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

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.

A distinctive gypsy cart on the side of Mahogany Road (Route 76) overflows with fresh baked breads, tarts, sandwiches, and toasties with unusual fillings like black bean hummus or homegrown banana. The farm-to-table menu, which changes daily to reflect what's available, includes local fare, Indian curries, British-influenced dishes, and Southern comfort food. Next door, Mahogany Road Chocolate sells chocolate made from locally harvested cacao and shaped as rainforest frogs and "chaney" shards. In addition to this bakery cart, they have a food truck at Fort Frederik Beach on Thursdays and Fridays.

This family-run business has used the same Danish ice-cream recipe with local flavorings since 1900. Options include flavors like almond, ginger, peanut, coconut, and pumpkin, as well as seasonal varieties like gooseberry, guava, mango, soursop, and passion fruit. You can also get delicious breakfast platters, omelets, and deli sandwiches and wraps. 

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.

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.

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.

Huge sandwiches at this tiny spot feature homemade bread and can be as basic as turkey and cheddar or as imaginative as the Beast, piled high with hot roast beef, raw onion, and melted Swiss cheese with horseradish and mayonnaise. Barbecue—including pulled pork, chicken, and brisket plates—is another highlight. There are also salads and a good selection of desserts, plus lots of outdoor seating in the shade.

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.