26 Best Restaurants in St. Kitts and Nevis

The wildly diverse experiences of peripatetic English owner Gillian Smith inform every aspect of this restaurant, which is set in a classic plantation greathouse she herself painstakingly built and decorated with an array of items: colonial pith helmets, carved pineapple chairs, calabash chandeliers, dressmaker dummies, Turkish kilims, and Moroccan lamps. From bourbon-glazed guava ribs to lobster linguine in saffron cream, the dishes are equally eclectic, and the selection of aged rum—from Appleton to Zacapa—is sterling. The property, which is surrounded by extravagant gardens, also features an art gallery in a faux chattel house.

After cocktails in the antiques-filled parlor, head to the verandah for a dinner featuring dishes often made with ingredients from the inn's herb garden, fruit trees, and livestock collection. The scrumptious cured meats, baked goods, preserves, and ice creams are homemade, and the traditional wood-burning oven yields incredible thin-crust pizza. Wednesday night pig roasts are an island must; Friday night pizza and Caribbean cicchetti (small side dishes) are quite popular. The ever-growing wine list is exceptionally priced, and the entire evening is spiced with bon mots and bonhomie from a scintillating mix of locals, expats, and guests.

Focusing on Caribbean flavors with heavy influences from Africa, the Middle East, and a bit of Italy, this spot is situated in a courtyard surrounded by a lush tropical garden. Begin with tapas-style dishes like the seafood au gratin and wild mushroom tartelette shine, before moving on to exciting entrées like the fire-grilled local lobster seasoned with star anise and cinnamon, served with saffron rice and lobster butter sauce.

This sophisticated beach bar at the Four Seasons is a perennial hot spot thanks, in part, to an outdoor deck overlooking the illuminated water and a farm- and sea-to-table menu (half of which is gluten free) showcasing local ingredients—many grown by the staff. Dishes might include cornmeal-dusted soft shell crab over curried black beans and shishito peppers in coriander-lime sour cream, slow-roasted goat tamale, lobster fritters with lime aioli, or mango-Myer's rum baby back ribs.

The newest restaurant at the Four Seasons, On The Dune is an upscale poolside spot with stunning views of the ocean and the entire property. Guests can nosh on local queen snapper tiradito, conch fritters, and seafood paella at lunch and dinner. In the evening there's a bar bites menu featuring easy hand-held dishes (like mahimahi tacos and smoked Nevisian chicken wings) that pair well with the extensive wine and cocktail menu.

The Hoffman family presides over a scintillating evening: canapés and cocktails in the Montpelier plantation's great room, followed by dinner on the breezy west verandah above the lights of Charlestown. Executive chef Halva Brown uses produce from the inn's organic herb gardens and fruit trees to full advantage on the changing three-course menu, which might start with melt-in-your-mouth tuna tartare or pork belly with curry and apple chutney; segue into gossamer wahoo with artichoke, carrots, and pickled onions in fennel-turmeric sauce; and end with decadent desserts like lemon tart with milk chocolate corn flakes and strawberry coulis. Wines on the exemplary list pair perfectly with the cuisine, and infused rums make the perfect finish. You can take a taste home with you: M Boutique sells homemade jams and sauces.

This stylish restaurant occupies an old Creole home whose charming enclosed patio offers lovely views of Basseterre and the bay. The interior lounge is even more conducive to romantic dining—with cushy sofas, patterned hardwood floors, porcelain lamps, and African carvings—and the ambitious menu reflects co-owner-chef Alexander James's peripatetic postings: crispy fried Brie, spring rolls with plum dipping sauce, mahimahi with a cheese-and-basil crust, teriyaki-glazed tiger shrimp.

The cuisine at this beachfront beauty references the Caribbean's melting pot of African, French, English, Iberian, Asian, and Dutch influences. But the kitchen and barefoot-chic bar, which is open daily and serves light snacks, also adopt a locavore philosophy, sourcing as much as possible from Kittitian farmers and fishermen (who might troop through the restaurant with 30 just-caught snapper). Hibiscus lovers enjoy the spirits made on-site with local sorrel found throughout the drink menu. Lunch is considerably cheaper and more island-flavored, albeit often overrun by cruise ship passengers.

Imagine a semi-alfresco cathedral of raw limestone coral overlooking a sandy, palm-fringed crescent: that's this ritzy Christophe Harbour beach club (open to nonmembers for dinner only), whose soaring interior contrasts a curved exhibition kitchen, streamlined bar stools, and abstract pendant lamps with sea fans and driftwood, antique settees, and 19th-century black-and-white photos of island scenes. The kitchen similarly combines tradition with innovation, juxtaposing textures, flavors, and colors so that even "traditional" fare like conch fritters is goosed with pickled ginger, passion-fruit coulis, and swirls of jerk mayo. The wine list features some surprising bargains, especially among white varietals, and you can finish your meal in style with one of a dozen aged rums.

At this ultra-stylish restaurant, which unfurls sensuously down South Friar's Bay, more casual lunches take full advantage of the beachfront setting, with white tents and hedonistic beach beds (often overflowing with cruise ship passengers). But nighttime is truly spectacular, as outdoor fiber-optic fountains enhance the visual flair of the vast, sleek-but-not-slick interior, replete with eat-in wine cellar and tile-and-layered-wood sushi bar. Sterling starters include the creative maki rolls. Seafood such as herb-marinated grouper in caper cream is masterfully executed; nothing at Carambola is overcooked. The sole letdown is the wine list. Although it's the island's largest, it lacks imagination; however, the by-the-glass selections are at least reasonably priced.

Barely more than a royal blue shack, dressed with vivid murals of cavorting monkeys and replete with a chicken coop, Cooper's (aka Glenda's Place after the owner) is the quintessential local dining experience—as good a place as any to try Caribbean staples like stewed mutton or macaroni pie. There are only two picnic tables, so most locals order their food to go; if you stay, ask for takeout containers anyway (the lids come in handy to repel flies in between bites).

A farm-to-sea-to-table purveyor inside a quaint beach house right along the water serving up a creative menu that changes with the season. Sure there's quintessential coconut shrimp and jerk chicken, but guests will also find dishes like a fresh catch of the day smothered in whatever sauce the chef comes up with on the spot. 

Come sundown, the Four Seasons breakfast space morphs into a stylish trattoria offering a tapestry of tapas-style tastes—from a silken pear-hazelnut burrata with black truffle and local greens to a pumpkin ravioli that brilliantly counterpoints smoky bacon, crunchy sunflower seeds, and crisped sage with a sweet, satiny filling. Although the interior is a handsome symphony of gold and ecru art deco–inspired accents, the prime seating is on the patio.

Part of the Ocean Terrace Inn, this extremely casual waterfront eatery is decorated with sail rigging, aqua-colored wave murals, illuminated water features, and mosaic work that gleams like fish scales in a stylish open kitchen. Try the conch chowder, followed by fresh grilled lobster or other shipshape seafood; finish with the memorable passion-fruit cheesecake drizzled with nutmeg-tinged sauce.

Serving authentic Indian cuisine in a dimly lit casual atmosphere, this relaxing spot serves heaping portions of tikka marsala, mutton vindaloo, and fluffy basmati rice. The menu is separated into appetizers, vegetarian, seafood, and lamb specialties. Stand out dishes include goan fish curry, dal tadka, and channa masala.

The pool area of Horizons Villa Resort is transformed into a stylish eatery thanks to smashing ocean views, potted plants, serenading tree frogs, and elegant candlelit tables. Jamaican chef Verral Marshall fuses ultra-fresh local ingredients with global influences. Artfully plated, most dishes are more along the lines of what you'd find at a steakhouse (grilled ribeye), but the Caribbean portion of the menu is where dishes shine, like the curry chicken with pineapple and coconut.

The interior of the greathouse is blissfully air-conditioned and tastefully decorated with equestrian bronzes; antique hurricane lamps; works by famed Nevisian artist Eva Wilkin; and wicker, mahogany, or cherry-wood furnishings. Local ingredients are used as much as possible, and although a more mature clientele dictates menus of straightforward Eisenhower-era options (from house-cured gravlax to filet mignon), longtime executive chef Antonio "Tony" Piani might sneak in a conch-breadfuit-and-dumpling soup or a stuffed lobster.

A charming little café and brunch spot for those craving Nutella-covered French toast or a BLT. Perched on the second floor of a cute home in the middle of downtown Charlestown, this is a spot beloved by locals, and often missed by visitors. Dishes are fresh and light, with specials of the day being the shining star.

This simple cluster of picnic tables—an island hot spot sheltered by a brilliant-turquoise corrugated-tin roof and decorated with driftwood, life preservers, photos of coastal scenes, and fishnets—sits on a sliver of sand. There's nothing fancy on the menu: just grilled fish, lobster, ribs, and chicken served with mountains of coleslaw and peas and rice. But the fish is amazingly fresh: the fishermen–owners heap their catches on a center table from which you choose your own dinner, then watch it grilled to your specification before dining family-style on paper plates. No wonder cars line up along the road, creating an impromptu jump-up.

This split-level space lives up to its "Let the Evening Be Gin" mantra, but succulent seafood and myriad house-made items (from pastas to infused oils to baked goods) ensure that gin isn't the sole reason to visit. The inlaid-wood bar—where free popcorn is served in whimsical oversize glasses—and adjacent patio make smart settings for the mixologist's wizardry; cushy leather seating with Union Jack and American flag throw pillows, huge model boats doubling as drink carts, and steamer trunks serving as coffee tables complete the fun, funky look.

This stunner in the so-called greathouse—the soaring stone-steel-and-wood space of Belle Mont Farm at Kittitian Hill—serves sustainable seasonal treats, sourced from the farm itself and other local suppliers who practice ethical farming, fishing, and animal husbandry. Begin your evening with ultra-fresh, handcrafted cocktails in the handsome Mill Bar, and then repair to the main dining room or Caribbean-view terrace for an array of delightful dinner options.

This glam eatery's tiered garden is a masterpiece: glass panels and ceilings display the night sky while reflecting patio lights; silvery waterfalls, pools, and fountains filigree the grounds; strategically placed boulders resemble hulking Henry Moore sculptures; and flowers as well as fire-engine-red directors' chairs and a tarp add pops of color. Contemporary and colonial artworks from Mali and Afghanistan grace the interior, where the kitchen doesn't always match the setting's creativity; still the jerk pork, pan-roasted snapper, or justly celebrated conch chowder (perfectly chunky with a touch of heat offsetting the creamy base) are solid choices.

This colorful spot offers an authentic Indian dinner experience. from the food down to the dark, but welcoming decor. A favorite for locals, but well-liked by tourists, this spot focuses heavily on bringing Indian culture to life, with its plethora of traditional dishes from paneer to fish vindaloo to lamb biriyani. Sundays feature an affordable three-course brunch with several of the restaurant's most popular dishes.