52 Best Restaurants in Belize

Above Grounds sells shade-grown, organic Guatemalan coffee straight up, in lattes, iced, or however you like it. Fresh-roasted coffee by the pound is also for sale. The bagels come from The Bistro at Maya Beach, and the fresh donuts from a lady who sells them in the village.

Sharing a parking lot with a gas station and convenience store, Aroma Cafe & Lounge is a local hot spot. You'll find the breakfast options here hard to choose from, though the most popular is the Belizean breakfast. You can't go wrong with fluffy fry jacks, eggs your way, slices of bacon, and a cup of the beloved beans. Aroma tends to get packed on weekend mornings, so be sure to arrive early to secure a booth. 

This little open-air restaurant near Xunantunich has won many fans who come for hearty Maya and Creole dishes at rock-bottom prices. You'll find mostly locals here, many from San Ignacio, Benque Viejo, and other parts of Cayo District. Most items on the menu are BZ$12 or less, including chilimole (chicken with mole sauce), cow-foot soup, Belizean escabeche (marinated fish or meat), and stew pork with rice, beans, and plantains. You can make a meal of the mestizo appetizers including salbutes (puffed fried tortilla with meat), tostadas, and empanadas, most under BZ$2 each. The classic Maya pibil (pork cooked in an underground oven) is sometimes on the menu. The banana and mango licuados (milkshakes) are delicious, and you can also enjoy the official national drinks of Belize, Belikin and Fanta.

Here's a place unlike any other on the island: from the homemade bundiga (green banana dumplings) to drumming presentations on cedar and mahogany drums, Black and White gives you a special window into the rich culture and foodways of Belize's Garifuna people. The menu spotlights Garifuna cuisine like hudut (snapper in coconut broth with pounded plantains), tikini (brown flour soup with fish and vegetables) and the staple dish, cassava bread. The owner Julia Martinez (known to everyone in town as Ms. Julia) is a true cultural ambassador for the Garifuna; speak with her and you can learn about Garifuna heritage in all its vitality. Since Garifuna (also called Garinagu) populations are concentrated in Seine Beight, Hopkins, Punta Gorda, and Dangriga---all on the mainland---this is a unique resource on the island. Try to make it to one of Black and White's entertainment nights, which celebrates Garifuna culture with live drumming, traditional dancing, and a decadent buffet. 

Fry jacks are those puffy pillows of fried dough served at breakfast; here they come stuffed with a slew of options, from egg and ham to chicken and beans, all for a U.S. buck or two. Just one makes a filling breakfast. Pull up a stool on the pink-and-green porch, or take your fry jacks near the water. At the stand next door you can pick up a liter of fresh watermelon juice (in a repurposed Crystal bottle) for BZ$7. Yet another example of a great female entrepreneur in Belize, Errolyn does it right. She also holds a barbecue most Saturdays.

Cash only.

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.

Chef-owner Darren Casson has done it again with this global fusion restaurant (with a pan-Asian bent), lighting the way for a culinary scene to unfold on North Caye Caulker. Dynamite dishes include coffee-rubbed barracuda and lemongrass curried shrimp. At lunch, you'll also find classics like quesadillas or the daily Belizean special. Located at Blu Zen Resort, Lotus is not as atmospheric as the more intimate Hibisca by Habanero, but the menu is at least as interesting. 

Want to treat yourself? Head up to the magnificent Matachica Resort and dine leisurely on its tropical-chic veranda. You can enjoy the all-day \"light fare\" and casual ambience of Mambo Bistro, as well as the more sophisticated Mambo Restaurant (which is dinner-only and has a \"resort casual\" dress code). Both options are outrageously stylish, splurgy, and delicious---we're talking an in-house mixologist and a prix-fixe weekend brunch. At the Bistro, people clamor for the chewy sourdough breads and pizzas, while seafood mains, like the banana leaf snapper, are the highlight of Mambo Restaurant. The kitchen uses ingredients grown at Matachica's sister property, the jungle lodge Gaia. Breakfast and lunch are less pricey. Note that only guests 10 and up are allowed at Mambo Bistro, while only guests 16 and up are allowed at Mambo Restaurant: it's not your place for multigenerational occasions. Call ahead to see if a complimentary boat can be arranged to pick you up in town. 

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.

This bistro by the beach is, hands down, one of the best restaurants in the entire country. The setting, in a covered patio by the swimming pool with breezes from the sea, which is just a few yards away, is everything you come to the Caribbean to enjoy. The menu changes regularly, but among the standards you'll go gaga over are nut-encrusted snapper and cocoa-dusted pork chop on a risotto cake. There also are nightly seafood specials. The bistro has a selection of small plates and appetizers including fish cakes, baked garlic (wonderful spread on fresh-made crackers with chutney), coconut shrimp, and honey-coconut ribs. No matter what you choose, you'll find the flavors and presentation interesting and creatively inspired. At breakfast, don't miss the fresh-made bagels or the cinnamon rolls.

The place is small and extremely popular; online reservations are essential.

After a pineapple-ginger-lime smoothie in this restful thatched café, pop up to the rooftop at 9 am for drop-in yoga for BZ$20 a session. What better way to start your island day? This three-story open-air eatery, which is almost always buzzing, is a welcome addition to Caye Caulker. The yoga classes are locally famous (and you'll have great views while you're in Trikonasana pose). Reasonably priced egg casserole, chia pudding, sandwiches, and salads can be ordered at the counter until mid-afternoon. There’s even house-made kombucha!

Even if you're not overnighting at Victoria House, you can still enjoy its sumptuous setting over elegant dishes at Palmilla. While Palmilla is known for dinner, we recommend the more affordable breakfast and lunch, when you can enjoy the gorgeous patio in daylight. Meditative sea views and the resident iguanas set the scene at these hours. The chef does an especially fine job with seafood, notably the grilled lobster. Palmilla offers free transportation to guests within a 2-mile radius.

A hip, LA-style restaurant of local renown, Red Ginger enlivens the island's food scene—no sea views here, but the gorgeous teal palm-leaf motif anchors you in the Caribbean. At dinner, start with ginger punch and chipotle shrimp salbutes, then accompany your entrée with a hand-selected wine. (Co-owner Mukul Kanabar might just be the only Belizean-certified sommelier in Belize!) Breakfast and lunch are superb, cheaper, and more casual. Our favorite time to go is weekend brunch, when you can sip a mimosa over an elaborate chilaquiles. Dishes at Red Ginger can at times slump under creative ambition (seafood ceviche doesn't always need a modern twist, for instance), but it's still great for a splurge. A bonus: the owners have done excellent public service projects in Belize, including giving about 80 full high school scholarships to the children of employees. 

Aji feels like your friendly neighborhood mainstay (two resident pups like to laze around the bar), only with irresistible sea views and Spanish-inspired small plates. Dinner is the thing at Aji, when a canopy of fairy lights illuminate the seaside tables and live music often mingles with the rustle of palms. Dishes here are mostly classics, like gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic and olive oil), papas bravas, and seafood paella. You may find these tasty classics to be a welcome break from more innovative menus. If you'd rather come during the day, breakfast and lunch are pleasant times to eat under the shady palms. 

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.

The line forms early for this small bakery’s delicious pastries. A mix of locals and visitors come here to fuel themselves to-go, but the front porch is a time-honored place to begin a Placencia day. Beyond the daily staples, the menu varies here, and last-minute offerings are frequently announced on the bakery’s Facebook page.

This beachside bistro, part of Beaches and Dreams Seafront Inn, is one of the best eateries on the Southern Coast, with delicious dishes like fresh grilled snapper and smoked chicken or ribs. Catch the sea breezes on the covered, open-air deck while you munch a handmade pizza or enjoy a burger.

The jazzy marquee letters reading “I Love Belize” capture the enthusiasm of this long-standing favorite. The beachfront restaurant serves up colorful dishes like their blackened catch of the day, plus less flashy options like a club sandwich, so there's something for everyone. Nothing about Blue Water is cheap, but it works to please, with its wood-fired pizzas, top-notch service, and breezy beachfront setting. 

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.

The vegetarian breakfast and lunch menu has yummy fare like waffles, veggie dumplings, and vegetarian sandwiches. If you're looking for a sweet treat look no further. Stop in for nutty caramel cheesecake, donuts, or homemade ice cream. A full line of hot and cold drinks includes coffee, tea, smoothies, and milkshakes. Bring your own to-go cup for 50¢ off.

Long a fixture near the Belize Zoo, Cheers has a good open-air restaurant that attracts local farmers and lots of zoo visitors. You won't go wrong with any of the local dishes, such as stew chicken with rice and beans, but it has good breakfasts and, for lunch, burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials. If you want to stay in the area longer, there are three simple cabins for rent on the property's 37 acres. Book ahead to get the lowest rates on lodging; walk-in rates are a little higher.

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.  

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.

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.

Nothing fancy here, just down-home Belizean dishes at moderate prices, and that's exactly why it's popular. Go for the traditional beans-and-rice dishes or a fish platter; the ceviche is good, too. If you're in the mood for something else, you can get a pizza. It's a couple of blocks off the main drag, so it's quieter and more relaxing here, whether you dine on the veranda or inside in the homey dining room.

Build your ideal breakfast from a mix-and-match chalkboard menu at San Pedro's most classic breakfast spot, famous for its fry jacks served with honey and mango jam. A favorite among locals and visitors, Estel's gets well-earned hype for its morning cocktail specials. Estel's even has grits! The porthole windows, decorative buoys, and sandy floors give the joint a nautical atmosphere---not to mention the sea in its front yard. Best seats are on the porch or on wooden benches with mini-thatch roofs, where you can watch pelicans and passersby. Later in the day you'll find tacos, down-home cooking, and great seafood dishes here. 

More than a just pit stop, this cute roadside joint offers pick-me-ups in the way of creative smoothies, iced mochas, healthy and not-so-healthy shakes, and baguette paninis. It also stocks a small market with Belizean cheeses, jellies, cacao beans, meats, and fruits. Swing by on your way to Secret Beach or anywhere north.