12 Best Restaurants in Christiansted, St. Croix

One of those small but special spots that everyone loves, including critics who regularly rank it among the Caribbean's best restaurants, this lively spot relies on local ingredients in its fusion of Mexican, Thai, and Caribbean dishes—anything from Thai curry with chicken to a fillet of beef stuffed with Portobello mushrooms and goat cheese. You can't go wrong with the egg roll special or the catch of the day. Call early for reservations, as the indoor dining room is small, and you'll want to nab a table in the candelit back courtyard if you can.

This brand-new Internet café in Christiansted features coffee, lattes, and frappuccinos, plus delicious local pastries like coffee cakes, donuts, and muffins. Grab-and-go salads and sandwich wraps are a great lunch option when pressed for time.

One of the newest eateries along the Christiansted Boardwalk, this tropical oceanfront restaurant overlooking historic Christiansted is one of the dining options provided by the newly renovated King Christian Hotel that features quality breakfast favorites and brunch cocktails. Try Caroline's Omelet, with roasted red pepper, balsamic caramelized onions, goat cheese, and baby spinach, paired with a passion fruit mimosa.

This vibrant Spanish-inspired tapas bar and grill highlights the flavors of Latin cuisine by combining Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Peruvian cuisines with a Caribbean twist. Start off with a few tapas like the stuffed empanadas, bacon-wrapped maduros, and chicharron bites, followed by a main entrée like the seafood paella (made with the catch of the day) or the steak of the day. Pair your meal with a cocktail served in a coconut-shaped glass or the house-made sangria. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

Choose from a wide variety of hot and cold beverages, signature sandwiches, specialty drinks, salads, soups, baked goods, and desserts. The locally made pates sell out quickly in the morning; get there early to grab one and pair with your favorite coffee or tea beverage. There are three locations on the island: on Strand Street in Christiansted, in Sunny Isles Shopping Center, and the original location inside the VIYA Building next to the Juan Luis Hospital.

Named for the two Hamiltons of St. Croix—Alexander Hamilton and David Hamilton Jackson—this fine dining restaurant, with an extensive wine list, prepares dishes with fresh ingredients and an abundance of flavor. The soup du jour and the fresh catch of the day—which might be a seafood chowder made with local conch and mahi mahi, and a pan-seared wahoo or wasabi-crusted tuna—are always a hit with guests. The creamy mushroom risotto is an excellent vegetarian option and desserts are made in-house daily.

This modest storefront eatery fills up with locals getting to-go orders of the restaurant’s traditional Crucian breakfast, including salt fish, Johnny cake, boiled egg, cucumber salad, sautéed spinach, and—in a nod to the island’s Danish heritage—smoked herring. Lunch options include chicken, shrimp, and fish roti, and a popular vegetable lentil soup.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner indoors and out, this dockside spot has something for everyone on its extensive menu. Dinner can be as fancy as flatiron steak or seafood pasta in a white wine garlic butter sauce, or as basic as a burger or chicken sandwich. Try one of their Caribbean bowls for lunch like the conch fritters bowl served with rice and beans and a side salad. Drinks at the bar are half-price daily from 4 pm to 6 pm.

This beautiful courtyard restaurant serves French-inspired American cuisine. The barbecue ribs are excellent, and you can do a partially healthy offset by ordering the roasted Brussels sprouts dip and scooping it onto flatbread. Don’t skip the desserts, particularly the apple crisp topped with house-made vanilla ice cream.

This locally owned coffee shop uses local organic fruits and vegetables to prepare hearty breakfast and lunch dishes. Located steps from the Christiansted National Historic site, the covered sidewalk seating is great for people-watching and taking in the local scene while enjoying your favorite latte, breakfast platter, or salad.

Cool down with a scoop or two of local homemade ice cream from this family-run establishment. Popular flavors include Cruzan Rum Raisin, mango sorbet, Ponche Cuba with almonds, and vegan coconut. Waffle cones are made to order and milkshakes are available in a few boozy flavors. 

Serving local favorites for over 30 years, Zeny's Restaurant is open seven days a week whipping up mouthwatering dishes like stew chicken, seasoned rice, conch in butter sauce, and roast pork. The inconspicuous residential exterior transforms into a cozy, intimate restaurant inside. Try the mofongo with stew shrimp or the bestseller, chicharrones de pollo. Always call ahead to make sure they're open.