The Ultimate Cayman Islands Bucket List, Part One: Food and Beverage
by Yello Oct 7, 2019
Are you visiting the Cayman Islands for the first time?
Maybe you’re a resident looking for a new weekend adventure?
Look no further than our Yello series of bucket list experiences in Cayman.
From outdoor activities to culinary events and cultural sites, we’ve got you covered.
First up: Food and Beverage.
The Cayman Islands are often called ‘The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean’, and for a good reason. From Michelin-star restaurants to local dives and celebrity-endorsed annual culinary festivals, Cayman is a foodie’s paradise.
Here are the food and beverage experiences you must add to your Cayman bucket list.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry at an All-Inclusive Brunch
Brunch culture is alive and well in Cayman. On Sundays, you’ll find locals donning their sundresses and slacks for an all-inclusive afternoon meal complete with bottomless bubbles.
There are so many brunches on the island that you won’t have trouble finding one to suit your price point or palate.
Some of the most popular buffet-style brunches include:
Anchor & Den at The Marriott Grand Cayman.
Ave at Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa.
Luca at Caribbean Club.
Karoo in Camana Bay.
Seven at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman.
Popular a-la-carte options include:
See Culinary Masters at Cayman Cookout
Every year in January, culinary masters and beverage experts from around the world take over the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman for Cayman Cookout.
Hosted by acclaimed chef Eric Ripert, the event celebrates innovative cooking, luxurious foodie experiences and the best of Cayman’s culinary offering. From wine tastings to barefoot beach barbecues and elegant seated dinners, this beloved annual festival is not one to be missed.
The next event takes place from 16 to 19 January 2020.
Take a Distillery or Brewery Tour
Breweries may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Cayman, but some great beers and spirits are made right here.
Visit the Cayman Islands Brewery for a 20-minute guided tour of their facility to see how their popular Caybrew, White Tip and Ironshore beers are produced and bottled. Tickets are only $8 CI ( USD 10) and include five beer samples.
Cayman Spirits Company, the producers of Seven Fathoms rum, Governor’s Reserve rum, Gun Bay vodka and H.H. Hutchings’ liqueurs, also operate tours of their distillery. Explore their 5000 square foot facility that features a 1200-gallon Vendome copper pot still, a 30-foot Gun Bay vodka tower and an original Christian Carl pot. Tours last approximately 30 to 40 minutes and include tastings of rum and vodka. Tickets are USD 15 per person.
Sip a Drink at Happy Hour
From 5pm to 7pm most bars and restaurants slash their drink prices for happy hour. You’ll find discounts on both classic wells drinks and specialty cocktails. So welcome the weekend by heading to the nearest bar after work on Friday to take in the sunset while you sip a drink.
Here are some popular happy hour spots:
Rackham’s Waterfront Bar & Grill.
Bar Crudo at Guy Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar.
Take a Flavour Tour
Take a social walking tour around the beautiful new-urbanist town of Camana Bay while dining deliciously.
The Flavour Tour begins with a glass of bubbles at West Indies Wine Company before stopping at three of Market Street Group’s Camana Bay restaurants. At each restaurant, guests are served food prepared with fresh local ingredients, along with a cocktail or glass of wine. The evening ends with a sweet treat at Gelato & Co.
This tour is great for visitors who want to sample lots of restaurants in one evening, or for residents celebrating a special occasion.
Taste the Local Dishes
No Cayman culinary bucket list would be complete without local comfort food. Nothing says Cayman like a plate of stewed conch, Cayman-style beef, fried fish with fritters or cassava cake.
During festival seasons in May (Batabano) and November (Pirates Week), food vendors line the George Town streets selling delicious home-style meals. Don’t worry; you can still find Caymanian food year-round at these establishments:
Heritage Kitchen (West Bay).
Island Taste (George Town).
Vivine’s Kitchen (East End).
Grape Tree Café (Bodden Town).
Country & Western Restaurant (George Town).
Rankin’s Jerk Pit (Bodden Town).
Luz’s Restaurant (George Town).
There you have it!
While there are plenty more food and beverage experiences to be had in Cayman, these are a few that you definitely shouldn’t miss. What are you waiting for? Time to start ticking them off your list.
