21 Best Restaurants in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

This waterfront restaurant serves sustainably sourced Caribbean-American food that pairs wonderfully with the creative craft cocktails and frozen drinks. The dining room overlooks Cane Bay, a perfect backdrop to try the almond-crusted mahi, daily ceviche special, or the catch of the day. Reservations are strongly recommended; request ocean-side grotto seating for an unobstructed sunset view. 

This barnlike “Crucian-Rican” restaurant is often the first stop that locals make before heading to the airport and after arriving back home. Out back, dozens of chickens slowly rotate on a giant rotisserie, and, in front, regulars and a smattering of in-the-know visitors queue up for the juicy birds, traditional Johnny cakes, and local food like stewed oxtail and conch in butter sauce.

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.

Sunday brunch is big here, but locals and visitors also flock to this oceanfront bistro at the Sand Castle on the Beach resort for lunch and dinner. Both menus include burgers and salads, but at dinner the daily pasta specials shine. For lunch, the hummus platter and award-winning seafood chowder are good bets. Brunch is served on weekends only.

This family-owned restaurant has been serving the St. Croix community since 2010 with mouthwatering steaks and seafood. The Monday night all-you-can-eat crab legs and seafood bake is always a big hit; reservations are a must for this day. Their award-winning golden fried chicken, thin crust flatbread pizza cooked on seasoned stones, or house-made desserts and ice cream are must tries.

There's always something smokin’ at Blues BBQ. Enjoy "succulicious" barbecue of brisket and ribs, burgers, and live music in a backyard atmosphere while sipping Cruzan Rum cocktails.

Featuring an eclectic menu of French, Mediterranean, Crucian fusion, this intimate dining establishment in downtown Frederiksted uses wild-caught seafood and local farm-fresh ingredients. Try the Oysters Rockefeller to whet your appetite, followed by the poached whole snapper. When available, snag the rare invasive lionfish as your entrée.

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.

This oceanside eatery serves up a selection of Caribbean, American, and seafood dishes like fried snapper in a creole sauce with Johnny Cakes or Alfredo penne pasta topped with chicken, shrimp, or steak. Takeout is available.

A favorite with locals and vacationers, this poolside restaurant serves up salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and seafood, as well as delicious pasta dishes and popular salads. Come for free salsa dance classes on Monday night, disco bingo on Thursday with dancing between games, the West Indian Caribbean Celebration on Friday, Sunday brunch, and live music on weekends.

This colorful family restaurant has been offering Caribbean-Latin cuisine to the local community for over 20 years. Fresh fish, lobster, and conch are almost always on the menu, as well as stew chicken, fried pork chops, and grilled steaks.

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.

Grilled mahimahi sandwiches, falafel, fish-and-chips, and burgers are among the favorites at this open-air bar across the street from Cane Bay beach. Some dishes are prepared using local Leatherback beer, which is available behind the bar. Live bands occasionally entertain at dinnertime.

Formerly Breeze's Restaurant, Le Cuisinier offers a fusion of West Indian and American cuisine with themed offerings throughout the week like Taco Tuesday, Sushi Thursday, and Soul Food Saturday. Try the conch in butter sauce with seasoned rice and plantain or a surf-and-turf entrée of grilled rib eye steak and a half lobster.

The fare served here is the farthest thing from traditional Mexican food—in addition to the usual ingredients, you can get a taco stuffed with buffalo chicken or jambalaya, and vegan options are available, too. The bar and restaurant are one story up, so the views of the beach and surf are nice. Drink prices are fairly priced—expect to pay $6 for a local Leatherback beer and $9 for the signature cocktails made with crushed ice.

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.

Divers fresh from a plunge at the North Shore's popular Cane Bay Wall gather at this breezy spot on the beach, where sunsets are celebrated with a toast at the bar and the winter months offer the possibility of whale sightings offshore. The menu includes deli sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs, but the stars are the calzones and pizzas, which include options for vegetarians as well as meat-lovers. You can also build your own pizza from an extensive ingredients list or, if you just want a snack, you can order a slice.

At this ocean-level restaurant located at the Grapetree Bay Hotel, you can dine on fish-and-chips, tacos, and Asian sticky pork ribs in a breezy open-air terrace. The all-you-can-eat brunch buffet on Sundays offers your typical breakfast fare like eggs, bacon, and pancakes, plus rotating lunch specials and a meat carving station. At the East End Bar, casual dining under the stars is on the menu with house-made pizza, fresh sandwiches, and salads.

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.

For a taste of local Crucian fare at an affordable price, head to Two Plus Two Restaurant. Fried chicken leg and French fries are consistently good; or try fish and fungi, the unofficial dish of the the Virgin Islands. As a boozy accompaniment to your food, grab a Cruzan Confusion cocktail or an ice-cold beer at the full-service bar.

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.