The Best Waterside Restaurants In Tortola British Virgin Islands

Blessed with sheltered harbours and deserted bays, Tortola is the charter boat capital of the Caribbean and the capital island of the entire British Virgin Islands. Along with appetising scenery, this volcanic island has a great selection of restaurants to rouse the senses. The options range from fine dining restaurants to beachside barbecue shacks – we’ve hand-picked out some of the best waterside restaurants in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Moor up close to Tortola’s top foodie spots by booking our British Virgin Islands luxury group sailing trip.

The Sugar Mill overlooking Little Apple Bay

The Apple Bay Waterfront and Sugar Mill Hotel Restaurant in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Originally a 17th-century sugar mill, this four-star boutique hotel is tucked away in a remote spot overlooking Apple Bay. Fully open to non-hotel guests, the Sugar Mill offers a taste of fine dining rarely seen in other Caribbean restaurants – with dishes like scallops in Champagne sauce sharing the menu with Caribbean favourites. Rich with the air of occasion, The Sugar Mill is the perfect spot for toasting the last night of charter.

Overlooking Sir Francis Drake channel and just 10 minutes from Road Town, Brandywine Estate is the perfect spot for yacht spotting. Run by French chef Regis and wife Claudine, the Mediterranean menu is populated with French classics, including moules marinière and lobster thermidor. Call ahead to reserve a mooring ball through the restaurant and kick off the evening with pre-dinner cocktails on the terrace for an unrivalled sunset view.

D’Coal Pot in the village of Carrot Bay

Sitting right at the water’s edge on the northern coast of Tortola, this family-run restaurant offers a true taste of the Caribbean. It may look humble, but D’Coal Pot is an island gem. Run by owner and chef Evelyn, D’Coal Pot offers reasonable prices and decent portions of saltfish fritters, roti and ribs. Get the local lobster if it hasn’t sold out – or reserve one when you make your booking.

Bananakeet Café perched high on Windy Hill

Pick up a mooring ball in Carrot Bay and whisk up Windy Hill in a quick taxi ride for 180º sunset views of neighbouring islands Jost Van Dyke, Great Thatch and Great Tobago. Sip painkiller cocktails to live music and devour salt cod fritters, seafood curry and tuna tacos prepared by legendary Chef Spicy. Arrive early to bag an outdoor table overlooking the bay and make sure you book.

Jeremy’s Kitchen in Trellis Bay

Originally a windsurf school run by local legend Jeremy Wright, Jeremy’s Kitchen sits in the centre of Trellis Bay offering tasty brunches and all-day plates with standout sandwiches – best eaten on the deck in the open air. A hub for charter yachts heading to neighbouring islands, Trellis Bay doesn’t have many mooring balls since hurricane Irma struck in 2017 but does offer sheltered anchorage and plenty of dinghy docks along the shore.

Nigel’s Boom Boom Beach Bar and Grill in Smuggler’s Cove

Located in the beautiful setting of Smuggler’s Cove – perhaps the best beach on Tortola – this beach bar and colourful barbecue shack offers an authentic Caribbean experience. Nigel, the owner, manager and bartender serves up strong painkiller cocktails, famously tasty hot dogs and long tales of the Caribbean. Anchor in the bay but get there early – navigation can be tricky.

Paradise Club on Cane Garden Bay

The liveliest beach bar on the island, the Paradise Club is a short walk from the dinghy dock if you’re moored in Cane Garden Bay and has tables right on the beach. The classic Caribbean menu abounds with tasty burgers and fish tacos to be eaten while gazing upon the Instagram-perfect sunset. As night falls, Paradise Club lights up with firepits, torches and glow lights and hosts a monthly full moon party with psychoactive mushroom tea on offer – don’t worry it’s legal.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.