The Best Seafood Restaurants in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Situated on the waterfront is Marguerite’s, one of MoBay’s longest-running restaurants. This relatively smart venue offers a range of cuisine, yet it is the seafood that really stands out. Their fried red snapper gets a local twist with the addition of callaloo – a leafy green – and is superb. Enjoy the sunset from the outdoor dining area.

Get your escovitch fish and your curried shrimp at one of MoBay’s oldest restaurants, The Pelican Grill. The conch chowder is a local favourite that never disappoints at this cosy, family-style diner. Popular with locals and visitors, the lobster special alone is worth going for.

The restaurant located within this hotel is one of the best on the island – and in fact, it has more than one. If you want to treat yourself to a special meal, then head to Round Hill. The Round Hill Grill serves fresh fish and seafood daily and they grow their own organic vegetables for that farm-to-table experience. If you enjoy your seafood with truffle-whipped potatoes, then this is the place for you.

Located a few miles west of MoBay, Lobster Trapp gets its name from the fact that the lobster are indeed kept alive in sea traps until you place your order. Grilled local-style over pimento wood – the same method used when making that other Jamaican staple, jerk. This is a no-frills, family-run establishment, with top-quality, waterfront-fresh seafood at its best.

Dine on board a houseboat moored in the marine park fish sanctuary. Arrive early to enjoy happy hour before dining, then start with the smoked marlin tatar – given some local heat with the addition of scotch bonnet pepper. Then choose your own live lobster. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!

Situated waterside in the MoBay yacht club, the Seahorse Grill has great nighttime views of the twinkling waterfront lights on the bay. Ignore the ‘international’ food on the menu and stick to the excellent local seafood dishes. The snapper filet stuffed with Jamaican blue crab is an inventive local dish; while the curried shrimp is a Jamaican favourite found in all good seafood restaurants.