St. John - Caneel Dress code
 

My wife & I are just a few short days away from heading our first visit to Caneel. She read that at night at Caneel bay resturants, a stricter dres code is enforced including men must wear closed toe shoes. Is this true? Caneel's web site reads:

Gentlemen are asked to wear collared shirts, slacks and closed-in shoes after sunset when dining at Turtle Bay Estate House during winter (jackets are customary, but not required). Ladies will feel comfortable in evening resort attire. During spring, summer and fall, dress Bermuda shorts and closed-in shoes or dress sandals are acceptable for gentlemen dining at The Equator or Caneel Terrace. Slacks are required at Turtle Bay Estate House.

lil help....

I have been to Caneel, and they really will enforce the code. In plain English, no sandals or shorts at the Turtle Bay House for men. This is a counrty club type setting, not open every night. Woman can wear sundresses, sandals, nice slacks etc. For the Equator it means long pants, or nice
Bermuda shorts, no flip-flops. The Beach Bar is casual. Hope this helps.

thanks penny. Makes sense. I assume there are enough night dining in cruz bay with casual dress.

Cruz Bay has lots of dining spots, all
casual. Its been a few years but Zozo,s
Ascolare, Paradisio, Morgans Mango, The Lime Inn. I prefer dining in Cruz Bay over Caneel!

I agree with Penny's comparison of Cruz Bay dining options with those at Caneel Bay. Other than the breakfast buffet and lunch fare, My wife and I felt that the Caneel restaurants, although attractive, tried unsuccessfully to create a cosmopolitan/Continental cuisine. As a result, the atmosphere was stuffy and the food underwhelming.

That said, the dining possibilities in Cruz Bay are varied and encouraging that that If you go to Asolare, ask for a table on the verandah--magical sunset and nighttime views. Morgan's Mango has a Jimmy Buffett tropical ambiance and terrific Caribbean cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. A lot of Caneel Bay staffers stop in for drinks and a bite when thay are off-duty and waiting for the last ferry to Red Hook on St. Thomas.

Also very much enjoyed Cafe Wahoo. And it's easy to take a cab from Caneel Bay. They congregate right in Caneel's parking lot.