Antigua restaurants: where to eat 

All-inclusive resorts have reduced restaurant business, but English Harbour and Dickenson Bay have many of the good restaurants outside of hotel dining rooms.

Dinner attire is a bit more formal here than on other Caribbean islands. Shorts are usually not acceptable, and beachwear is never an option.


SHEER (CocoBay, Jolly Harbour; 268/562-2400), has a unique menu with unusual combinations that wow the palate. Try the foie gras and nori tortellini with sundried tomatoes or orange oxtails with plantain and ginger timbale.

ALBERTO'S (Willoughby Bay; 268/460-3007) combines Italian, Asian, and French fare to deliver incredible dishes. The leek and Parmesan soufflé is fantastic, as are the veal medallions in mushroom crust. Reservations are a must.

JULIAN'S ALFRESCO (Barrymore Beach Hotel, Runaway Bay; 268/562-1545) is not to be missed. Picture perfect views are just the beginning of a great dining experience here. Specialties include fish-and-crab cakes with Thai red and green curry with sweet chili sauce and green onions, homemade chicken liver terrine finished with caramelized onions, herb-and-garlic-crusted snapper on passion fruit and lime beurre blanc, and lobster medallions with pineapple cilantro salsa and guava peppercorn coulis.

PAPA ZOUK (Gambles Terrace, St. John's; 268/562-1284) serves seafood deep-fried or steamed with choice of such sauces as guava-pepper teriyaki or tomato-basil-coriander. Tangy Caribbean bouillabaisse and house-smoked tuna are house specialties. Credit cards are not accepted.

COMMISSIONER GRILL (St. John's; 268/462-1883), is a more authentic local joint serving fresh fish and good meat and poultry dishes.

COCOS (Jolly Bay; 268/462-9700) has great Caribbean fare like mahi mahi stuffed with crabmeat in a puff pastry with creole sauce. Reservations are essential at this prime sunset viewing location.

COCONUT GROVE (Siboney Beach Club, Dickenson Bay; 268/462-1538) at the Siboney Beach Club is an open-air French restaurant serving a great pan-seared snapper, and delicious medallions served with roasted sweet potato in a saffron white wine curry sauce.

ABRACADABRA (English Harbour; 268/460-1732 or 268/460-2701), is a bustling Italian restaurant with great food and a good wine list of lesser known Italian wines. If there are musicians in the house, they’ll start playing toward the end of the night.

BAY HOUSE (Tradewinds Hotel, Dickenson Bay; 268/462-1223), has a mixed menu with everything from Thai to Italian, a great view and a fantastic outdoor terrace.

(Pictured: the view from the Verandah Restaurant at Jumby Bay)

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