Anguilla - almost there!
 

Hi again all -

The countdown has begun and we have two more days until we are in Anguilla!! So excited!! I havea few questions for those who have been to the island before:

1. Is there a place near Cap that we can buy some wine and snacks for our villa?
2. What is the weather like in July? I know it's the rainy season but do they mean it may rain for 10 minutes and then the sun will come out? All the weather boards show something different
3. We booked reservations at Pimms, Veya, Straw Hat, Mango's and Blanchards. Is there anywhere else that is a can't miss?
4. Is the driving on Anguilla fairly easy? We are renting a car but are nervous about the left ha nd side of the road driving.

Once again, thanks for any and all advice. I promise to send a full trip report when we return.

:)
JM

I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1). There are several places within a 5 to 15 minute drive of CJ where you can get wine, soft drinks and snacks. You really can't miss them as you drive around the main island road. If by "near Cap" you mean within walking distance then the answer is no.

2) Weather will tropical meaning daytime temps in the high 80's to low 90's, with high humidity. The sun will feel quite strong. A tropical wave has been passing through the area recently so there's more clouds and rain then usual but that should clear ou in a day or two.

3) Use the search feature to pull up recent posts about the restaurants on Anguilla. Quite honestly, so much has been written about dining on Anguilla there's almost nothing I can add. It's one of the most talked about subject on threads dealing with Anguilla.

4) Driving "on the left" is not all that difficult - you'll get use to it fairly quickly. This time of year the island is very quiet so you won't encounter very much traffic. Just take your time and you'll be fine.

Thanks RA! I appreciate your advice! :)

Goto Gwens it is a must on my list to goto.It is great for lunch and there is a beach there with an awesome view....

Anguilla driving is very easy. There is never much traffic so you should be fine. It's a good island for a first-time experience in driving on the left.

There's a little grocery store about 5 minutes from Cap that has a decent selection of snacks and wine. I can't remember the name but it's one of the larger stores in that immediate area I believe.

I'll add Barrel Stay in Sandy Ground to your restaurant list. We really enjoyed our dinner there last year, even more than our dinners at Straw Hat and Blanchard's. And the chef/owner is very friendly and clearly wants you to have an enjoyable dining experience. Barrel Stay will be on our "must" list for future visits to Anguilla.

Foods 95 is a 5 minute drive from Cap & has snacks & a decent wine selection (prices are in EC -- don't freak out. Just ask them to ring it up in $U.S. -- it's $2.68/$1.00 US). I think Smokey's on a Staurday for lunch is great. Good food; great music; a superb beach and tables with umbrellas. Also if Trattoria is still open, it is one of my favorite places for lunch. The Pumphouse on Thursday nights is really jumping and Elvis place just down the street is fun with killer drinks!

I was there in March and again in June.
Tratorria is on Shoal Bay West (Covecastles beach) and is open and offers beach chairs and umbrella's to patrons at no charge. Open for lunch and dinner.
JACALA on Mead's Bay is a new restaurant (chef and maitre'D formerly at malliouhana) and one of the best on Anguilla- lunch or dinner - tuna and steak tatare!
Malliouhana is still to be reckoned with I believe, but I have not eaten there - sunset bar is lovely and wine cellar is amazing.
Picante is inexpensive and fun for California/Mexican service is great - not far from Cap Juluca.
DaVida on Crocus Bay (a little hard to find) - excellent and beautiful beach outside or inside restaurant (slightly different more expensive menu inside). Kayak rentals, shops and beach chairs and umbrellas here - nice quiet place to spend the day.
Sandbar - (the former chef at Cuisnart and a Canadian) extensive tapas menu nice spot for sunset at Sandy Ground - then head on over to Elvis or Pumphouse for music/bar scene.
Geraud's bakery - excellent for brunch and french pasteries - excellent wine store next door. Amazing smoothies along the road further.
There are just too many to name - it is really hard to go wrong on Anguilla.
It is like anywhere in the Caribbean - subject to hurricanes and some tropical rain can be expected in July, but it will generally just be hot.
Driving is easy - all the rental cars have signs on the windshield's to remind you to look left.
Enjoy!
Local restaurants - Oliver's is also a good choice for sunset and good food nearby Cap;
Tasty's and E's Oven good for local experience.

If you are a pastry lover and find Geraud's you will be in heaven.

I'd recommend going to Veya early in the week, we loved it and were glad we had time to make a second visit. Also, make reservations there - one night we did and had a great table on the edge of the wrap around patio with the trees/vegetation. The other night we didn't call ahead but they had room for us. The food was just as delicious, but we were at a smaller table hugging the interior wall which changed the atmosphere slightly.

We had Geraud's pastries two mornings and while they were good, I was in chocolate croissant heaven at Bon Pain on the east end. Two in one day - that is how amazing they were! We coupled the drive over there in the morning with a brief visit to Shoal Bay East, Savannah Gallery, and then a day at DaVida. It was one of our favorite days.

Enjoy your trip!

p.s. I second Mary above to not miss Trattoria Tramonto for lunch. It is within walking distance and is much better than the lunch at Blue, in my opinion. The lobster ravioli is amazing. It isn't on the lunch menu, but when we asked about it they offered to make for us. (WIthout penny who posts on this and other boards, we never would have known to ask about it.) It was my husband's favorite dish that week.

jmelle,

I suggest you try Geraud's and Bon Pain pastries and report back your preferences. ;)

August04, We stayed near Bon Pain and ate their bread and pastries for the first 2 days of our stay but once we discovered Geraud's we drove 30 minutes out of our way every morning for a couple of pastries each; well, it wasn't worth driving that far for just one was it? ;)

And if you tire of pastries, the Veya Cafe (right below the restaurant) has fabulous breakfast sandwiches. The menu shows them all as paninis but I happen to know that everything they make is available ona scrumptious johnnycake. It's a lovely place with good food (lunch, too and you can pick something up to carry to the airport which has dreadful food).

sassy_cat, we each had more than one pastry a day too! We did the opposite drive (20-30 to east end for pastries), so I loved your advice to jmelle to try both. And the johnnycakes at Veya Mary mentioned...oh my! Fabulous.