10 Best Local Restaurants in St Kitts

El Fredo’s is a well-known restaurant in Basseterre, which is the largest city on St Kitts. Located on Bay Road, this is a small family-owned dining spot with a large, covered open-air dining area. It has friendly staff who are happy to help recommend some of the local dishes to newcomers.

It has an affordable menu that changes daily, depending on seasonal varieties and chef’s ideas. Some of the popular dishes you can try at El Fredo’s include garlic conch, whole snapper, pigtail soup, and spicy pork. All their meals come with salad, fried plantain, and sweet potato as sides.

Shipwreck Beach Bar is a popular local bar on South Friars Bay. As it’s located on the quieter end of the beach, this is a very relaxing place compared to other nearby beach bars.

The portion sizes are large and at reasonable prices, considering its beachfront location. Some of its most popular Caribbean dishes include fresh fish, BBQ chicken, and fish tacos, all served with plantain, salad, rice, and beans. Late afternoon is the best time to visit Shipwreck Beach Bar – you get an incredible front-row seat to catch the sunset over the ocean.

Reggae Beach Bar and Grill is one of St Kitts' best local institutions. You can find this well-known bar and restaurant on Cockleshell Beach, one of the prettiest beaches on the southern peninsula of the island. While it's very popular with tourists, the bar stays true to its Caribbean flavours by serving plenty of authentic local meals.

Must-tries include lobster, conch fritters and BBQ shrimp. You can also find some popular international meals on the menu, such as burgers and hot dogs. Reggae Beach Bar and Grill’s cocktail list is also very impressive, featuring local rum punch and a range of margaritas and piña coladas. With a fantastic beachside location, you can easily sit back on beach chairs from morning until evening.

Reef Bar and Grill is a laidback restaurant in the quiet fishing town of Dieppe Bay. It offers a very local and secluded place to enjoy a meal and drink on St Kitts. The restaurant is owned by a local fisherman known as Mugz – many local people often refer to the bar as simply Mugzy’s.

The grill restaurant is most popular for its local seafood, including fresh lobster – some claim it to be the best on the island. Mugz adds his own special flavours and sauces to his grilled meals. It’s a wonderful spot to chill out anytime from lunch until late, with beautiful views over the water.

Jamrock Restaurant and Bar is a casual place just north of Frigate Bay in St Kitts. With an outdoor patio area and plenty of tables, there’s always space for lunch or dinner. The passionate chef uses his own blend of special spices for his jerk pork and chicken. He also serves up daily specials including oxtail and goat curry, fresh fish, and conch fritters.

If you’re looking for a local place to eat a relaxed meal away from the busy beach area, Jamrock is a great choice for Kittitian cuisine. While it's not as cheap as some other local restaurants, most people agree that the food and service are worth every cent.

Mrs Moore’s Eat To Live Snackette offers one of the best local dining experiences in Basseterre. Located just off Bay Road, the food stall serves authentic conch curry, stewed turkey wings, and fried fish.

However, Mrs Moore is best known for her Johnny cakes, which some claim are the best on the whole island. She also offers local juices and rum punch to go with your meal, including passionfruit, lemonade and guava. There is limited seating available at the stall, which gets busy at lunchtime.

Weekendz Bar and Grill is a laidback and affordable local restaurant in Nevis. It’s found among a cluster of restaurants and bars on the popular Pinneys Beach. The portions are huge, with most meals served with an array of sides including salad, corn cob and plantain.

It has a large patio to accommodate hungry patrons, which consist of friendly locals and tourists. Weekendz Bar and Grill is a great spot for local meals and reasonable prices, with a more casual dining experience compared to most eateries on the island.

Boozies on the Beach is a lesser-known local bar on the popular Frigate Bay Strip. The restaurant has a covered bar and dining area, which spills out onto the sand. People rave about the conch chowder, mahi-mahi, and goat stew, which come at reasonable prices.

While Boozies on the Beach is set among many beachfront bars and restaurants, many locals come here for its laidback and welcoming vibe. The bar serves up a long list of cocktails until late almost every night

Vibes Beach Bar is a popular restaurant and bar in St Kitts. As one of many bars on the Frigate Bay Strip, it has a lively atmosphere that stays well into the night. The kitchen is always open, with an extensive food menu.

You can try the salted cod with dumplings and conch fritters, or opt for international food such as burgers and pasta. The bartenders mix popular cocktails and local signatures with Caribbean flavours. The venue sprawls onto the beach, with plenty of room for a relaxing lunch or an after-dark party with a local DJ.

Creole Restaurant and Bar is one of the best places in St Kitts to go for a truly authentic taste of the Caribbean. It showcases the culinary heritage of the islands, with influences from Spain, France, and Portugal. You’ll find delicious meals using only local ingredients – some of its standout dishes include conch curry, oxtail stew, grilled lobster, and local snapper.

Located away from the beach, Creole Restaurant offers a more local atmosphere compared to St Kitts’ many beach bars. While prices are a little high, there are frequent specials like daily lunch specials and Friday buffets.