The cuisine of St Kitts and Nevis is typically West Indian in flavor, with many of the ingredients grown locally on the islands. The main meat used in cooking is goat, coming from the African tradition. Since St Kitts and Nevis are islands in the bountiful Caribbean Sea, it is no wonder that seafood is also used heavily. The most famed dish in the country is goat water stew, which contains goat meat, breadfruit (a football sized, prickly green fruit), green papaya (a fleshy, tropical fruit), and droppers (a doughy dumpling), in a tomato-based stew. Another local stew type dish is pelau (also known as simply cook-up), which uses chicken, pig tail, saltfish (salted and dried cod), and vegetables, served with rice and pigeon peas (a local green pea).
Bars and Pubbing in St Kitts and Nevis
For the best nightlife you should head to Frigate Bay or Cockleshell Bay on the southern peninsula of St Kitts, which is the main tourist area for the country. Here you will find many relaxed beach bars providing drinks and entertainment for patrons until around 2:00 a.m. Many bars also serve snacks and meals such as seafood or American bar food like Buffalo Wings and French fries. As with most islands of the Caribbean, Rum is a popular liquor on St Kitts and Nevis, and while here you should try a special rum-based cocktail like Daiquiri or Pina Colada. The main rum of St Kitts and Nevis, which is produced in the country, is Brinley Gold, also Belmont Estate. Although more popular is the sugar cane distilled alcoholic drink called Cane Spirits Rothschild (CSR).
Ziggy’s Beach Bar (Frigate Bay, St Kitts) and Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack (Frigate Bay, St Kitts) are two of the most popular bars in Frigate Bay, busy day and night, and sometimes provide themed nights and happy hours. Reggae Beach Bar (Cockleshell Bay, St Kitts) and Lion’s Beach Bar (Cockleshell Bay, St Kitts), further south down the peninsula are also popular hang outs, serving food and drinks.
If you are on the island of Nevis, Pinney’s Beach is a good place to go to for good nightlife. It is not as busy as the resort areas of St Kitts, but particularly on the weekends you may be joined by some locals wishing to take advantage of the party atmosphere. Here, Chevy’s Beach Bar (Pinney’s Beach, Nevis) and Sunshine’s Beach Bar and Grill (Pinney’s Beach, Nevis) are two of the most popular venues. They also serve food.
Dining and Cuisine in St Kitts and Nevis
The best selection of restaurants are located in the capital, Basseterre, and the southern peninsula resort areas such as Frigate Bay and Turtle Bay on St Kitts. Here you will find good options ranging from fine dining to family restaurants, serving a mixture of local and international cuisine. Arguably the best view on the island is found at the Beach House (Turtle Beach, St Kitts), which offers a selection of French, Spanish, African, and Dutch cuisine, with a local flare. There is an open air pavilion here which stretches out onto the beach. Another wonderfully scenic restaurant is Blue Seafood Restaurant (Frigate Bay, St Kitts), which specializes in seafood dishes.
In the capital, Basseterre, you will find Serendipity (Basseterre, St Kitts), which is opposite Fort Thomas and overlooks the harbor. They offer a lunch and dinner menu. Also in Basseterre is Circus Grill (Basseterre, St Kitts), which serves a mixture of typically Caribbean and international cuisine. For purely seafood dishes you can go to Fisherman’s Wharf (Basseterre, St Kitts), which specializes in fresh fish and seafood platters, located on a jetty over the waters of the harbor.
For one of the best family dining options you can head to Calypso Restaurant (Frigate Bay, St Kitts), which has a selection of tasty dishes using local ingredients such as fish, mangos, and coconut. It is only open for breakfast and dinner. Another popular restaurant in Frigate Bay is PJ’s Bar and Restaurant (Frigate Bay, St Kitts) which provides snacks and meals in a relaxed atmosphere. Ballahoo Restaurant (Basseterre, St Kitts) provides a fun family dining atmosphere in the capital city.