The restaurant scene is very well developed as Cayman has one of the highest standards of living in the world and high-end restaurants have evolved to satisfy the most demanding of palates. Often the finest ingredients are imported from all over the world: Sea bass from Chile, foie gras from France and lamb from New Zealand. At the top end of the restaurant scene you will find restaurants which excel in pairing food with wine, either as part of the main menu or even on a special tasting menu. Seafood is always fresh and includes favourites like lobster, tuna, mahi mahi and the slightly more obscure conch (pronounced “conk”) – a native mollusc which you will almost certainly find on the menu of many local and upscale restaurants.
As well as high end restaurants we have traditional pubs which would make a Dubliner feel at home, sports bars where the sports fanatic will never find themselves too far away from the ‘big screen’, while those just wanting to chill-out and enjoy a sunset, a cool drink and a view of the beautiful Caribbean Sea will find endless options. The local food in Cayman is also something not to be missed, and amongst the traditional Caymanian dishes, you will find turtle stew, fish rundown and fish tea. Other Caribbean favourites include curried goat, jerk chicken, stewed crab and ackee & codfish. Local restaurants are very good value and are definitely worth a try.
By the way, rumours that meals in Cayman cost $500-$800 per meal are simply not true! The average cost of a great meal in a mid range restaurant is CI$50 (3 courses with a glass of wine and tip). The same meal in a high-end restaurant will probably set you back CI$80 and a huge plate of food in a local restaurant will probably cost you no more than CI$7-$10. If you want firm proof of the accuracy of this check the menu prices in the Cayman Good Taste magazine/website!
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Cayman and it is an important part of a server’s income. If a restaurant does not include a service charge, it is usual to leave a tip of approximately 15%.
Grocery Stores & Supermarkets
People do wonder what our grocery stores/supermarkets are like here in Cayman. Well, if you have ever been into a large US or Canadian store then Cayman's grocery stores are very similar. They carry all the major US and Canadian brands as well as US certified meats, lots of fresh fish and shellfish and varying degrees of very good vegetables and fruit. Finding organic food, especially veg and fruit can be limited however, and because all fresh produce has to travel so far to get here, my one complaint might be that tomatoes don't burst with flavour (I am told it is because they get picked while green and ripen on the boat over here). Supermarkets are very accommodating though, if you can't find something that you miss from home they will order it for you - make sure to save the packaging so that they can get the UPC number off it. See the 'Having a Baby in Cayman' chapter for which baby food brands are carried in Cayman.
Foster’s Food Fair: Foster’s has five locations: Airport Road, Tel: 949 5155; The Strand, West Bay Road, Tel: 945 4748; Republix Plaza in West Bay, Tel: 949 3214; Countryside Village in Savannah, Tel: 943 5155; and opposite Morritt’s Tortuga Club in East End, Tel: 947 2826. All Foster’s Food Fair locations are open 7am–11pm Monday to Saturday except the East End branch which is open 7am–7pm, Monday to Thursday and 7am–9pm, Friday and Saturday. www.fosters-iga.com
Hurley’s Supermarket: Hurley’s has one location: Hurley’s Grand Harbour, Tel: 947 8488. Open Monday to Saturday, 7am–11pm.
Kirk Supermarket: Kirk’s is located between George Town and Seven Mile Beach on Eastern Avenue. Open Monday to Thursday: 7am–10pm and Friday and Saturday 7am–11pm Tel: 949 7022.
Bakeries
There are some wonderful bakeries! They all hire professional pastry chefs and on any given day you can pick up fresh bread, croissants and an array of cookies and cakes. The most popular are Azzurro in Buckingham Square on West Bay Road, Icoa Café in Seven Mile Shops on West Bay Road and Ye Old English Bakery opposite Hog Sty Bay in the heart of George Town.
Duty on Alcohol & Liquor Store Opening Hours
Liquor carries a heavy duty tag so don’t be surprised by the prices in local liquor stores. For example, duty on hard liquors is CI$10.50 per litre. This means that nearly 50% of the suggested retail price of CI$23.50 for a litre bottle of Appleton rum is duty. Duty on wine is CI$27 for a 12 bottle case; champagne 25% of the total landed cost; overproof liquors CI$14.25 per litre; liqueurs CI$12 per litre and duty on beer CI$1.50 per litre. Liquor store opening hours are usually Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm. Closed Sundays. Supermarkets in Cayman are not licensed to sell wines or spirits.
Where to Buy Fresh Fish
Fresh fish can be obtained on the waterfront next to Hammerheads Bar. The fishermen anchor their boats offshore and set up tables on the shore where they display their fish. They charge CI$4.50 per pound and they sell the fish on the bone but will fillet it for you. Also try Harbour House Marina located at the end of Marina Drive in Prospect.
Goods Produced Locally
Tortuga Rum (Tel: 949 7867) manufacture rum locally – you can walk around their factory and shop outlet; Cayman Sea Salt (Tel: 943 7258) sell their locally produced Cayman salt in most supermarkets and at the open air craft market on cruise ship days; Caybrew (Tel: 947 6699) produce a locally brewed beer which you are able to sample at their factory in Red Bay; Cayman Honey (Tel: 947 1255) run their business out of a house in Savannah. You can visit to sample and buy Cayman honey. Every Saturday at the Agricultural Ground in Savannah there is a Farmer’s Market held from 7am to 1pm where you can go and buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Go early to get the best selection of produce.
Beer
The liquor stores in Cayman carry a very extensive range of beers including: Amstel Light, Becks, Bud, Bud Light, Carib, Corona, Coors Light, Fosters, Guinness, Heineken, Labatts, Miller Lite, Red Stripe, Sam Adams, Sam Smith, Sapporo, Tsing Tao and local beers Old Dutch and CayBrew.
Wine
Most liquor stores sell wine, but there are really only a handful of places on the Island where you can buy good but not necessarily expensive wine. Jacques Scott and Vino Veritas are two worth mentioning: Jacques Scott has a number of stores dotted around the Island and the branch on the intersection of North Sound Road and Shedden Road in George Town probably has the widest selection of wines on the Island. They have a good selection of fine wines on display and also have very reasonably priced wines for the more budget conscious. Vino Veritas, on the other hand, has no retail outlets, but works from their climate-controlled cellar in George Town. Vino Veritas hand picks wine from vineyards worldwide and sells it by the case (mixed cases are fine) often at less than $25 a bottle. They also have a large selection of French wines. When ordering wine from them, call and chat with Iain, their wine expert, who will recommend a mix of wines that fit your taste and budget and he will then deliver them to you. As far as we know, Vino Veritas is the only wine merchant which will import your own wine collection for you, if you decide to bring it with you. Tel: 526 VINO (8466) or email: info@vino.ky.
The Bar Scene
I’m only going to name the most popular bars, and since this scene is so fickle, this could change in a season!
Aqua Beach (SMB) Mexican; nightly drink specials; bar menu available until 11pm; cosy outdoor setting with palm trees and fun bar staff.
Bamboo (SMB) Loud, chic, expensive, live music Tuesdays, cool music, very busy on Friday nights after 9pm, popular with a diverse crowd often over the age of 40. Also serves delicious sushi.
Deckers (SMB) Outside bar with great atmosphere, good signature cocktails and a diverse crowd of people.
Coconut Joe’s (SMB) Open plan bar under a huge Poinciana tree. Popular with the 20+ crowd that work in the tourism industry.
Lone Star (SMB) Loud, smoky, Yankee bar. Dive master hangout. Popular with the 20+ crowd. Texas-style food.
Macabuca (WB) Great bar over-looking the ocean in West Bay. Very busy on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sapphire Lounge (SMB) Said to have the longest list of martinis on the Island; atmospheric; sushi bar on premises; popular with the crowd in their 30s. A designated non smoking bar.
Sunset House’s My Bar (GT) Absolutely packed on Fridays from happy hour onwards. On the water, great place to watch the sunset, good mix of people. Best bacon cheeseburgers on the Island!
The Office (GT) Small and atmospheric; packed almost every night and especially on Fridays. Popular with an incredibly diverse crowd.
The Ritz (SMB ) Definitely the new ‘in’ place on a Friday night. Gets busy late (after 10pm) with an over 30’s crowd.
Note: Please be aware that due to religious beliefs Sunday is a day of rest, so all bars and restaurants shut at 12am on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Food Events
Monday
Bamboo Sushi Demonstration, first come first serve, eat what you roll from 5.30pm till 6.30pm
Fidel Murphy’s All you can eat Fish & Chips with Becks or Miller beer, $12.95
Macabuca All you can eat BBQ $15. Happy Hour all night.
Tuesday
Cracked Conch Wine and Food Experience $49.95 per person
Deckers All you can eat lobster night from 5.30pm to 10.30pm
The Wharf Salsa night, free lessons 9.15pm till 10.15pm, dinner is served from 6pm to 10pm
Triple Crown Two for one steak dinner $17.95
Wednesday
Morritt’s Resort Big Kahuna Comedy Show from 9pm, $10
Stingers Caribbean Luau Buffet $24.95 accompanied with live music by Heat and a fire show
The Bistro Carvery, champagne and lobster special
Thursday
Cracked Conch Seafood Feast set menu $39.95
Hemingway’s Rodizio night $42
Sunshine Suites All you can eat BBQ $19.95 with live music
Friday
Royal Palms Live Music
Senor Frogs Salsa dancing from 8pm
The Reef Resort Champagne and lobster night $42.95
The Bistro Champagne and lobster night $45 from 6pm
Solana (Mariott Beach Resort) Friday Buccaneers Feast
Westin Wine Dinners Held every second Friday of the month, October to June. Offering different cuisines and wines every month. Limited space so reservations essential.
Saturday
Cayman Taffy Company Taffy making demonstration 11am to 12pm
Fidel Murphy’s Karaoke night from 9pm
Mezza Set menu wine dinner $80 per couple
Sunshine Suites Lobster and Steak specials
Royal Palms Live music
Sunday
Aqua Beach All you can eat BBQ $18
The Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and The Westin all do fantastic Sunday Brunch. Reservations required. Call for price and times
Cracked Conch Brunch $26 (adults), $12 (kids) 11am till 2.30pm
Fidel Murphy’s All you can eat carvery 6pm till 9pm $13.95
Café Med Italian Brunch $18.95 11am till 3pm
The Brasserie Set menu with bottle of wine $75 per couple
Extras
Kaibo Beach Bar & Grill ‘Upstairs at the Kaibo’ is held sporadically throughout the year and is incredibly popular. Multiple courses are catered by Mise en Place and the evening gets booked up early. Call Daniel and ask to be put on his email list Tel: 947 9975.
