5 Best Restaurants in Bermuda
What's incredible about the Bermuda restaurant scene isn't so much the number or quality of restaurants, but the sheer variety of cuisines represented on the menus, especially considering that Bermuda is such a tiny island. It hosts a medley of global cuisines—British, French, Italian, Portuguese, American, Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, and Thai—palatable reminders of Bermuda's history as a colony.
Many superior independent and resort restaurants attract a constant and steady stream of internationally acclaimed chefs, assuring that the latest techniques and trends are menu regulars. At the same time, virtually all restaurant menus list traditional Bermudian dishes and drinks, so you have the opportunity to taste local specialties at almost any meal.
As you might expect, methods are not all that's imported. Roughly 80% of Bermuda's food is flown or shipped in, most of it from the United States. This explains why restaurant prices are often higher here than on the mainland.
Nevertheless, there are a number of delicious local ingredients that you should look for. At the top of the list is extraordinary seafood, like lobster (best during September through March), crab, oysters, mussels, clams, red snapper, rockfish, tuna, and wahoo. Additionally, many chefs work with local growers to serve fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, leeks, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, and Bermuda onions (one of the island's earliest exports); and in the fruit department, strawberries, cherries, bananas, and loquats (small yellow fruit used for preserves). Imports notwithstanding, Bermudian cuisine really begins and ends with local ingredients and traditional preparations, and therein lies the island's culinary identity.
While in Bermuda, try to eat like a local and put a couple of traditional dishes to the test. Bermuda is a seafood lover’s paradise, with favorite dishes including mussel pie, shark hash, and codfish and bananas. As for soups, you can go for fish chowder, conch chowder, or traditional Portuguese black-eyed bean soup. Don’t forget to kick back and relax after your meal with a rum swizzle, a Black and Coke, or a Dark ’n' Stormy. Ginger beer—which is quite different from ginger ale—remains the island’s most popular soda for the kids.
Anchor Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
Located at the entrance to the Royal Naval Dockyard, the Anchor Restaurant serves up fresh seafood and contemporary favorites. Dishes range from red Thai curry to the signature Bermuda Triangle—grilled wahoo, scallops, and whole shrimp in a citrus butter sauce. The kitchen is happy to accommodate dietary needs, and there’s often live music or karaoke to round out the night. Call ahead for the latest schedule.
Pickled Onion
A former whiskey warehouse, this is now a lively restaurant serving crowd-pleasing Bermudian cuisine, as well as a handful of Latin- and Asian-flavored dishes. If you get there early enough, grab a table on the veranda overlooking the harbor and be sure to stick around—this is a fabulous spot to hang out and enjoy live music. Try a creative cocktail concoction or a local beer from Dockyard Brewing Company. And save room if you're a dessert lover—it's hard to choose but the dark chocolate salted caramel pie is a must for chocolate lovers.
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Utopia
Across the street from the ferry terminal, this spot with Asian and West Coast culinary influences is a lunchtime favorite among locals. Dine and people-watch from the patio lounge chairs on street level or sip a rum swizzle while enjoying a view of Hamilton Harbour on the rooftop Skybar. There's also indoor seating in a small downstairs space that's brightened up with white bistro chairs and tables. The menu is full of inventive dishes including the bahn mi flatbread and a Middle Eastern platter. There are plenty of smaller plates perfect for sharing, and the Skinny Dipping menu was designed by a nutritionist to provide healthy, delicious meal options.
Village Pantry
No matter what time of day you're looking for a bite to eat, Village Pantry will satisfy your cravings for great food made from quality ingredients. For breakfast, there are Mexican-inspired chilaquiles (fried corn tortilla strips in salsa verde and topped with cheese) or their take on avocado toast—a blend of melted cheese and egg with ham. Or in the evenings build your own healthy bowl with a choice of salad leaves, grains, protein, and inventive dressings. Make sure to grab one of the expertly prepared coffees made from their own roasted Devil's Isle brand. There's plenty of outdoor seating perfect for families or groups.
