12 Best Restaurants in Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico

This elegant yet unpretentious spot (the owners, Scott and Kate Cole, don't mind if you show up in anything from a dripping wet bikini with a cover-up to a ball gown) brings fine dining and a touch of class to the Esperanza waterfront. Local herbs and fruits, such as quenepas and breadfruit, appear in artfully prepared dishes that the Coles call "fun, funky island food." Scott is the chef, known for seafood specials highlighting the daily catch, as well as dishes you're unlikely to find elsewhere in Puerto Rico, such as braised goat masala. Kate is the consummate hostess. The wine list is large (note: there's a $25 corkage fee) and the cocktail menu is small but inspired. Six stable doors open to ocean views. Lucky walk-ins can grab a seat at the more casual high-bar tables, but for the full experience, make a reservation.

Overlooking the Caribbean in Esperanza and geared to tourists, this longtime, open-air favorite has playful rain-forest murals climbing its walls. Claim a spot at one of the curvy, teal-colored, concrete tables or under an umbrella out front, and order the red snapper sandwich (popular at lunchtime) or the jerk chicken. Salads are excellent, including the Caribbean (field greens with mango, avocado, and plantain), but be sure to save room for the namesake dish: deep-fried bananas with finger-lickin' hot honey sauce. When the sun goes down, Bananas is one of the hot spots on this side of the island.

Sip a freshly brewed coffee and have a healthy breakfast or brunch at this café adorned with murals and offering indoor and outdoor seating with a covered deck. Heaping slices of avocado toast, breakfast tacos, and French toast are popular menu items. There are milk alternatives and vegan meals available. Don't forget to sign your name on the wall before you go.

This Mexican-inspired restaurant is a lively dinner spot. They offer a fresh catch of the day and classic cocktails like margaritas and mojitos. The menu has limited quantities so go earlier in the evening to have the full array of choices. 

This restaurant takes its name from the nearby site of Culebra's heaviest traffic—the arrival and departure of the water taxi. The menu leans toward grilled meats, from hamburgers and wraps to sirloin steaks. If you're stopping by for lunch, make sure it's before 3, when the kitchen closes to prepare for dinner. Daily specials often highlight the restaurant's forte: creole-style seafood, including swordfish and yellowtail, as well as lobster. The adjacent open-air bar is usually packed with expats and a whole cast of local characters. It can get noisy, and the service is anything but doting, so don't expect a quiet dinner for two.

At some point during your time in Vieques, you should end up at Duffy's, the island's most popular hangout, where customers tend to sit elbow-to-elbow around the bar (the owner is a real character, and locals love to to chew the fat with him). Don't dismiss the food, though: in addition to burgers, fries, and other standards, there are chalkboard specials like conch fritters, scallop ceviche, grilled rib eye, or pan-seared pork loin—all a cut above the usual beach fare. Wraps, sandwiches, and fried finger foods round out the menu.

Exercise patience at this oceanfront restaurant offering formal dinner service with menu items like kebabs, spare ribs, and paella. Pair your meal with a nice bottle of wine and watch the sunset. In the mornings this is the site of Latitud Perfecta, serving breakfast. 

This takeout only pizza shop offers 100% sourdough pizzas utilizing fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients like soursop, honey, local cheese, and Caribbean cherries. The menu changes daily. Check out their website for the latest specials. 

This breakfast spot is only open until 11:30 am. They have combo platters, sandwiches, frappés, waffles, pancakes, and more. Despite being an in-demand spot, the service and wait are reasonable.

Pull your dinghy up to the dock, and watch the resident iguanas plod past this simple, open-air, tin-roof restaurant on a rough-plank deck beside the Dewey canal. Tarpon cruise past, and the to-and-fro of boaters completes the show at Culebra's favorite watering hole and gringo hangout. Mamacita's menu changes nightly; though heavy on burgers and sandwiches, it includes some excellent seafood. Hours vary by season.

This unassuming lunch spot is a favorite for locals. They serve classic Puerto Rican dishes from a takeout counter with generous servings at an affordable price. You can dine in or take your food to-go.