3 Best Restaurants in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Set in an 1860s gingerbread house fronted by an old convertible roadster, Evita's—an island institution and the self-proclaimed “Best Little Pasta House in Jamaica”—is a chic, charming restaurant. Its renowned pasta is a spicy mashup of the best of Italian and Jamaican cuisine. The friendly staff, and sometimes the proprietor herself (the effervescent Eva Myers, who still busily oversees everything to ensure perfection), will guide you through the many inventive meal choices.

Named for the massive almond tree growing through the roof, this Ocho Rios restaurant is one of the most romantic restaurants in the resort town. The menu is a mixture of Jamaican and international dishes including seafood, a variety of chicken and beef, and other traditional Jamaican meals. For many, the evening starts with a drink at the terrace bar overlooking the sea followed by dinner alfresco (or in the dining room).

If you're looking for a cheeseburger in paradise and blended drinks, come to the familiar Margaritaville. Part of the popular chain (also in Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Negril), the restaurant features Caribbean dishes alongside American favorites, as well as its namesake drink, which comes in tropical flavors like mango, lime, and strawberry. There's a 100-foot waterslide and pool inside the restaurant and a hot tub on the second floor.