Best restaurants in Grand Cayman

By Tristan Ralston on 15th March, 2021

The diversity of dining on Grand Cayman is stunning, all the way from great local food, to amazing seafood fresh off the boat to sophisticated bars and high-end Michelin inspired cuisine.  You certainly won’t go wanting with so many culinary delights available on Grand Cayman.  Below you will find some recommendations that will cover all tastes.

Anchor & Den

Located in the Grand Cayman Marriott, Anchor & Den is an experience in itself. A gorgeous space that houses an eclectic mix of dining, from very tasty breakfast options to themed evening options.  Every time that I have been, the food and the beverages on offer have been mouth-watering.  The Raw and Sushi Bar offers some of the best sushi I have tasted – I am literally salivating, thinking about the Anchor, Tiger and Dragon Rolls! What’s more, the Tuna Tartar must be some of the best I have sampled the Caribbean.  Continuing the Washoku delights that are available at Anchor & Den,  on Fridays don’t miss Rockin’ Ramen, with its rich soup and tasty hand-made noodles.  There is so much on offer,  be it food or drink, with amazing cocktails, check out the gin concoctions, perfectly paired with fresh cerviche.  Anchor & Den continues to take pride in having the largest gin collection on Grand Cayman!  It is a must go to for everyone visiting the Cayman Islands!

Grand Old House

Making dinner a real occasion, Grand Old House combines many elements to make dining there a memorable experience.  It is situated right on the water’s edge located in one of the oldest buildings in the Cayman Islands, a plantation house built in 1908 that oozes old-world charm.  The menu is always appealing, there are beautifully crafted dishes with an accent on the freshest seafood.  Grand Old House has an expansive deck – you can drink in the incredible views as you enjoy a delicious wine from the WINEBAR!

The Wharf

Situated just north of George Town and overlooking the start of the award-winning Seven Mile Beach is The Wharf restaurant. This is a beautiful spot that offers breath-taking views from its Waterfront Deck, while enjoying their marvelous fish and seafood dishes! Recently added on Tuesdays is the PASTA NIGHT, which runs for a few months during the year with an all you can eat dinner menu costing just CI$15! from 5-8pm.    One thing at The Wharf that must be seen is the live feeding of the Tarpon  that takes place at 7pm every evening!  Tarpon are large beautiful fish, which swim up to the deck in vast numbers to feed.

Kaibo Beach Restaurant

Kaibo beach restaurant is located in Rum Point, an area also known as Cayman Kai, which is in the North of Grand Cayman.  Kaibo is an ideal spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a popular weekend destination for Grand Cayman’s glamorous boating community. You can enjoy dining right on the water’s edge, with unsurpassed views of the ocean beyond. Breakfast is served with pastries, hot oatmeal and a selection of paninis and a variety of coffees like their Kaibo Beach Expresso (their ice cold-brew is a speciality).  You can also enjoy a delicious pizza for lunch baked in Cayman’s only outdoor wood-fired brick oven, or stay for a very special dinner at their Upstairs fine dining restaurant, with a menu that changes with the seasons but always features the freshest ingredients.  Try their six-course tasting menu and indulge in the rums at their unique Rare Rum Bar. Kaibo is the place that has you covered for the whole day with so much on offer, you won’t need to leave!

Calypso Grill

Calypso Grill in West Bay couldn’t be more idyllic and iconic ‘Cayman’. Nestled at Morgan’s Harbour where the fishing boats land their catch of the day, ready for Chef George and his talented team to prepare a magnificent meal for your delight. Whether you eat inside the colourful Caribbean dining room or outside on the waterside deck, Calypso Grill has a menu to suit all tastes. Try one of the daily specials that will no doubt feature succulent seafood or opt for their specialities such as Snapper Monte Carlo (a firm favourite), Grilled Ginger Tuna, Filet Steak Rossini and Lobster & Shrimp Champagne. And don’t forget to leave enough room for their renowned sticky toffee pudding! It’s the best pud you’ll ever eat. Dining at Calypso Grill is something you will always remember and to help keep the memory alive of your visit to this outstanding restaurant, Chef George has compiled a cookbook of his most requested recipes, plus stories from his colourful career.

Coccoloba & Avecita restaurants

The restaurants at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa will take you on an incredible culinary journey – just pick any day of the week and a different restaurant and a new exciting journey awaits. Taco y Tequila takes place every Tuesday at their divine waterfront restaurant called Coccoloba. This restaurant is probably one of the best you will ever eat at in Grand Cayman if you are looking for the perfect beach vibe coupled with brilliant cuisine. Immerse yourself in their tasty taco selection and wash it down with a tequila or two, and you are in heaven. Or head for their Spanish-themed Pintxos + Paella that happens every Wednesday at Avecita, their light and airy restaurant that promotes convivial dining, no matter what’s on the menu.

The Lobster Pot

The Lobster Pot is located right on the edge of the ocean overlooking the majestic George Town harbour and sunny Seven Mile Beach. Their cuisine is based upon the freshest fish and seafood, with their Cayman trio of broiled lobster tail, grilled wahoo, and garlic shrimp is a particularly huge hit with diners. Steaks are also excellent and people often decide to combine the two in their popular Surf and Turf NY Strip or the innovative Reef and Beef Filet Mignon offerings. Guests can enjoy cool ocean breezes on their spacious patio or the comfort of A/C inside their nautically-themed elegant dining room. 

Ristorante Pappagallo

Nestled in its own bird sanctuary in West Bay, dining at Ristorante Pappagallo is a sensational experience and one that can not be missed when visiting Grand Cayman!  It is a truly mesmerising scene, crossing the bridge in full view of the restaurant’s 30 foot Cayman-style, Silver thatched roof and gorgeous deck!  If you like a cocktail or two, you will love what is on offer here.  The menu pays homage to the cuisine of northern Italy.  Pasta and bread are made daily and dishes often incorporate local ingredients. Seafood. pasta, risotto, lamb and steaks are all cooked to perfection enjoyed with a glass of wine from the extensive wine list!

Le Vele

Continuing the Italian dining theme, Le Vele is a brilliant restaurant  on the George Town waterfront!   Serving truly authentic Italian cuisine, along with stunning sunsets that await diners seated on the delightful patio. Le Vele pizzas are fresh out of their wood-burning pizza oven. Hot and delicious.  Dine on sumptuous seafood and crisp and colourful salads, as well as an assortment of fine meats such as beef tenderloin and New York steak.  A thoughtful addition to their menu has been a selection of gluten-free items, including gluten-free pasta and pizzas!

Blue Cilantro

Blue Cilantro is an innovative culinary wonder.  Chef Shetty, a veteran of the Cayman culinary scene, is a master at the art of spice blending and brings to the table a wonderful display of his skills at this gorgeous restaurant.  Enjoy a carpaccio-style local wahoo with a little hint of fried jalapeño, shiso leaves and a refreshing jalapeño lime sorbet to start your meal.  For mains, they have tandoori baked snapper when available or maybe the Mediterranean paella that is filled with the most delicious seafood imaginable.  Try their four or six-course dinner menus to get an all-round feel for what this restaurant can offer, or try their tapas menu.  Blue Cilantro have a new Indian Fusion every Saturday and Sunday brunch which must be tasted to be believed!  

Gelato & Co in Camana Bay

Another place on Grand Cayman that caters for all your culinary needs is Camana Bay, which has more than a dozen wonderful restaurants and cafés to choose from and a great farmers and artisans market that runs seasonally!  In Camana bay, one place in particular that is a real find, especially for those of us with a sweet tooth or more, is Gelato & Co, offering real gelato made the Italian way using fresh local ingredients, as well as those imported from Italy, that make their gelato sing with flavour.  Their dairy gelato is low fat and sorbets are dairy-free, fat-free, vegan and packed full of the most delicious fruit.   Their dessert selection includes panna cotta,  tiramisu, cannellini  and fantastic cake by the slice.   Gelato & Co can bring all their goodies and cater family get-togethers and weddings.

Blue by Eric Ripert

Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton is probably one of the most elegant dining rooms you will experience in Grand Cayman. Led by the enigmatic Chef Ripert who has Le Bernadin in New York, one of only a handful of restaurants in New York with three Michelin stars. Chef Ripert brings his expertise to the Cayman Islands for a magical dining experience that cannot be replicated.

The Falls Steakhouse

The Falls Steakhouse, formerly Copper Falls Steakhouse “where everyone goes to meat”, offers a fine dining experience at an excellent price and is therefore a go-to when only steak will do. The menu has been well-crafted to give each diner of drinking age a complimentary martini, well-drink or beer, as well the diner’s choice of vegetable and starch. Choose from starches such as garlic mashed potato or linguine with an alfredo or tomato cream sauce and veg options such as a medley of carrots, cauliflower and zucchini or a broccoli parmesan – simply delicious. Each steak dinner comes with a choice of six different sauces – choose from Béarnaise, green peppercorn, the Falls Steak Sauce, BBQ Sauce, burgundy mushroom or horseradish cream sauce. Is your tummy rumbling yet? All the Falls steakhouse steaks are hand-cut and aged 28 days before grilling to perfection. But you don’t need to necessarily dine on steak while you are there (though it would be something of a crime if you missed out on their steaks) because they also do rack of lamb, centre-cut pork chops, various chicken and seafood dishes, as well as several vegetarian dishes equally well. Open Wednesday through to Sunday from 5:30 to 10 pm, the Falls Steakhouse also presents an excellent wine list to ensure that your steak is complemented by some memorable wines, including a great selection from California, Italy, France and South Africa.