66 Best Restaurants in Belize

Next door to the Hibiscus Hotel, Corkers is run by the husband-and-wife team of Geoff Hatto-Hembling and Sam Buxton from the United Kingdom. You can choose to dine in the covered, open-air patio, or inside the cozy air-conditioned dining room. The menu is eclectic, ranging from classic English fish-and-chips and a grilled American cheeseburger with fries to Indian curries, plus pasta, steak, pork ribs, fried chicken, and a nice variety of salads.

Near the tip of the island, this gem is hidden in plain sight. Tuck into a plate of stove-fresh pita, creamy hummus, and skewers of onion-parsley shrimp grilled in a boat of foil, all made by the charming chef Ana. These deep-flavored dishes are a wonderful surprise. It's not fast food, so have a smoothie while you wait in the family's front yard. Vegetarians will appreciate the superior options here.

Cash only.

Those who dream in chocolate, this one's for you. Owners Chris Beaumont and Jo Sayer work with over 500 Maya cacao farms (in a handful of collectives), which average 1½ acres each and typically use organic methods. As a result, the company does marvels with one of Belize's most ancient crops. Here, the Belizean bean appears not only in bars but as champagne truffles, milkshakes, and---get ready---chocolate balsamic vinegar. Make time for Chris' amazing class on chocolate-making at about BZ$30 per person (offered at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm on weekdays; just call ahead to schedule). Expect U.S. chocolatier prices here.

Billing themselves as an \"inland beach bar,\" this laid-back spot downtown serves up tasty Caribbean and Belizean fare that you won't be able to stop eating, and you won't have to because the prices are reasonable. The seafood is divine—don't miss the ceviche, or the shrimp tacos, and if you need something to cool down the tastebuds after the jerk seasoning try a coconut mojito.

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Cielo stuns not just in food quality but in its elegant aesthetic as well. The restaurant is located at Tony's Inn, but guests aren't the only ones who get to enjoy its Belizean--Maya taste; locals from neighboring districts are willing to make the drive just to indulge in Cielo's conch fritters and pepita-crusted fish. Opt to dine on the deck to feel the ocean breeze cool you down after a long day exploring Corozal. 

This three-story palapa is a lovable hangout for locals, ex-pats, Belizean vacationers from the mainland, and travelers. The service and menu are both impressive, with reasonably priced rum drinks, ceviche, and other island fare. Catching the sunset here is a no-brainer, but you can also come by later for the nightlife scene. Crocs indeed live in the lagoon, but don't drop them nachos: feeding crocodiles is illegal and dangerous for the apex predators. Watch them from afar.

Named for the open wood-fire cooking hearth (\"faya haat\" in Kriol), El Fogon serves authentic down-home Belizean cooking like chaya tamales, Creole stews, and gibnut (a small game rodent and delicacy). El Fogon feels like a hole-in-the-wall, but it's actually one of the most renowned spots on the island. Think island-casual but with the quality dialed up (you sit at picnic tables, but the picnic tables have cloth runners). Newly renovated with air-conditioning, El Fogon offers modern comfort in the midst of island heat. Dishes are prepared in cast-iron pots in a traditional fogón. Next to it, a mountain of fresh veggies, about to be chopped, is part of the decor. Though it's in town, it's a little hard to find: ask any local where it is.

Inside the Sleeping Giant Lodge, you'll find a gastronomic delight. In a beautiful setting, The Grove House serves up fresh-from-the-field, homemade meals that look amazing and taste even better. Start with homemade bread and fresh churned butter; for breakfast, try the stuffed fry jacks. At dinner, the coconut shrimp is a surefire hit.

Located in a remodeled colonial framehouse on the far end of Burns Avenue, Guava Limb Café serves an eclectic mix of delicious soups, seafood, salads, and local and American dishes that have given it a reputation as the best restaurant in San Ignacio. Run by the owners of The Lodge at Chaa Creek, there's open-air seating and a bar on the first level, while a second-level veranda overlooks Macal River Park. You'll enjoy fresh, artful dishes like herb and garlic pan-seared shrimp with butternut squash bisque and jasmine rice, or glazed spare ribs with potato croquettes.

From the Mayan language, Ko-Ox Han-Nah roughly translates to \"let's go eat.\" It's far from fancy—you eat on simple tables in what is essentially a large open-front building on busy Burns Avenue—but service is cheerful, and the food is inexpensive and well prepared. Much of the food is raised on the farm of the Zimbabwe-born owner. In addition to the usual Belizean beans-and-rice dishes, Ko-Ox Han-Nah serves fusion food influenced by Mexican, Southeast Asian, and North and South Indian cooking, with salads, sandwiches, burritos, Burmese dishes, Cambodian and Korean chicken dishes, and Indian lamb curries.

A well-run option in Orange Walk Town, Maracas Bar and Grill has one of the town's most scenic settings overlooking the New River---you might even spot a crocodile. Sit in the covered riverside patio or in the air-conditioned dining room and start your meal with an appetizer of shrimp, conch, or lobster ceviche (lobster is available mid-June to mid-February and conch is usually October to late April). Indulge your comfort food cravings with pizza, fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, or a beef or fish burger. Escabeche is offered Sunday only. Occasionally local parties here get loud, but you'll probably be welcome to join the festivities.

One of the city’s best vegan/vegetarian restaurants holds court in an early-20th-century colonial waterfront building with great views of the harbor. Begin your day with a fruit bowl, accompanied by avocado toast or a spinach and cheddar quiche. Lunch and dinner might give way to an Open Face No Tuna—really curried chickpeas with a balsamic guava vinaigrette or a Buddha Bowl, homemade hummus with veggies and brown rice. The entire production comes courtesy of the relaxing, slightly trendy Harbour View Cottages across the street. Two notes: it’s a climb of several steps to get up to the second-floor restaurant; and shoes are left at the door if you dine inside, but not if you eat out on the wraparound veranda.

From the moment you walk under the leafy trellis, the Milanese hosts of this classic nook will make you feel at home. Choose one of two fabulous nightly pastas (one vegetarian, one meat; you won't go wrong with either), and sip Chianti underneath DIY lampshades made from colanders. Cozy up beside other visitors from around the world, as the high-top tables are shared. Owners Anna Marini and Armando Pau are highly respected cooks on the island. Pasta in the Caribbean? A better pairing than you'd think. You may even find yourself a repeat guest the next night. But be warned: you'll want to make a reservation.

Patty's Bistro (sometimes spelled Patti's) serves some of the best food in town, the service is sprightly and friendly, the atmosphere is no-frills, and prices are low. For a local treat, try the hearty conch soup (in season, usually October to late April).

One of the city's most popular and agreeable restaurants serves up dependably good pub grub, with friendly service and safe parking. The signature hamburgers, which come in several sizes from 6 ounces to enormous, are arguably the best in Belize. Try one with the stacked onion rings. The Tavern has steak and prime rib dishes, from cattle at the owners' farm. Sit inside in air-conditioned comfort, at tables set around a huge bar, or on the outside covered patio overlooking Haulover Creek. The fenced, guarded parking lot right in front of the restaurant makes it easy and safe to park for free.

On the lagoon side, the hip-to-the-max Truck Stop pulses as the social hub of North Ambergris. Five shipping containers with different owners dish up \"Nuevo Latino\" food, New Haven--style pizza, trendy ice cream, a host of drinks, and other goodies. Out back, a deck sits over the lagoon (the \"Warning: Crocodiles\" signs are not just decorative) where folks gather in the pool for sunset. There's something for everyone: play cornhole with your kids, sunbathe with a few Belikins, or bring your big group of friends for dinner. At first blush it looks touristy, but San Pedranos love this spot, too. The Truck Stop knows entertainment: there is a film shown by the lagoon every Wednesday, trivia and adult spelling bees, and live music on the regular.

Here is the island's classic spot for a warm smile, coffee (including espresso), and a morning bite to eat. Sit on the cozy porch, people-watch on Front Street, and try the homemade yogurt or the yummy fresh breads.

Want to step a little off the tourist trail? Head over to Aurora's---she's one of the first to plant her flag at Secret Beach, and one of the few Belizean owners currently there. Aurora dishes up fresh seafood in a small outdoor bar on the water. It's nothing flashy, but it sure is tasty. 

This longtime local seafood favorite is an open-air seaside bar and restaurant on the little islet at the south end of Regent Street, also called Bird's Isle. The thatched-roof spot is a great place to sip tropical drinks and eat local seafood (the fried snapper is a favorite) or other dishes at lunch, away from the hustle of downtown. You'll like the prices, too. Always take a taxi after dark, as the neighborhood can be sketchy at night.

Blue Bayou is sure to please: set slightly apart from the Secret Beach hubbub, it has partially underwater picnic tables and friendly servers who wade into the lagoon to take your meal order. Blue Bayou is a slightly less touristy hangout in this area (emphasis on slightly). The turquoise water is Blue Bayou's main attraction, as there isn't much of a beach. The quesadillas and nachos are mediocre, but the hot-from-the-grill shrimp and fish dishes do the trick after an hour of swimming. Live music is a hit on weekends, but music is pumping pretty much always. Careful not to lose a straw in the water---this is inside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. 

Open since 1984, the Caladium is one of the oldest businesses in this young capital. Most Belizeans know it, since it's next to the bus station at Market Square. Here you'll find many of the country's favorites on the menu, including fried chicken, tender barbecued pork ribs, traditional rice and beans with chicken, beef, or pork, and conch soup. It's authentic, clean, affordable, well-run, and air-conditioned.

Plunk down at a mint-green picnic table and tuck into a coconut curry, grilled fish, or---better yet---a meringue-topped Key lime pie (probably the island's best). Breakfast is killer, too, and at local prices. This counter-service joint is as low-key as it gets, and cheaper than anything waterfront. Note that Juan's doesn't serve alcohol.  

This place bills itself as purveyors of ice cream, coffee, and wine, and the wide-ranging combo works. Enjoy a selection of specialty coffees, tropical-flavored ice cream, and wines from France, Italy, Argentina, and California. (The wine bar holds court in a separate part of the building.)

Locally adored for four decades, Chon Saan Palace is the best Chinese restaurant in Belize City, which is otherwise full of really bad Chinese eateries. It has some 200 dishes on the menu, most Cantonese style, such as sweet-and-sour pork. We like the Chinese-style crab legs. There's a live-seafood tank with lobster and the catch of the day, kept alive until you're ready to eat it. On Sunday, the restaurant switches gears a bit and makes sushi and sashimi.

A fun dining experience on an open-air porch adjoining the Coconut Row Hotel features a menu using local and organic ingredients. Coconut Husk truly shines at breakfast with filling pancakes or fry jacks with toast and natural fruit juices. The small lunch menu gives way to tacos and a variety of wraps. Bar snacks and lighter fare, rather than a full dinner, make up the evening menu, which is in effect only three nights a week.

San Ignacio's take on gourmet dining serves up elevated fare, such as lamb chops in a chocolate balsamic glaze and short ribs risotto, in a quiet and intimate setting. Chef Alejandro cooks the steaks so they melt in your mouth but his chimichurri sauce is the real MVP. For foodies, this quaint little spot is not to be missed. 

Friendly service, local atmosphere, good food simply prepared, modest prices, ice-cold beer—what more could you want? Dawn's Grill 'n Go is in a small no-frills building behind the soccer field in Placencia Village. These folks are open only for dinner; go for the grilled or fried chicken, or the fish of the day.

This open-air bar and restaurant near the sea with a \"tatch\" (thatch) roof has long been a popular hangout in the village. Try the huge shrimp burrito and wash it down with a few cold Belikins. Breakfasts are good and hearty here, too.