The Best beach bars in the Caribbean
Beach Bar Bliss
You’ve arrived on island, checked into the hotel, and now it’s time to get fully immersed in those warm Caribbean vibes. So what’s the move? The nearest beach bar, that’s what. The Caribbean is loaded with laid-back hangouts where you can stick your feet in the sand, sip something strong, take in a sunset and maybe even make a few friends. The following are the finest on the islands.
The Soggy Dollar Bar – British Virgin Islands
Whether you arrive by foot or swim ashore from your own vessel with a pocket full of soaked greenbacks, the bartenders at the Soggy Dollar will have a Painkiller waiting for you. This Jost Van Dyke beach bar is said to be the birthplace of this powerful creamy concoction, and after you’ve had a couple, it’s time to test your skills swinging and hooking a ring during their popular bar game or have a swing on one of their many beachside hammocks.
Sunset Beach Bar – St. Marteen
View of the turquoise Caribbean Sea? Check. Pool? Oh yes. A cocktail menu full of refreshing, rum-based beverages? For sure. Insanely up-close views of passenger planes landing at and taking off from Princess Juliana Airport? Indeed, and that’s what makes Sunset one of the Caribbean’s most special beach bars.
Floyd’s Pelican Bar – Jamaica
The Pelican Bar may not be the prettiest on the list (let’s just call it rustic), but it’s relatively steady, serves cold Red Stripes and is completely unique when it comes to beach bars in Jamaica. You’ll find it in the middle of Parottee Bay and once “aboard”, you’ll be surrounded by a mish-mash of license plates, fluttering flags and wooden planks that have been carved up with the initials of former customers.
Elvis’ Beach Bar – Anguilla
What began life as a small boat parked in the sand with a garden hose, cooler of beer and extension cord has grown into one of Anguilla’s best attractions. Sip a rum punch at the original boat bar or watch a game on the big screen that’s parked in the sand. Either way, you’ll probably end up staying until closing time because you’re having so much fun.
Willy T’s – British Virgin Islands
Sure, the official name of this floating BVI bar is The William Thornton, but anybody who’s ever spent a minute on this lively vessel calls it the Willy T. Anchored in The Bight Bay on Norman Island, Willy T’s is only accessible by water (pull up on your own boat or hire a water taxi), and once you arrive you’ll be immediately absorbed into one of the liveliest and most welcoming parties on the islands. Feel free to join the revelers jumping from the top deck into the water, but please do so carefully.
The Prickly Pear Bar & Restaurant – Anguilla
The Prickly Pear Cays are a pair of uninhabited islands a few miles north of Anguilla. Much of the islands are covered in shrubs, but the eastern isle is home to a heavenly stretch of sand, and perched above the beach you’ll find this bar and restaurant offering up tasty island bites and cold beer—perfect for enjoying after a snorkel.
Basil’s Bar – St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Basil’s has been the beating heart of the west coast of Mustique for five decades now, and the party is still going strong. Whether you’re a big-wig, beach bum or somewhere in between, you’ll find a smile-filled welcome and some of the best food on the island waiting for you here. The bar is also well known for its sunset views and its always-exuberant Jump Up nights.
Da Conch Shack and Rum Bar – Turks & Caicos
With a name like Da Conch Shack, you know they are going to set you up with some of the freshest—and tastiest—conch anywhere in Turks & Caicos, but it’s their great grog that puts it on this list. Sit back, feel the breeze in your hair, listen to the palms blow in the breeze and sample your way around the Caribbean with their wonderful rum selection.
The Naked Fisherman – St. Lucia
Tucked into a cove under the magnificent Cap Maison resort, The Naked Fisherman is a place to wave goodbye to all your worries. Pull up a chair at the restaurant to enjoy some of the tastiest dishes in this neck of the woods and soak up rays on a luxurious lounger or pillow-filled bench before heading into the sea for some excellent snorkeling.
Jack’s Beach Bar – St. Vincent & Grenadines
Bequia is one of St. Vincent & The Grenadines’ most ravishing isles, and Jack’s is the best place to take in the loveliness with a libation in your hand. The bar is just steps from Princess Margaret Beach and faces out towards the water, affording customers sweet views of the sparkling sea and the shiny vessels that bob up-and-down in the bay.
Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill – Nevis
Located in a prime location on Pinney’s Beach, Sunshine’s will have you longing for a return the second you say goodbye. Come for the sensational grilled seafood (they use genuine wood charcoal made from local island acacia trees) and stay to get stung by their signature “Killer Bee” rum punch.
Le Karibuni – St. Martin
Pinel Island lies just off the coast of northern St. Martin and is home to this exquisite beach bar and restaurant. Spend your day on one of the loungers planted in the sand or just come over for dinner. Either way you’ll leave head over heels in love with Le Karibuni.
Bikinis on the Beach – U.S. Virgin Islands
The only bar that is directly on the sand in St. John—the most naturally wonderful of the U.S. Virgin Islands—Bikinis serves up excellent food and fantastic cocktails from a particularly pretty spot on Honeymoon Beach. The Painkiller is the signature pour of the Virgin Islands, so start out with a couple of them before you make your way through the rest of the menu.
Rick’s Cafe – Jamaica
A hidden gem it is not, Rick’s clifftop cafe in Negril is known around the world as the place to watch the sun sink into the sea on Jamaica’s gorgeous west coast. Arrive early to grab a cocktail and a seat on the walls overlooking the cliffs, a vantage point that also offers a view of the adventurous souls who dive from the rocks into the water. Oh, and don’t be surprised at all if you end up joining them.
The Nest – Antigua & Barbuda
You’ll find this friendly, no-frills sandy bar and restaurant on the shores of Antigua’s Valley Church Beach. Dip your toes in the water, work on your tan, then settle in for a cold Carib beer and a plate full of crispy coconut shrimp.
Iggie’s Oasis – U.S. Virgin Islands
This watering hole on St. Thomas was one of the most famous beach bars in the Caribbean, but sadly it is still undergoing renovations and repairs after 2017’s Hurricane Irma. That doesn’t mean that Iggie’s has gone away though, as they’ve taken up residence inside the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, and now there’s a pool bar in the mix!
Da Pink Chicken – The Bahamas
Their slogan is “a good place to do nothing”, but that afternoon spent doing zilch at Da Pink Chicken might just end up being the highlight of your trip to Cat Island. The bar runs on solar power and gravity and while they are typically only open afternoons, when there is a full moon above, the party here lasts well into the night.
Roxxy Beach – St. Maarten
This place may lean a bit into the club category, but if you catch Roxxy at the right moment during the day, you could easily be convinced it’s a laid-back beach bar. Enjoy your daytime lounging, but then sport your best outfit at night as the scene heats up when the sun goes down.
Le Petibonum – Martinique
French beach-chic comes together with colorful Caribbean accents at Le Petibonum, Martinique’s most cherished beach bar. Located in the small town of Carbet, the bar has become a destination unto itself and pairs up its sunny slice of la belle vie with a menu full of tasty seafood treats.
Tamboo – Puerto Rico
Overlooking the beach in surfer mecca Rincon, Tamboo is home to killer sea views, mouthwatering American-Caribbean cuisine and a roster of cooling cocktails like their signature mojito and an old fashioned made with guava. Nope, there’s no better place to hang after you’ve hung ten.
Foxy’s – British Virgin Islands
Located a sandy stone’s throw from where the ferries arrive on Jost Van Dyke, Foxy’s has grown into an institution on the island. Sip some of the signature Foxy’s Firewater rum before spending the night partying on the sand with new friends from around the world. Whatever you do, make sure you are there for the biggest party of the year on New Year’s Eve, or as they call it at Foxy’s: Old Year’s Night.
Johnno’s Beach Stop – Anguilla
This spot has been pouring great drinks and serving up tasty food since the 80s now and they show no signs of slowing down. Boasting a beautiful spot right on the sand, Johnno’s is renowned for its red snapper, live music and down-to-earth, welcoming atmosphere.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville – Jamaica
Sure, it’s part of the ever-expanding Margaritaville family of resorts, but the boozy “latitude” adjustments that Jimmy and his hardworking staff are giving out on a regular basis here make it feel more like a wacky one-off beach bar. Located at the heart of Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, the bar is famous for its massive waterslide that drops riders straight into Mo’ Bay.
Happy Island – St. Vincent & The Grenadines
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Or, in this case, one island’s unwanted conch shells is another man’s island bar. Float on out to the happy island—located just off the coast of Union Island—to chat with the gregarious owner Janti over a cold beer or three, and he’ll gladly tell you how he built this bar from scratch.
Cow Wreck Beach Bar – British Virgin Islands
Being the only coral island in the BVIs, Anegada sits barely above sea level, but this geography also makes the isle a spectacular place to snorkel and scuba. And there’s no better place to swap stories about what you saw underwater than at the Cow Wreck, which sits overlooking the island’s finest stretch of sand.