36 Best Restaurants in Belize

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.

Formerly DandE's, this beloved parlor is your place for creamy custards and cooling sorbets—all homemade and so dense that they resist quick melting. Custard is made with egg yolks; it's touted as a \"healthier\" alternative to ice cream, which we're willing to believe for the sake of dessert. For island flavors, looks for mango sorbet or soursop frozen custard. 

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.

Here is an island institution. In the old days, in 1974, Elvi Staines sold burgers from the window of her house, soon adding a few tables on the sand under a tree; today, the floors are still sand and the tree remains (lifeless now and cut back to fit inside the roof), but the dining experience has been upgraded. Enter through massive mahogany doors and you'll be tended to by a large and gracious staff. The Maya pulled pork and other sandwiches are big hits at lunch. For dinner Elvi's features upmarket dishes such as shrimp flambeéd in tequila or grilled pork with sorrel barbecue sauce. Don't pass on the coconut pie for dessert. 

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.

Glowing with lamplight, Hidden Treasure brings to mind a treasure chest cracked open, and indeed it's a gem. Tucked away on a residential back street, this open-air restaurant offers sophisticated dishes with local flavors. Try the signature barbecue ribs, which are seasoned with traditional Garifuna spices and glazed with pineapple sauce. Owner Ruben Muñoz, who was born in Belize City, opened Hidden Treasure in 2008; since then it's become one of the most renowned spots on the island. A  gorgeous lounge upstairs---floored with bamboo, mahogany, and cabbage bark wood---hosts special events. Hidden Treasure offers a complimentary shuttle service to guests staying in or south of San Pedro Town. 

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. 

Founded by an award-winning pastry chef, Maria's Bakeshop & Coffeehouse has quickly become the go-to spot for rich coffee and decadent pastries. The café's air-conditioned indoor area is artfully decorated, complete with cozy corners and spacious booths. While good old-fashioned Americanos are their signature, Maria's most popular drinks include frappuccinos and refreshing teas, serving as a respite from the Belizean heat. Visit during special occasions for creative seasonal drinks and pair with fluffy croissants or a toasted panini. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

This red-hot beachfront bistro, both stylish and whimsical, is the treasure you didn't know you were looking for. Take your street-food tapas to the splash pool, lounge on sultry daybeds, or catch a game of Belikin pong. Famous for fascinating, boozy concoctions, there's also a range of imaginative plates, like snapper ramen and lobster pizza. Run by American Vivian Yu, Rojo isn't to be missed. Don't leave Ambergris without ordering the blended mango-jalapeño margarita, served with rings of pepper. Bring snorkel gear to see the resident nurse shark.

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.

Authentic, Italian-style gelato is the thing here, and it's absolutely delicious, the equal of any you'll find in Rome. Try the tropical fruit flavors, such as banana, lime, coconut, papaya, and mango, or an unusual flavor such as sugar corn, all created from natural ingredients. Beware: you may become addicted and return day after day to sample new flavors.

Snug as a pink box of pastries, Annie's is open only in the late afternoon and evening and offers empanadas, sandwiches, and miniloaves of banana bread at local prices. If you're feeling spontaneous, select from the unlabeled display in the window and see what you bite into.

Grab a milkshake, a cacao iced tea, or a bar of coconut milk chocolate at this outpost of the fabulous chocolatier based in San Pedro. Try the \"island crunch\" sponge taffy---an airy yet dense delight.

Black Orchid is named for the delicate national flower of Belize, but the gorgeous food here ranges from Belizean to global fusion. Vibrant dishes include ginger pork egg rolls and teriyaki chicken cooked over a lava rock broiler. This island-elegant dining room has thatch accents, a fountain tiered like a Maya temple, and starched tablecloths. Swing by for a popular happy hour starting at 3 pm, but make a reservation if you plan to stay for dinner. 

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. 

It's nothing glamorous, but the food at Caliente—Mexican with a Caribbean and Belizean spin—hits all the right notes. The ginger-rum shrimp is brightly flavored, the waterfront patio is airy, and the attitude is unpretentious. Check out the indoor mural celebrating the reef's diversity. This San Pedrano--run restaurant frequently has live music.

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.

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.  

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.

Dining under fairy lights and a shaggy thatch roof is a wonderful way to conclude your day on Caulker. Seafood is the rage at this remodeled palapa restaurant, and there's an iced display of the catch of the day; choose from snapper, grouper, barracuda, or lobster and have it grilled on the spot. The bartenders have been known to make great things happen from dragon fruit and local rum. This spot is formerly Rose's.

Escargot and foie gras in Belize? Why, yes---the famous \"Pat the Frenchman\" has created a culinary experience so impressive you'll write home about San Pedro's sizzling food scene. Chef--owner Patrick Parmentier does marvels with butter, olive oil, spices, and all other good things in his succulent dishes. There is also a new bakery where you can satisfy your cravings for Italian sandwiches and fresh pastries. In the backyard, Le Jardin---a beautiful garden furnished with handmade tables under wooden pergolas---is ideal for a predinner cocktail. With so much imported, including the culinary style, this isn't your spot for local flavor; but it's fun for a change of pace. The food is out of this world, and so are the prices. Frenchy's is small; reservations are encouraged. 

Located in front of the sea, Frozen Paradise makes for an ideal dessert stop after lunch. Serving iced coffees, frappés, and other various drinks, the coffee place is mostly known for its savory drinks. Their chamoyadas are the most popular---a refreshing frozen drink consisting of blended mango, tamarind spice, and chamoy sauce. For those looking for a quick bite to eat, Frozen Paradise also serves nachos for less than $10.

Perhaps the brightest foodie highlight on Caye Caulker, Hibisca serves the kind of innovative dishes you'd expect in a cosmopolitan city. Don't worry, though---it's still casual Caulker. Chef--owner Darren Casson pushes for ambitious, genre-busting flavors, but he also dishes up loaded fries and an array of burgers (including a veggie patty). Most guests go gaga over flavor combos like red pepper romesco sauce paired with Belizean dukunu (a tamalelike dish), but some sniff at the avant-garde style. You'll have to try it to know where you land.

Belize’s abundance of fruit ends up in a variety of flavors scooped up for you at the city’s best ice-cream parlor. You’ll probably have questions as you gaze at the blackboard menu—what are craboo and sapodilla?—and the good folks here are happy to explain the flavors. Rest assured that you'll find vanilla and chocolate if you're feeling more \"vanilla.\" Choose from standard or waffle cones, sundaes, or milkshakes, and enjoy the air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. You'll find a branch in San Ignacio in the Cayo, too.

Lush palms, lamplight, and blooms of burning love flowers all make for a seductive ambience on an island where you expect picnic tables and sand floors. Il Pellicano features classics like risotto, gnocchi, and margherita pizza (not fresh mozzarella, but better than the island's average), with imported rarities like capers and porcini mushrooms. The menu changes frequently and the desserts change daily. Il Pellicano is celebrated by some for its atmosphere more than its food quality, but it remains a choice spot for a romantic evening.