The Best Restaurants to Visit in Montego Bay, Jamaica

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The Montego Bay outpost is the original Scotchie’s location. It’s one of the most famous restaurants in Jamaica for jerk-style chicken and specialty side dishes including bammy cassava flatbread, corn on the cob, festival, rice and peas and vegetable curry. Snag a table out on the patio by the grill to watch your food being prepared. Be sure to order a Dark and Stormy or a Red Stripe to wash down this epic Jamaican meal.

This brand-new waterfront restaurant at the Montego Bay Yacht Club is now open to the public. The locally owned eatery Marina Palms features classic blue and white decor elements by local interior designer Kathryn Pinto May. Diners can enjoy incredible views of the marina and taste some of the freshest caught fish on the island prepared to your liking. Sip on a freshly blended fruit punch with a shot of white overproof rum and enjoy the live entertainment.

This open-air eatery boasts spectacular vistas of the coastline and jungle. Chef Pepper serves up typical Jamaican dishes like a half-pound of jerk pork, ackee and codfish, and curried conch at Peppa’s Cool Spot. The restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic evening date underneath the stars. You and your loved one will enjoy a fantastic meal at a little-known spot while basking in the soft glow of candlelight.

Have the memorable experience of enjoying a meal on the water at the Houseboat Grill in the Montego Bay Marine Park Fish Sanctuary. The menu offers freshly caught seafood served in an array of global dishes, and the daily happy hour starts at 5.30pm. The best place to sit at the upscale casual dining establishment is on the open deck overlooking the bay. Be sure to arrive early if you want to snag a table on the deck for sunset.

Located in the Fairview Shopping Center, DLE Café borrows elements from Ital food science to serve up delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes. The healthy menu offering includes fresh-fruit smoothies, hearty wraps and flatbreads, savory crepes, and more. Even meat-lovers enjoy the plant-forward meals at DLE Café. Don’t miss out on their selection of freshly baked sweets including cakes and cookies.

One of the most beloved restaurants in Montego Bay, the Pelican Grill has a bright orange exterior and vintage pub interior and has been serving up delicious dishes for over half a century. Conveniently located in the Hip Strip, the historic restaurant is adorned with wood-paneled walls and old-timey brown leather booths. The menu features all of Jamaica’s specialty dishes such as stewed oxtail, West Indian curries, jerk chicken and more.