It’s well known that some countries are culinary destinations; some islands are culinary destinations; and some hotels are culinary destinations. The Caribbean region is fast becoming full of such hotel properties — the ones that view cuisine as integral to a way of introducing local flavors and ingredients into the very best hospitality (and sometimes even more than that). These are the places where the food alone is worth the trip. Here, Milestone brings you CaribJournals second annual list of the Best Caribbean Hotels For Food, and this time, Cayman reigns supreme in the region, and it will be interesting to see how the new Kimpton Hotel, soon to be opened on Seven Mile Beach will compare our friends at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Blue by Eric Ripert of New York’s Michelin starred ‘Le Bernadin’ and ‘Top Chef’ fame. Blue is the hotel’s flagship restaurant, and is just the beginning. There is casual, family friendly Periwinkle, the resort’s Italian eatery; Seven, perfect for brunch; Taikun, a world-class sushi spot. As you can see, there is a culinary world all right on the beautiful Seven Mile Beach. The hotel also hosts the Cayman Cook-Off which attracts world famous chefs and foodies such as Eric Ripert himself, Anthony Bourdain and Michael Swartz.
Graycliff — Bahamas
It’s only fitting that Graycliff would be on this list, since it began its life as a restaurant (the first five-star restaurant in the region, to be exact). Nassau’s Graycliff is a Caribbean institution, with an ever-expanding menu of culinary delights, from a Brazilian churrascaria to its signature fine-dining eatery. It even has an authentic Neopolitan pizzeria. (And for dessert, Graycliff has its own chocolate factory).
Cap Maison — St Lucia
Exquisite gastronomy in plain view of the beautiful green landscape of St Lucia. Cap Maison is a destination because of its signature restaurant, the Cliff at Cap, one of the best in the Caribbean and one that remains on the cutting edge of defining Caribbean cuisine.
Belmond La Samanna — St Martin
It’s no surprise to see a hotel in St Martin on this list — as one of the region’s culinary Meccas. And La Samanna, part of the recently-rebranded Orient-Express hotel collection, always serves up delectable food with a French-style attention to gastronomic perfection.
Sugar Mill — British Virgin Islands
We recently named Sugar Mill the number one Caribbean boutique hotel for 2014, and it was in large part due to its fantastic restaurant. This is a warm, inviting hotel that manages to convey those qualities directly into the cuisine.
CuisinArt-Anguilla, Eden Rock-St Barth, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, One & Only Ocean Club-Bahamas also made the list, a total of 25 in the Caribbean region.