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2021-02-01T00:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T08:48:23-04:00 https://www.virginbookings.com/blog/best-restaurants-2021 Virginbookings.com office@virginbookings.com https://www.virginbookings.com Virgin Islands best places to Eat - 2021 Without doubt, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands are famous for their stunning beaches, clear waters, lush nature and sunny weather. However, the culinary scene is not to be overlooked. The Virgin Islands are also a paradise for the foodie! In fact, great food and drink are a deep-rooted part of Virgin Island culture.   The local food is the result of interactions between Natives and Europeans during the early years of exploration and the Creole culinary tradition during and since colonization. Besides this wide vareity of unique Caribbean flavors, there is some recognizable variance between the two terriotries of the USVI and BVI; the former offering American home comforts such as great Beefburgers, BBQ's and Key Lime Pie - with the latter catering to British tradition and serving full Sunday Roasts! So prepare your forks, and sharpen your knife, there is a real richness to Virgin Islands gastronomy! Discover curried meat, fungi, callaloo, hulking shellfish and much more. And do not forget to wash it down with a signature cocktail or the famous Cruzan Rum!   It's not easy to choose among so many culinary gems, so we combed the Virgin Island’s white sands for you, and made a list of the best places to eat in the Virgin Islands (both BVI and USVI)! From great street food to fine dining, there is something for everyone!   Best places to eat in the U.S. Virgin Islands   Best restaurants St Thomas PRIME at Paradise Point, St Thomas This restaurant will give you a fine dining experience at it’s best, with an incredible view of Charlotte Amalie! This American Steakhouse also features seafood and has gluten-free and vegetarian options. The service is outstanding, and the atmosphere very cosy. The place is perfect for a romantic date night, and if you come at the right time, you will catch an incredible sunset!   Oceana Restaurant & Bistro, St Thomas This establishment was once owned by the first Danish Governor of St. Thomas, between 1672 & 1679 and is now the perfect place to enjoy a romantic meal in a private villa, facing the ocean. They are known for their house-made flatbreads and house-infused cocktails. Standout dishes included the mussels and the seafood paella. Their wine selection is excellent and the happy hour is very lively!     Vinny's Food Cart, St Thomas This authentic food truck makes delicious local cuisine, right off the beach. The menu changes daily. You might find Johnny cake, fish, curry chicken, pork chops, macaroni & cheese, potato salad and passion fruit juice! Vinny treats customers like family and has great conversation.     Best restaurants in St John Shambles, St John This friendly local spot, just 2 miles up from Cruz or Coral Bay is very colorful and great to catch your favourite sports game! They offer speciality pizzas, burgers and sandwiches, salads and diverse snack platters. Vegan options are also available.   Their drink prices are unbeatable, and Happy Hour is every day between 3:00 pm-6:00 pm.      Skinny Legs, St John Located in beautiful Coral Bay, Skinny legs is a funky open air bar and grill, with a laid back atmosphere. You will be able to relax with the locals and get a drink and a burger. Burgers and Sandwiches are served on a locally made hamburger bun. And they are proud of not using a deep fryer! You could also enjoy a house-made treat to satisfy your sweet tooth! They are famous for their Key Lime Pie. Their drinks are shaken, not blended as they call themselves a " proud blender-free zone".     Best restaurants in St Croix Rumrunners, St Croix This outstanding place serves Caribbean and Continental cuisine for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch!   Their deck bar is the place to be to enjoy fantastic harbour views and spectacular sunsets with a cocktail and some little bites. You could order the Rumrunner, their house speciality! It is some Cruzan Coconut and Banana rums blended with blackberry brandy, grenadine, sour mix, and pineapple juice, shaken, then topped with Black Strap rum and a cherry.      Café fresco, St Croix This Café is great for breakfast or lunch. Located in the heart of Christiansted, they serve tasty, fresh and healthy food. Their breakfast menu includes blueberry pancakes, french toast, breakfast wraps and omelette. Their lunch menu includes curried chicken, mahi-mahi filet, roast pork and vegetarian burrito.      Nidulari, St Croix This little red and black ‘gypsy cart’ is St Croix’s only artisanal bakery and food truck in the rainforest! Nidulari specializes in wood-fired artisanal baked goods! Menu changes daily, and she only uses fresh ingredients. Try out Indian curries, British-influenced dishes, and Southern comfort food. The menu includes vegan and gluten-free options.     Best places to eat in the British Virgin Islands Brandywine Estate Restaurant, Tortola Brandywine is a little slice of paradise, with great food, beautiful views and refined but homely ambience. Indulge yourself with some of the best French seafood and Mediterranean dishes. They cook with fresh ingredients and have daily specials. The restaurant is perfect for a romantic date night with the staff making great recommendations for food and drinks. A well-rounded selection of wines is available, combining French and New World. They also offer a delicious traditional British Sunday roast, with roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings.     Crandall's, Tortola If you want great local grub for breakfast and lunch, this is the place to go! Their authentic Johnny Cakes and Patties are to die for.   Johnny Cakes are an Antillean snack. They are fried hearty buns and can be served much like a bagel with egg, bacon and other toppings. Local traditional patties are like a small deep-fried Cornish pasty, containing saltfish, chicken, beef or vegetarian fillings. We highly recommend tasting these two traditional snacks!     Coco Maya, Virgin Gorda This is Gorda's most fashionable restaurant & bar. Located just minutes from the iconic “Baths”, this idyllic white sand location overlooks the turquoise waters of Tortola. Coco Maya will give you the “beach chic” experience. Their cuisine fuses flavours of South East Asia & Latin America with a touch of Caribbean and is designed to be ordered family or tapas-style. Don't be surprised if you rub shoulders with the famous here!     Anegada Beach Club, Anegada You will dine with your toes-in-the-sand, by the pool. Fresh, local lobster, conch and triggerfish are always on the menu. For lunch, try their speciality sandwiches like their Anegada BLLT – a Bacon Lettuce & Tomato with Grilled Lobster! For diner, try out a curry or a fresh Lobster!     Abes By The Sea, Jost Van Dyke The place to be to eat the best fresh lobsters on Jost Van Dyke little Harbour. We would advise calling to let Abes know how many will be in your party and by all means order the lobsters!    The restaurant offers a real island friendly atmosphere, right on the water. You can watch pelicans dive-bomb for fish while you wait for your food. They also have a courtesy bar: you can pour your own drinks!      About the author     Hi! I'm Axelle, the Virginbookings.com writer of this blog post. If you have questions or feedback, feel free to contact me on: axelle@island-bookings.com   More about the USVI in our USVI Travel Guide     More about the BVI in our BVI Travel Guide    

2020-12-15T00:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T08:30:23-04:00 https://www.virginbookings.com/blog/native-son-ferry-to-st-croix Virginbookings.com office@virginbookings.com https://www.virginbookings.com St Thomas to St Croix with Native Son Ferry Virgin islands ferry news: A new service from St. Thomas to St. Croix!   With over 40 years of service, Native Son Ferry is among the leading ferry operators in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Recently they received so many requests from people wanting to travel from St. Thomas to St. Croix that they decided to add this new route to their schedule! To book, simply use our search box here.   Since the Coronavirus pandemic left the maritime border between the USVI and BVI closed for many months this year, but St. Thomas and St. Croix are both part of the U.S. territory and open to tourists, the opportunity arose to add a twice weekly service (on Fridays and Sundays). Native Son uses their most reliable high-speed ferry to make the crossing between St Thomas and St Croix, taking around 2hrs to get there. The large boat is well suited to handle the open waters between the islands, making for a safe, sturdy and fast crossing.     The schedule has been specifically designed to make day trips and short weekend breaks an easy possibility!  You can catch the 8.00 AM ferry from Charlotte Amalie to Christiansted, arrive in St Croix around 10.00 AM and sail back to St Thomas at 4.00 PM. You can also decide to spend the weekend in St Croix to have more time to explore the Island. In this case you can simply catch the 8:00 AM ferry from St Thomas to St Croix on Friday, and get back to St Thomas on the Sunday 4:00 PM ferry.   Getting from St Thomas to St Croix with Native son Ferry will only take you two hours. You will be able to enjoy the air conditioning inside or the sun and the fresh air on the sun deck. The highlight of your ferry journey will be the spectacular views of the blissful Caribbean sea and distant surrounding islands.     Visit St Croix You will arrive at Gallows Bay Ferry Terminal in Christiansted, in the northern part of the island. Christiansted historic downtown is only a 5 minute walk from the jetty. Christiansted is the largest town on the island and one of the most charming Caribbean towns in existance. You will be able to explore its treasures: Christiansted National Historic District - located on the waterfront, you can visit  Fort Christianvaern, the Scale House, Danish Custom House, Steeple Building, and the Danish West Indies & Guinea Company Warehouse. The site preserves its historic structure and the Danish colonnial influence. Great restaurants - Such as Galangal Restaurant or Rumrunners. You will be able to taste real caribbean cuisine and plenty of seafood, besides of course sampling the famous Cruzan Rum! The Waterfront Boardwalk - As you walk along the Christiansted boardwalk you will notice silvery Atlantic tarpon (fish) lingering in the water beside you. They are insatiable and will appreciate any food remnants!   Scuba diving - The sandy bottom and shallow waters are perfect to discover Scuba Diving! Shopping opportunities - You will find local boutiques and stores offering clothing, art, jewelry, books, souvenirs, home decor and locally made products. If you are staying for the weekend, you could also decide to venture further into the island with a taxi, or simply by renting a car, as St Croix has many other unique activities and places for you to discover. Here are a few suggestions: Visit Frederiksted - Once the site of the emancipation of slaves, “the freedom city“ has two water ports, several beach bars, restaurants and a few water sports companies. Drive to Point Udall - Located on the East End of St Croix, this is the Eastern Most Point of the United States! In 2000, The Millennium Monument was erected. The drive to this monument is breathtaking.    Book a stay at one of our recommended St Croix hotels.  Go diving in St Croix - In St Croix, you can visit the wreck, the reef wall, and pier in one day! Further offshore is a pristine marine protection area "Buck Island National Monument" - worth exploring for the day if you are here for longer. N2theBlue and Ultimate Bluewater Adventures will give you access to some of the best diving locations! Visit Salt River National Historic Park - Located on the North Shore of the island, the bay is a protected ecological preserve. Christopher Columbus landed at this spot in 1493, and encountered the not-so-friendly Carib Indian tribe. St Croix has plenty to offer, and I would strongly advise the detour when you visit the U.S. Virgin Islands. And with Native Son Ferry now operating ferries between St Thomas and St Croix, you will have no problem finding your way there! You can already book your tickets with us here!   About the author     Hi! I'm Axelle, the Virginbookings.com writer of this blog post. If you have questions or feedback, feel free to contact me on: axelle@island-bookings.com     More about St Croix in our Travel Guide.     More about Native Son Ferry on our Boat Page.