My husband and I are going to Bermuda in July for the first time. We're staying at the Southampton Princess and are looking for some restaurant recommendations. We are in our mid-30s, no kids yet and big foodies! Price isn't really an object-and we like nicer places- but jackets required can be a bit of a downer. (but if sometyhing is a must go to and jackets are required, I'd love to hear about it.) thanks so much

I am going on Thursday and was told to go to Acqua at Ariel Sands (we are staying at Ariel Sands) and Waterloo House. I can let you know how they were when I get back.

Molly

For fun place you must go to the Swizzle Inn either for lunch or at night when there is entertainment. Half a pitcher of rum swizzles, a fish sandwich (which can be shared) onion rings and your in fun heaven.

I have two favorite recommendations. Try Tom Moore's Tavern. It's a wonderful place to have dinner, great atmosphere and location (very historical) and absolutely amazing food and desserts!. It's also been renovated since the hurricane and jackets are no longer required. For a more casual option, book a reservation at Coconuts (at The Reefs Hotel) a week or two before you leave. The food is great, very Bermudian and you can have the option of dining right on the beach. You'll need to call ahead for this , though. The oceanside tables are hard to come by. They seat you at 7:30ish so you can watch the sun set as you have dinner. Very romantic - don't miss.

A must is Pompano Beach Resort (and it's just up the road from the Southampton). The view from the dining room is gorgeous, with gourmet meals and very hospitable staff. I'm sure you will have to reserve ahead. If you do go there, you are sure to want to stay sometime. The nice thing is that men are only required to wear a collared shirt - sandals are ok (as long as they are not grungy looking beach sandals). They just don't want to see jeans and t-shirts. This restaurant is very casual and not stuffy at all. We're 40 and just can't stand that. Hope you make it there!

Have dinner one night at the Whaler Inn at the SHP. Sit outside on the terrace overlooking the beach. Also, check out Harley's at the Hamilton Princess, but sit on the terrace overlooking the harbour instead of in the dining room.

One of my favorite upscale restaurants is Port O'Call on Front St. in Hamilton. Coconuts at the Reefs is great too. Price fix for approx. $63 ea. or approx. $85/per person to have a table set up on the beach...must make reservations.

For casual dining...good breakfast at Monty's on Pitts Bay Rd. in Hamilton, inexpensive as well. Front St. restaurants for lunch or casual dinners are The Porch, Flanagan's, and Pickled Onion, (all have outside seating as well as inside) or Hog Penny Pub on Burnaby Hill. If you're in the mood for good, inexpensive Italian try either La Trattoria on Washington Lane or Portofino on Bermudiana Rd. More upscale Italian is Little Venice on Bermudiana Rd. Another good choice is Tuscany on Front St. but again, try to sit outside on the porch. Mickey's on the beach at Elbow Beach Hotel is being rebuilt following the hurricane last September, and I believe it should be open by the time you go. It's a beautiful spot for a casual lunch.

If you're in the mood for seafood, try the Lobster Pot on Bermudiana Rd. or Barracuda Grill on Burnaby Hill above the Hog Penny.

The Newport Room at the SHP is expensive and supposed to be very good (a little too expensive for us so we've never been there) however a jacket is required. As you'll be staying at the SHP, you may want to give it a try.

I'll be at the SHP and the HP in July also. Enjoy your trip and I hope you'll love Bermuda as much as I do

Thank you all for your suggestions- keep them coming!
ElainSB- is the southampton princess wonderful? I posted a question about best hotels in bermuda and I thought I would get alot more SHP responses, but didn't. A very good friend of mine has been to bermuda twice and has teh same tastes as i do and she LOVED the SHP. I would love to hear your opinion.

We are going once again in July. I love this island! Its always had great
dining spots. One of the top causal spots has always been Fresco's on Chauncery Lane in Hamilton. I love the covered outside garden. Very nice wine,
interesting menu. This restauranteur
is now running Aqua at Ariel Sands,
we enjoyed a fatastic lunch there (love the rare rare tuna)its a must do for us this up coming trip.
As far as Waterloo House, it is so Bermudian, love the garden dining by the water. Also for casual spot-
like the bar area at The Lobster Pot.
Sea Horse Grill was excellent last July,
also La Coquille at the Underwater Sea
Exploratory.
The Fourways Inn is old world, yes a Jacket(maybe a tie) is required. Bermuda has lightened up on its dress code!
I have never stayed at The Southampton
Princess, so I cannot really tell you
about the rooms etc. It is in a great location on South Rd, has a 9 hole golf
course too. Its just to large a place IMHO, and is the only high rise hotel on the island. I have friends who love it. It should be fine, as Bermuda is such a special island.

We went last year, and really enjoyed the Whaler Inn at the Princess (definitely sit outside), and the Waterlot down by the ferry (you can walk or take the shuttle from the Princess). I also highly recommend the Swizzle Inn for a casual lunch, but take a taxi or bus instead of a moped--those rum swizzles are potent! We stayed at the Southampton Princess as well and enjoyed ourselves (also mid-30s, no kids). When we booked it, we debated between the Southampton or Hamilton Princess, and I was leaning toward the Hamilton because (not to sound like a jerk, but) the Southampton seemed too kid-friendly for us. It's true that the kiddy pool area next to the main pool was filled with kids and got rather loud but, overall, we enjoyed the hotel very much and were happy to be at the beach instead of in Hamilton. Have fun!

Will I need a light jacket in the evenings? Is the air conditioning on very high in the pubs, restaurants, bars? Thanks.

We've stayed the past 3 years at the HP and this year we're splitting our trip between the HP & the SHP. One of my Bermudian cousins is connected with the SHP and has constantly requested we give them a try, so this year we are. It is a beautiful property high on hill with gorgeous views of either the Great Sound or the South Shore beaches. (Beautiful Horseshoe Bay is next door to the SHP beach). Even though I've never seen the bedrooms at the SHP, the lobby and bar area are beautiful and the shops are interesting (especially the prices in Lilly Pulitzer!) We're splitting our trip this year because we all love, love, love the HP, (especially my 14 year old daughter) and want to be able to spend a few days there again. I forgot to include in my last post, that the HP has two outdoor pools...a freshwater & a saltwater (the latter being our favorite of the two). We're leaving for Bermuda on the 16th of July and staying till the 25th. When are you other July travellers going to be there?

I never taken a sweater or jacket in the summer and neither do my girls (and they're always cold), but that's just us. Bermuda is humid so the air conditioning is a welcome relief from the heat.

BTW..every Friday night, there is a Happy Hour at the HP with food and musical entertainment which is held on the terraces overlooking the harbour. It's a fun time starting as soon as the crowd gets out of work till around 10PM. You'll find a mix of all ages as well as Bermudians and tourists.