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Probably the most famous Jamaican dish is jerk pork—the ultimate island barbecue. The pork (purists cook a whole pig) is covered with a paste of Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento berries (also known as allspice), and other herbs, and cooked slowly over a coal fire. Many aficionados believe the best jerk comes from Boston Beach, near Port Antonio. Jerk chicken and fish are also seen on many menus. The ever-so-traditional rice and peas is similar to the moros y cristianos of Spanish-speaking islands: white rice cooked with red kidney beans, coconut milk, scallions, and seasonings.
The island's most famous soup—the fiery pepperpot—is a spicy mixture of salt pork, salt beef, okra, and the island green known as callaloo. Patties (spicy meat pies) elevate street food to new heights. Although patties actually originated in Haiti, Jamaicans excel at making them. Curried goat is another island standout: the young goat cooked with spices is tenderer and has a gentler flavor than the lamb for which immigrants from India substituted it. Salted fish was once the best that islanders could do between catches. Out of necessity, a breakfast staple (and the national dish of Jamaica) was invented. It joins seasonings with saltfish and ackee, a red fruit that grows on trees throughout the island. When cooked in this dish, ackee reminds most people of scrambled eggs.
There are fine restaurants in all the resort areas, many in Kingston and in the resorts themselves. Many restaurants outside the hotels in Mo'Bay and Ocho Rios will provide complimentary transportation.
What to Wear: Dinner dress is usually casual chic (or just plain casual at many local hangouts, especially in Negril). There are a few exceptions in Kingston and at the top resorts; some require semiformal wear (no shorts; collared shirts for men) in the evening during high season. People tend to dress up for dinner; men might be more comfortable in nice slacks, women in a sundress.
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.
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.
This poolside restaurant has an à la carte menu that serves Jamaican favorites as well as international dishes. The Sunday breakfast is a Mandeville tradition; a lavish buffet includes all the local favorites. This is the perfect spot for intimate meals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This low-key eatery with the motto "come and relax" serves made-to-order vegetarian and seafood dishes as well as fresh fruit and vegetable juices, but it's the surroundings—an enchanting garden on Negril's West End—that make it stand out. Mismatched tables and chairs, some of them made from recycled materials, are scattered in the garden, surrounded by orange trees, pretty flowers, and lush vegetation, so that each dining area is private. A small soup and dessert are included with dinner.
Open all day and right on the beach, this charming thatch-roof restaurant is one of the top spots for dinner on Negril's 7-mile (11-km) strip of sand. The menu specializes in Jamaican cuisine with an international twist, with meals covering sea, breeze, and land. All food is cooked to order, so come prepared for a long languorous meal. During the day you can lounge on beach chairs. The restaurant will bring you here for free if you're staying in Negril.
The Charela Inn's pretty restaurant is lit up with strings of Christmas lights, with tables set out on the beach (there's also a covered patio area in case it rains). There are Jamaican favorites on the menu along with the likes of escargot, crepes, and soufflés. A different five-course menu is offered each night in addition to the à la carte dishes. The French-Jamaican owners get much of the produce here from the hotel's own farm, and the delicious pastries and desserts are all homemade. Thursday night brings live jazz, blues, and vintage reggae and on Saturday there's folkloric music, drumming, and dancing while you dine.
This casual beachside eatery, a favorite with locals and travelers, is known for genuine Jamaican dishes focused on seafood, most of it supplied by fishermen just yards away. For those staying in Treasure Beach, a popular way to reach Little Ochie is by boat. Each year in the second week of July, the place comes alive with the Little Ochie Seafood Fest, a veritable paradise for seafood lovers featuring several stalls serving fresh seafood with all the trimmings, plus music and all-day entertainment. There's also another Little Ochie restaurant in Mandeville.
Located at Falmouth's port, Margaritaville is a top stop among cruise passengers. In true Margaritaville fashion, this colorful, pirate-style restaurant caters to families, with its hot tub and giant pool featuring a waterfall and swim-up bar. On the menu are classic American dishes with Caribbean accents, like the jerk barbecue chicken, island taco salad, and jerk barbecue cheeseburgers.
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.
This romantic seaside restaurant specializes in creative takes on Caribbean seafood, including lobster, shrimp, and fish dishes. The sophisticated style of the menu matches the restaurant's decor, scenery, and overall vibe. Favorites include the Treasure Cay seafood and seared ahi tuna. As one of the most upscale restaurants in Montego Bay, it's the go-to spot for special occasions. Walk-in guests can often be accommodated, but reservations are recommended.
Enjoy European, Jamaican, and Caribbean cuisine while watching the sunset on a terrace surrounded by tropical vegetation. Dishes made with local ingredients change daily, but Meatless Mondays are a weekly feature and there's a special vegetarian menu.
This canopied, open-air eatery is a great place for island fare like fiery jerk meals, wings, and burgers, or seafood such as fish and shrimp, which are perfectly complemented by frosty Red Stripe beers and signature cocktails. Milder barbecued meats are sold by weight (a quarter- or half-pound makes a good serving). It's busy at lunch, especially when passengers from cruise ships swamp the place.
This eatery set in a former slave quarters has a loyal following for authentic Jamaican meals, seafood dishes, and delicious jerk (marked with the restaurant's very own special jerk sauce). The restaurant is in the town's center and is just a short walk away from the Falmouth Port. Delivery and free Wi-Fi are available.
Although open only since 2020, this rustic, casual eatery in quiet Richmond has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants on Jamaica's north coast. The menu is divided into Jamaican, American, Asian, and vegetarian sections, and portions are hearty. Most nights a DJ entertains the crowds, and on Friday there's a live band.
A no-frills eatery favored by locals, Pork Pit is an authentic, open-air Jamaican restaurant that serves the best of Jamaican jerk meats and seafood dishes. The restaurant is close to Doctor's Cave Beach and is surrounded by all the attractions of MoBay's Hip Strip. You can get food to go or eat at the picnic tables on the patio.
Diners can enjoy versions of traditional Jamaican street food in the comfort of a colorful, cliffside restaurant. The menu features traditional house-cooked Jamaican meals and seafood dishes. There's also a bar and great music (DJ or live band) to keep guests entertained. It's a great place to grab a drink (they offer a variety of Jamaican rums) and watch the sunset, too.
Rastafarians are masters at vegan food, so don't expect any chicken or pork dishes on the menu of this colorful beachside eatery that's all about organic Jamaican food. Ackee, callaloo, steamed vegetables, and salads are on offer, and most meals are served with traditional Jamaican root staples like yam, potatoes, and boiled dumplings. Fruit desserts and a variety of porridges (usually eaten for breakfast) complete the menu.
The Ocho Rios branch of the longtime Montego Bay favorite has been lauded by international chefs for its excellent jerk. The plates of jerk chicken and pork and a variety of other dishes like sausage, fish, and ribs at this open-air restaurant are all accompanied by classic Jamaican side dishes such as festival and bammy. Be sure to step over to the kitchen to watch the preparation of the jerk over the pits.
Named for the seagrape trees that line the beach at the Half Moon resorts, this beachside restaurant is open to the public. At lunchtime, a superb buffet and à la carte menu are available, and at dinner there's a good selection of seafood, steaks, ribs, and delicious cocktails.
The former Running Gut Sugar Estate near the Half Moon Resort Golf Course is the setting for this spot helmed by a top Jamaican chef and serving Caribbean dishes with Asian twists. Dine alfresco on a terrace by a 17th-century watermill, enjoying the signature dishes—seafood, international, or vegetarian—made with island spices; a well-stocked wine cellar complete the experiences. Dress at this romantic is smart casual.
Located next to Emancipation Park, this jerk joint specializes in spicy jerk meats. It's the perfect spot to relax and dine after a busy day or to take food to go.
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