buttery rotisserie chicken—San Simon's specialty. Sun beds and beach cabanas can be rented for half or full days. The club also has free Wi-Fi and private showers for guests.
Hearty breakfasts and generous dinners please many a hungry diver at this popular hangout. Start the day with banana pancakes, baleadas, or a taste of the full espresso bar. The lunch menu lists hot submarine sandwiches and chicken nachos, and evening dishes include seasoned fish burgers and veggie enchiladas. The open-air lodge has seating at comfy booths or out on the street-front patio.
Famous for its king crabs, Gio's is something of an institution on Roatán. Served with lemon butter, the seafood comes in heaping portions. There's a slew of other satisfying seafood specialties, as well as great steaks. Sit in the air-conditioned dining room or on the terrace overlooking the Caribbean.
The most centrally located supermarket on the island, H.B. Warren has a lunch counter where you can sample some delicious fried chicken. It's also a great place for a quick breakfast. Colectivo taxis and public buses depart from the store.
As you would expect from a restaurant with this name, Hole in the Wall is a local favorite—so much so that the community helped rebuild it after a 2005 fire burned the place to the ground. Come here for the lobster, shrimp, and sirloin steaks; it's a quick boat ride from Oak Ridge, and any water taxi will know exactly where to take you. If you call ahead, they'll send a boat for you.
The main drag's most popular sports bar offers breezy harbor views from the open-air, third-floor restaurant. Bacon cheeseburgers, nachos, chicken fingers, and buffalo wings are the house specialties, and La Pirata has the island's largest liquor selection. The place gets packed around 10 pm or during any major sporting event, and live bands play during the week.
Run by German expats, this waterfront eatery is wildly popular with both locals and visitors. Billiards, darts, a breezy terrace and picnic table seating give a casual vibe to this island hangout, which livens up in the evening with the occasional German jam session. The menu constantly evolves and often includes homemade spätzle, roasted pork, and chicken schnitzel. The bar has a big selection of German beers and imported wines. Come out on a Saturday night, and you just might meet the entire island.
Cheesy, creamy Tex-Mex classics like refried bean burritos and beefy nachos are served in a pink-and-purple room along Bonacca's main drag. Chill out with a frothy licuado (smoothie) or a freshly squeezed juice.
Gourmet dinners and an extensive wine collection give this eatery an elegant advantage in an area dominated by resort buffets. The menu changes daily based on season and local availability, but almost always features a beef, fish, pork, chicken, and vegetarian dish. The cellar has more than 50 international wines, including featured favorites from California. Cool off inside the mahogany wood cabin, surrounded by sea-grape trees, or enjoy the breeze outside on the waterfront deck.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
