135 Best Restaurants in Belize

The aromas waft out to the street and entice you in to this upscale—upscale for Hopkins, that is—Italian spot just south of town. Kick off a meal with a wide variety of bruschetta, followed by a Caprese salad, mushroom ravioli, and tiramisu for dessert. The wine list is one of the best in the country.

\"Sunny place for shady people\" is the old-time slogan of the Lazy Lizard, the hangout that still reigns at the ever-happening Split. Wade with some friends into the Caribbean with an icy bucket of Belikins, or jump off the rickety diving platform (but do it sober). If you're not feeling that gutsy, at night you can watch the fish as multicolored spotlights illuminate the water. Don't expect cheap drinks or gourmet bar snacks (think plasticky nacho cheese). But the location makes the Lizard an iconic hangout.

Near Cahal Pech, you'll find this appropriately named spot overlooking the city. Elevated bar food---think wings and pizza---is joined by unique takes on regulars, such as chimichurri sliders served on tostones and mouthwatering mofongito with creamy chicken. It's a laid-back, friendly place to spend an evening listening to music and noshing on tasty food after a busy day of sightseeing. 

You might feel like you've stumbled into a bar in the States, but this open-air bar just has all those trappings—several TVs tuned to sports channels, nice restrooms, and efficient service. If you're craving fried-not-greasy food, get the Chicklets (chicken tenders skillfully battered in buttermilk and cornmeal), or the Lucky Clucker Lollipops (chicken skewers). Come back for the great night scene.

“I Got Lucky at Lucky Lobster” visors, koozies, and T-shirts can be purchased.

Cheesy name aside, Magic Grill is a delightful, breezy perch where you can dine on treehouselike levels of a palapa overlooking the Caribbean. Okra snapper, sesame-seed shrimp, and Belizean comfort food are on offer, but the real draw is the dreamy setting. 

There's nothing glossy about Manelly's, aside from your ice cream melting in the cone, and that's what makes this spot charming. Have a cheap coconut ice cream or sugarcorn paleta (popsicle). The supersweet ice cream isn't quite delicate, but it's handmade on-site with some local ingredients.

No pretense here—instead, you're seated on the second-floor veranda of the chef--owner's house across the street from the water in Cattle Landing village just northeast of Punta Gorda. You'll find different dishes every evening but usually with a choice of seafood (snapper, snook, or shrimp) or a hearty dish like a thick pork chop or lasagna. It's all delicious and inexpensive, and it's BYOB so bring your own beer or rum. Because it's a little away from the main downtown area, most guests are local residents or expats, not tourists.

You'll recognize the circular logo from the monolithic coffee chain it references, but vibrant-tiled Marbucks is far better. Part of the intimate Marbucks Bed & Breakfast, this is a charming breakfast joint with pleasant outdoor stools and tables. We recommend the drip coffee and the frittata, served in a cast-iron skillet. If you're hankering for a back-home bagel, the egg sandwich is delicious. 

You'd be hard-pressed to find a faster, tastier, cheaper Belizean meal than at this hole in the wall. Grab-and-go breakfast burritos will fill you up before a tour, and the watermelon or lime juice will keep you hydrated. Seating is very limited so take your feast down the street for a picnic in the park.

Moon Bar has made a splash as an atmospheric beach bar and \"flame-fired\" pizza joint on a secluded stretch of beach. This is a spot to come and play for hours: recline on daybeds, drink your \"grammable\" craft cocktail in the pool, or borrow paddleboards and kayaks (free for customers). The tasty, customizable pizzas are made with excellent homemade dough. At night, cool-color purple and blue lighting gives Moon Bar a sultry lunar feel. Note that this hip hangout is 18-plus. 

The buses all stop at this roadside restaurant along the Hummingbird Highway on the way to Dangriga for the hearty tamales boiled by a family in the tradition of their mother, the late Bertha Lisbey. A tamal—that’s the singular—is a self-contained meal of vegetables, with or without meat, wrapped and steamed inside a banana leaf. Psst. You untie the leaf, but you don’t eat it.

This longtime local favorite serves simple but tasty Belizean dishes such as stew chicken or pork with beans and rice. Sit at tables with oilcloth tablecloths under a covered patio, open to the breezes, and enjoy genuine Belizean hospitality at lunch and dinner. Some days there's a buffet of Belizean foods at lunch.

Orange Walk Town may be the last place you'd expect to find an upscale restaurant like this, with its Maya-inspired decor, well-prepared food, and extra-friendly servers. Nonetheless, it opened here, on a corner behind the Shell station, to rave reviews. Sit in the tropical gardens in the back and admire the jungle-esque foliage, or sit in air-conditioned comfort in the main dining room and enjoy a cold drink and a delicious shrimp or conch (in season) ceviche appetizer. For a main course try the curry ginger shrimp or one of the Yucatán-inspired dishes such as poc chuc, grilled pork sauteed with onion and sweet pepper and served with corn tortillas. 

Often packed, Nerie's is the vox populi of dining in Belize City. The many traditional Belizean dishes on the menu include fry jacks for breakfast and cow-foot soup for lunch. Stew chicken with rice and beans and a soft drink is always an economical choice. There's another location on Douglas Jones Street.  You're in the heart of the Commercial District, so a taxi to and from is a must if you come here for dinner.

The village’s bright, pastel, tropical beachfront ice-cream shop offers 19 regular flavors dished up in cones or dishes. (This is Belize, so expect lots of banana and pineapple and coconut offerings among the choices.) Never fear, though: vanilla and chocolate are on the menu if your tastes run less adventurous. Also never fear: you’ll find a few vegan and lactose-free options to cool you off on a hot day.

The engaging German owner here makes use of locally sourced and the best of in-season ingredients to whip up an eclectic menu of European and American food at this thatched-roof restaurant in the center of town. He’s quite proud of the large pork chops they serve. Fresh salads, seafood, cakes, and a good wine selection round out the menu selection here. You’ll find secure parking, too.

This waterside palapa is your spot for---you guessed it---a beautiful sunset. The Pelican is known for its many ceviches (they may be a little overhyped, but still nothing to sneeze at), and seafood in general is tasty here. The bartenders make amazing things happen from fresh juices and local rum. The joint has a lively atmosphere and seating can get crowded, but it's good fun.

This popular thatched-roof restaurant and bar sits smack-dab in the heart of Placencia Village between the main road and the Sidewalk. Try the Philly cheesesteak or the burgers and fries. The owners' dogs wander the place and might ask for some acknowledgment.

The most popular place for breakfast in San Ignacio is here at Pop's, where it's served all day from 6:30 am to 3 pm. You can get an American full breakfast here, but you can also try a Belizean breakfast such as a cheese-and-chaya omelet, Belizean bacon, refried beans, and fry jacks.

Simple decor and few walls make space for this rooftop's real ambience: the Caribbean horizon and watercolor sunsets. Some of the prices are jaw-dropping, but so are the culinary creations: executive chef and sampedrano Samuel Gonzalez has a way with local ingredients and all things seafood. From-the-land dishes shine, too: options such as the bleu cheese-crusted filet mignon use ingredients the island seldom sees. It's possible to pop into Rain for a cocktail and watch the sunset. Just below Rain is Aqua, another of Gonzalez's high-profile restaurants, known for exquisite sushi. Both are attached to the resort Grand Caribe.

At any given time, two or three generations of the owner's family staff this outdoor eatery, which serves some of the best pineapple shrimp and coconut curry on Caye Caulker. You’ll sit under fluorescent lights with feet in the sand, while your dinner sizzles behind you in a tiny kitchenette or on a barbecue grill. Reina’s has a full bar but no straws (a big bonus for marine life). During the day, the family sells tasty meat pies next door. 

This little place on the Sidewalk is a nice stop for fresh ceviche and cold beer at lunch; just sit on the open-air veranda and watch the village life pass by. If you're craving greens, it also has some of Placencia's best salads. For dinner, try the pizza or pineapple shrimp quesadillas. The chef--owner, Rick, is well experienced in the hospitality business in Belize and treats his customers well.

The Creole and Garifuna dishes here are hearty, tasty, and prepared fresh. The restaurant is often busy with fishermen and the guys who run boats out to Tobacco Caye and other offshore cayes, but it's basic and clean. If you're going to the islands you can arrange transportation while sipping a beer or having breakfast or a plate of rice and beans.

Line up beside the smoking grill for a delicious, no-nonsense plate of jerk chicken with sides. Homemade sauce is dished from a big plastic mixing bowl, and Fanta and juices are in the back (but don't expect mixed drinks). Eat under the thatch and chat with the lovely Jamaican-Belizean owners, or get your meal to go. Bring napkins---and cash, as no credit cards are accepted.

Tucked inside the Mahogany Bay development, Rum + Bean is the go-to for a quick coffee fix among locals and tourists alike (though the former may balk at some of the prices). As it is within the resort's property, it's better if you have a golf cart to drive up to the quaint, ivory-painted shop that serves as a community hub for guests. Inside, however, you'll find more than just coffee. Handcrafted cocktails, smoothies, and teas are popular here. Breakfast options aren't too shabby either, though you might be better off grabbing some fry jacks or meat pies at a more wallet-friendly location. 

This hip spot run by transplanted New Yorkers, in a breezy second-floor location near Tutti-Frutti, is a good place to have drinks, tapas, interesting seafood creations, and Italian pasta. Try the small plates of Thai shrimp cakes or pescado relleno (red snapper stuffed with shrimp). Bigger dishes include fish stew and several pasta and seafood dishes. There's a good selection of Italian and California wines.

This nondescript Mediterranean/Lebanese restaurant in the Northern Suburbs has good kebabs, kofta, falafel, and hummus, with many vegetarian options. Service isn't always perfect, but the food is consistently good.

With sizzling spices, this restaurant transforms basics like chicken or pork chops beyond standard fare. Try the pork in brandy-mustard sauce, the coconut chicken, or the piña colada fish. Eat in the casual dining room or out on the covered deck, with views through the vines and flowers. In a residential area off Benque Road, the place can be hard to find, especially after dark so consider taking a taxi.