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This restaurant's name perfectly describes its location: directly by the sea cliff, and with spectacular scenery and views. The menu features traditional Jamaican dinner dishes, as well as seafood dishes, soups, and salads. The open-air layout allows guests to enjoy the gentle breeze from the sea, and the dining room features rustic furniture. Guests are encouraged to call ahead with their order, as all meals are freshly prepared.
Hwy. A4, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica
Known For
- Conch salad
- Lionfish cooked with Jamaican Red Stripe beer and wine
- Cozy lounge area by the bar
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A Negril institution since the hippie days of the 1960s and 1970s, Rick's is one of the resort town's best-known landmarks and attracts busloads of revelers for sunset every evening. Love it or hate it, it's worth experiencing at least once on a trip to Negril. The live reggae band that performs several days per week for the sundown hours gets the party mood in full swing, and the local boys jumping off the nearby cliffs are often joined by high-spirited tourists. While the liquor flows you can also dine at the restaurant serving pasta, seafood dishes, and Jamaican desserts.
West End Rd., Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Live reggae band several times a week
- Cliff diving
- Drink specials using local liquor
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This restaurant is a must for dinner at least once while visiting Jamaica, as the menu features both traditional Jamaican cooking and Rockhouse's interpretation of "new Jamaican cuisine," inspired by the many cultures that have come to the island. The open-air dining area has huge comfy bamboo sofas where you can relax for an aperitif or after-dinner drink; tables are arranged near the cliff for sensational seaside dining. For special occasions, private tables for groups can be set up in a cabana, on an intimate terrace, or on a lower deck. The staff is friendly and attentive. Much of the food is organically grown right across the road.
West End Rd., Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Beautiful sunset views
- Private table dining
- A variety of seafood dishes
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Portland may be the birthplace of jerk cooking, but Scotchies is one of Jamaica’s premier jerk eateries. It serves genuine jerk—chicken, pork, fish, sausage, and more—with fiery sauce and delectable side dishes including festival (bread similar to a hush puppy) and rice and peas. This restaurant is a favorite with Montego Bay residents and tourists; you're likely to see a slap-the-table game of dominoes.
North Coast Hwy., Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica
Known For
- Jerk chicken
- Lively domino games
- Local side dishes like festival, bammy (a flatbread made from cassava), and rice and peas
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This hugely popular spot on a stunning stretch of beach in Salem buzzes with guests relaxing over drinks and sea views and listening to DJ tunes on weekend evenings. The menu features best hits of the seafood favorites—lobster, conch, crab, shrimp, and octopus. Various chicken dishes, salads, and wraps are also offered. Dine inside, or opt for a table outside, as long as you're okay with getting sand in between your toes.
Main St., Runaway Bay, St. Ann, Jamaica
Known For
- Seating directly on the beach
- Lively atmoshphere
- Wide range of seafood dishes
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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A favorite with Kingstonians for its elegant Sunday brunch, Strawberry Hill has a stunning location; the open-air terrace has spectacular views of the city and countryside. The restaurant serves an à la carte menu that features dishes with a Jamaican flare and ingredients grown on the Island Outpost Farm. The bar area, a good place for cocktails or after-dinner drinks, features a piano and a fireplace that's usually ablaze in the cool evenings of the Blue Mountains.
Known For
- Blackwell Rum Punch
- Incredible views
- Romantic ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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With a reservation, nonguests can savor authentic Jamaican cuisine with a twist at this gorgeous boutique resort on Negril's West End. The price ($150 per person) covers a private, romantic, candlelit five-course dinner in a sea-front cave. When the hotel bar, the Sands, is open (Wednesday and Saturday, 4–7), you can join in cliff-jumping, a popular West End pastime, and enjoy colorful cocktails and fare from the smoky jerk grill. Once a month, they have a "Jamaican Night" with a full Jamaican buffet and live musical performances ($120 per person). Much of the produce comes from the hotel's organic farm in the parish of Trelawny.
West End Rd., Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Romantic atmosphere
- Sea views
- Great wine and drinks selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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A sign on the wall of this friendly pizzeria reads: "You can't buy happiness but you can buy pizza, and that's kind of the same thing". Indeed, here you'll find the best pizza in the area, along with tasty pasta, seafood dishes, and burgers, and a good selection of wines. The chef tends to add a local twist to his daily Italian specials—look out for the ganja mahimahi or ganja lobster.
Shore Bay Plaza, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica
Known For
- Locally influenced daily specials
- Delicious pizzas
- Welcoming staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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This quaint bistro in Mandeville, run by chef Lilee, feels a million miles away from the bustle of the city. Locals favor this spot for breakfast and lunch, where classic burgers, wraps, and delicious pastries highlight the menu. Pasta, steak, and shrimp dishes are served for dinner.
52 Caledonia Rd., Jamaica
Known For
- Panini
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Pasta dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Zimbali's isn't just a restaurant, it's a culinary experience as guests are taken on a tour of the restaurant's organic farm, before heading back for a delicious farm-to-table meal. The open-air dining space, nestled in the Negril hills, has stadium-style seating with the kitchen in the center, so guests can watch as the chefs prepare seafood and vegetarian meals. The adjoining common rooms are comfortable and spacious, and the drummers keep guests entertained.
Little London, Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Numerous seafood and vegetarian options
- Great entertainment
- Variety of cakes for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., reservations essential
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This very casual restaurant housed beneath a big roof (and not much more) is best known for its jerk—it hosts the Negril Jerk Festival every November—but also serves other traditional Jamaican dishes and seafood, like grilled lobsters (in season). Lunch is available, but dinner, thanks to the spectacular sunsets, is always the peak time. You can dine in the restaurant or near the cliffside, which provides an optimal view.
West End Rd., Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Beautiful sunset views
- Jerk dishes
- Large portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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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).
83–85 Main St., Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica
Known For
- Large variety of dishes
- Stunning view
- Curry goat
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A grand piano and a well-stocked premium bar add to the upscale feeling at this restaurant, with stylish indoor seating and patio tables. The cuisine is a fusion of the foods from the many cultures that have settled in the Caribbean—from Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Denmark, Great Britain, and, later, India and China—resulting in a mouthwatering melting pot of contemporary cuisine. There is also a vegetarian and vegan menu.
Norman Manley Blvd., Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Known For
- Surf and turf meal (includes steak and lobster)
- Elegant atmosphere
- Beach bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Actually a collection of about half a dozen open-air stands, this is a culinary landmark thanks to its popular jerk pits. Stroll up to the open pits, fired by pimento logs and topped with a piece of corrugated roofing metal, locally known as zinc, and order meat by the quarter-, half-, or full pound. You'll find all the traditional Jamaican meats sold here, along with side dishes, soups, and local beers.
Hwy. A4, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica
Known For
- Local beers
- Stands selling jerk meats
- Delicious local side dishes like festival and rice and peas
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Perched on a hillside more than 3,000 feet up in Irish Town, Cafe Blue is one of the most stunning places to enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of freshly baked cake. The hip hideaway for Kingstonians is also popular with Strawberry Hill Hotel guests because of the variety of beverages made from Blue Mountain coffee. Other café branches are in the Norman Manley Airport, Main Street Jamaica, Fairview Town Center in Montego Bay, and Super Valu Centre and the Sovereign Center, both in Kingston.
Known For
- Terrific local coffee
- Great breakfast sandwiches
- "Blueccino" drinks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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This lively restaurant and bar is the most popular spot in Kingston for tacos, quesadillas, and all things "JaMexican"—a tasty fusion of Jamaican and Mexican cooking. There's a relaxed atmosphere and great music, making it a good after-work chill spot for Kingstonians. It can, however, get pretty boisterous on weekends.
88 Hope Rd., Kingston, Jamaica
Known For
- Taco Tuesdays
- Margarita Mondays
- Burrito special on Fridays
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Set on the roof of the R Hotel, this Caribbean-fusion restaurant helmed by renowned Jamaican chef Brian Lumley and offering expansive views of the Kingston skyline is an ideal spot to celebrate a special occasion. The restaurant features a small pool closed to guests during dining hours, and on weekend evenings, a DJ takes center stage, playing music until closing time.
2 Renfrew Rd., Kingston, Jamaica
Known For
- Stunning skyline views
- Delicious and creative Caribbean dishes
- Great cocktail and wine list
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One of the trendiest casual fine dining restaurants in the reimagined Downtown neighborhood, F & B Downtown is where delicious food meets local art. The menu serves classic Jamaica meals with Asian and Italian touches, while the bar has a range of wines and spirits. On the last Friday of each month, the restaurant hosts a "creative meet-up" for local and international artists. The restaurant's location was once a Swiss Store; today there's still a Swiss Stores outlet inside the restaurant, as well as other jewelry, eyewear, and souvenir brands.
107 Harbour St., Kingston, Jamaica
Known For
- Ratatouille
- Quiet atmosphere
- Art and souvenirs at the Swiss Stores outlet
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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As Port Royal's number-one restaurant, regulars come here for the food and atmosphere. The rustic restaurant is right by the ocean, with a view of the Blue Mountains in the back, and the fishermen's boats docked by the seaside are evidence of the fresh fish, shrimp, lobster, and conch that are caught and prepared here. Dishes are served with traditional Jamaican sides like rice and peas, plantains, festival (long fried dumplings), and bammy (a thick flatbread made from cassava). Newer locations are in downtown Kingston and Ocho Rios.
5 Queen St., Port Royal, Kingston, Jamaica
Known For
- Large portions
- Ocean views
- Fresh seafood
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With nearly 20 locations across the island, the Ocho Rios branch of this eat-in or take-out restaurant about a block from the main tourist area serves a Jamaican version of fast food. Jerk chicken, sandwiches, soups, and Jamaican dinner combo meals (called yabbas, an African-Jamaican term for bowl) are among the specialties. Many meals are served with festivals (sweet, fried dumpling) and are spiced for the local palate.
59 Main St., Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica
Known For
- Jerk chicken
- Local fruit and vegetable juices
- Yaad-style sandwich (lettuce, tomatoes, grilled chicken, and fried plantains)
