The Best Restaurant in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro, The Cayes and Atolls

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Ambergris Caye has the largest and most diverse selection of restaurants in the country. Buy cheap tacos, papusas, or grilled chicken from a street vendor, eat barbecued fish on the beach, or, at the other end, dine on lobster, crab claws, and steak at upscale eateries. Even the most upmarket spots have a casual atmosphere, some with sand floors and screenless windows open to catch the breezes from the sea.

The largest concentration of restaurants is in town, but many, including some of the best on the island, are opening on the South End and especially on North Ambergris.

Black and White Garifuna Restaurant and Cultural Center

$$$ Fodor's Choice

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. 

Sea Grape Dr., Ambergris Caye, Belize
605--2895
Known For
  • Hudut (snapper in coconut milk broth)
  • Garifuna beats and dancing
  • Putting the "experience" in dining experience
Restaurant Details
Reservation required for entertainment nights

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