In the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean with over 200 restaurants, you'll delight in savoring the best of world-renowned international and local chefs. You'll find it difficult to choose from the variety of cuisines and styles, so here are a few of our favorites.
Morgan’s – Situated seaside in the newly developed Cayman Islands Yacht Club overlooking Governor’s Creek, Morgan’s menu showcases many ocean-to-table dishes. Chefs receive fresh fish daily from restaurants own fisherman. Morgan’s is casual with a pinch of European chic, a cozy and airy atmosphere with inside and outside seating options. Whether enjoying fresh local seafood, or perhaps a juicy meat dish or savory vegetarian option, you are sure to have a memorable experience dining at Morgan’s.
Catch – Nestled in Morgan’s Harbour overlooking the North Sound, Catch is best described as by Cayman Good Taste – casually elegant. The staff at Catch do their best to use fresh local ingredients whenever possible, from their talented mixologists using local fruit in your cocktails, to the chefs using local produce to complement your main dishes, and of course, only the freshest fish is used at Catch. Daily dinner specials at Catch vary based on what was biting that day. With plenty of other tasty vegetarian and meat dishes, everyone is sure to find something to suit their tastes at Catch.
Calypso Grill – Overlooking Morgan’s Harbour near the fishing docks, chefs at Calypso Grill have a very short commute to ensure that only the freshest fish ends up on your plate! Choose to sit outside on the veranda to enjoy the evening breeze and the stars, or inside in the cozy island-style ambiance. Make sure to order their famous sticky toffee pudding for dessert! So well-known, there is even a street named after it in Cayman.
VIVO - Offering an eco-friendly menu with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options, VIVO Cafe really is an alternative restaurant gem in Cayman. VIVO specializes in a range of Lionfish dishes, making use of the invasive fish which requires constant culling to prevent the destruction of the native reef fish in Cayman. Overlooking the rocky ironshore and sea in West Bay, VIVO is the perfect place for a sunset drink or dinner.
Agua – Located in Camana Bay, Agua has a unique combination of international seafood dishes is present on Agua’s menu, and they ensure everyone is done justice with their international staff. In-house they have representatives from twenty-four different countries, so each dish you order is prepared by the chef with the same origin as the dish! If seafood does not suit your taste, you may choose from the variety of other salads, pasta and other meat dishes they offer.
Kaibo – Kaibo offers guests two choices all in one convenient location: the casual, barefoot beach restaurant downstairs, or their excellent dining restaurant and Cayman’s most extensive rum bar upstairs. Kaibo’s Beach Restaurant is the favorite casual food stop on Crazy Crab adventures and offers simple seafood entrees and snacks, fresh salads, eclectic sandwiches, thin crust pizzas made in their outdoor brick oven and more. Consider joining Kaibo on a Tuesday night for their Barefoot Beach BBQ with music, dancing, beach games, and bottomless local BBQ. Kaibo is accessible by car or conveniently by taking the water ferry from Camana Bay.
Grapetree Cafe - You won’t discover much about this hidden gem in the tourist publications, but the locals know that Grapetree is the place to head to on the weekends for the best fried fish in Grand Cayman. Located on the coast in Bodden Town, you can grab your fish for taking away or relax and enjoy your fish and fritters sitting under a thatched covered table on the beach.
Heritage Kitchen – Named by Cayman Good Taste in Cayman’s Best Local Eating, Heritage Kitchen gives an authentic taste of Caymanian heritage. Order one of many authentic local dishes such as Cayman style grouper at a sensible price, and enjoy it while overlooking the ocean. Located on Boggy Sand Road in West Bay.
If you are interested in the Caribbean Food and wants to visit the Grand Cayman Restaurants, check out our Seafood, Pizza & Mudslides Tour.
We Caymanians are proud of our culture and love to share and celebrate with our visitors. With year-round attractions plus special events throughout the year, you'll leave wanting to come back for more.
Pedro St. James Castle – The grandiose Pedro St. James Castle, located twenty minutes from Georgetown, is the oldest building in the Cayman Islands. Built-in 1780 by plantation owner William Eden, the Castle served as the meeting location for the first parliament on the island in 1831. The abandoned building underwent a multimillion-dollar restoration in the 1990s and now is back on Cayman’s list of favorite historical attractions. Request a guided tour, perhaps by the 7th grandson of William Eden himself, and peruse the theatre, exhibits and gift shop on site.
National Museum – The Nation Museum prides themselves on being a “living connection to Cayman’s past.” Their comprehensive collections of natural history items, art, and other private donations, as well as their rotating exhibits and guest speakers, allow for a glimpse into Cayman’s heritage and culture that is new each time you visit.
National Gallery – Upstairs in the National Gallery, you will find the permanent National Art Collection, comprised of artworks and artifacts, which demonstrates how everyday life has evolved in the Cayman Islands in the last 40 years. Consult the National Gallery’s website for a sneak peek into the current exhibition, found on the first floor. From underwater photography to fashion, the unique creations of transient exhibitions ensure an interesting look into the natural and social past of Cayman.
Blow Holes – Nestled on the south edge of the island, about a mile from the easternmost end, you will find the blowholes. Most spectacular with a gusty wind blowing, the blowholes are ironshore karst formations, shaped such that when waves roll underneath their rocky ledges and rise, water is shot high up into the air. While watching this powerful phenomenon, consider the natural history of the island, and what Columbus would’ve seen during the first ever visit the island in 1503.
Pirates Week – Pirates were some of the first regular visitors to the Cayman Islands and would stop to collect fresh water and protein-rich turtle meet for their crews. In remembrance of the part, pirates played in the history of Cayman, a two-week celebration is held every year featuring the iconic Pirate Invasion at Hog Sty Bay in Georgetown, music, dancing, food festivals parades and more. For historical fun for the whole family, consult the Pirates Week Festival Website and make sure to be here for Pirate’s Week this November.
Batabano – Batabano is Cayman’s national carnival and is held annually in May. This colorful dance parade was created by the island’s Rotary Club in 1983 as a celebration of the combination of historical influences to Cayman, down to its namesake. About the islands’ turtling culture, the word, “Batabano” describes the trails made by mother sea turtles coming onto the beaches to nest. In the present day, Batabano is the country’s yearly tribute to the history and opportunity to unite for the future. Consult Cayman Carnival’s website for more information on how to be a part of Batabano. www.caymancarnival.com
Kaaboo - Kaaboo Cayman is a two-day music and comedy festival happening February 15th and 16th of 2019. Bringing this adult escape to Cayman means it will have the tradition of Kaaboo and the flavor of the Caribbean. The music lineup will feature 19 well-known artists from around the world, as well as several local staples, and you can expect to see the same mix of renowned and local comedians. The festival grounds, located on beautiful Seven Mile Beach will also showcase the best of Cayman’s food and wine. Tickets and full lineup are available at www.kaaboocayman.com.
Taste of Cayman - The best way to experience the total variety of the food scene in Cayman is by attending Taste of Cayman, next scheduled for January 2019. With more than forty vendors showcasing their best adult cocktails, savory concoctions and sweet treats, the scope ranges from street food to gourmet cuisine. Vote for your favorite vendor and increase their chances of winning prize money! For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.tasteofcayman.org.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Grand Cayman only has the world famous Seven Mile Beach, but with our miles of coastline, there are many beautiful beaches, each with distinct character. Some of the most famous destinations are located in the regions of West Bay & 7 Mile Beach and Cayman Kai & Northside. With so many beaches from which to choose, you’re sure to find one (or more) that’s just right for you.
Seven Mile Beach (Public Beach and Governors Beach) – Easily accessible via the Public Bus route, picturesque Seven Mile Beach is often ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Lined with hotels and condos, make sure to bring your own beach chair or towel, or consider renting a chair at Public Beach.
West Bay Public Beach – Fringed by grape trees, this quiet beach in West Bay is a great place to swim, snorkel and soak up a little culture. Coconut and craft vendors are located at the adjacent boat ramp and on weekends BBQ cookouts, and domino players add to the atmosphere. Several restaurants and cafes are located nearby, including Heritage Kitchen, one of our favorite fried fish shacks. With the convenience of restrooms and showers, this is an excellent beach for families.
Cemetery Beach – Being on the northernmost end of Seven Mile Beach, Cemetery Beach is a good spot to get away from the crowds. In early settlement days, inhabitants lived inland away from the beaches, as they were the most susceptible to weather and elements. That left beaches as the perfect place for burial grounds! Head out for a snorkel and see if you can find the memorial plaque in the reef!
Starfish Point - Easy to reach by car, though about an hour drive from Georgetown, Starfish Point is the perfect beach to bring a picnic and spend a half or full day - with plenty of sun and shade, plenty of space to spread out and of course the shallow water where the starfish reside. Starfish Point is a favorite stop on a Crazy Crab adventure.
Rum Point - Rum Point is a long-standing attraction in the Cayman Kai region. They have a restaurant, bar, and beach with furniture and restroom and changing facilities. This can be a fairly busy spot, especially on Sundays and cruise ship days. Check out the cruise ship schedule on the Cayman Islands Port Authority’s website to beat the traffic, and get there early!
Spotts Beach - The best place to see turtles here on the island is Spotts Beach! No cages, healthy and totally free. Turtles come in to feed in the early morning and late afternoon, so that is the best time to see them. This is a snorkeling site at which the depth ranges between 4 and 6 feet. No need to venture past the shallow barrier reef, as the currents are stronger and the water is much deeper. Everything you want to see is inside the shallow reef where the waves break. Portable restroom facilities on site.
Smith’s Barcadere (Smith’s Cove) - With all the convenience of public restrooms, picnic benches and outdoor showers, this sandy white beach is surrounded by turquoise waters protected by limestone formations and coral. The tall iron shore rock walls are a great place to see some of the oceans hidden treasures such as the much more shy lemon rays, small fish, and the elusive mantis shrimp! The beach drops off allowing visitors to swim freely while still being close to the shore. Great for kids and the whole family!
Barkers – located down a secluded dirt road on the northeast point of West Bay, Barkers National Park is perfect for a nice, quiet day at the beach, away from the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach. Look for seashells, go for an easy snorkel from the shore, or consider taking kitesurfing lessons or horseback riding down the beach! No public restrooms.
A Crazy Crab adventure is the top, top thing to do in Grand Cayman but here are a few other activities that you'll want to check out too.
Crazy Crab Adventure - The top thing to do in Grand Cayman is a Crazy Crab Adventure on your own private boat charter with personal crew. We'll tailor your charter just for you so you can come and go when you want and stay as long as you like. Professional and experienced guides will lead you on the amazing experiences like our Stingray City encounter and magical Bioluminescence Bay. You'll snorkel vibrant coral reefs, swim among dazzling fish, feed magnificent stingrays and hold radiant starfish. All of us at Crazy Crab have one mission - to make sure you have a fantastic, memorable day.
Crystal Caves – A newly opened attraction in Grand Cayman, the privately owned Crystal Caves are located in Northside. The three caves and all the surrounding flora and fauna illicit much about the geological and anthropological history of Grand Cayman. When visiting, a guide will escort you through the two-hundred-year-old caves, explaining how they were formed predominantly by rain, and introduce you to historically significant plants and animals, like bats that were crucial to Caymanians’ effort to settle and farm. Make sure to call ahead and secure your required reservation for this hour and a half long tour through Cayman’s past!
Botanic Park – A superb way to experience the endemic plant life in Cayman, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park showcases a woodland trail, a lake and surrounding wetlands area and five gardens, each spotlighting a different class of plant life. Keep your eyes open for many of Cayman’s native bird species, butterflies and agoutis. The Botanic Park is also the home of the Cayman National Trust’s Blue Iguana Recovery Program. This is the only place you are able to see Cayman’s native blue iguana on the island, as the invasive green iguanas you will notice roaming around in no shortage drove the blue iguana almost to extinction in 2002, with less than 20 individuals left in the whole world!
Turtle Center - The green sea turtle has been a part of Cayman’s culture and environment since the earliest settlers to our shores. Originally started as a farm to domesticate turtle for consumption, the Cayman Turtle Center has been transformed into an leisure, educational, research and conservation center for green turtles and other Cayman wildlife. Native animal exhibits and attractions feature turtles, saltwater crocodile, sharks, birds, and butterflies.
Scuba Diving – With 365 dive sites around Grand Cayman ranging from shallow shore dives teeming with invertebrate life, shallow boat dives interwoven with swim-throughs and buzzing with more than 500 species of fish. Multiple wreck dive options including the ex-U.S.S. Kittiwake and spectacular dives along the island's walls that plunge down into the abyss, the scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is unparalleled, with the best visibility in the Caribbean. Whether you are a certified diver, want to become certified or just want to try it for the day, make sure to check out Cayman’s reefs, up close and personal!
Deep Sea Fishing – Because Grand Cayman is the peak of a mountain in an underwater mountain range in the Caribbean, you do not have to go very far offshore before the mountainsides plummet to depths sufficient enough to catch all kinds of succulent and sporty pelagic fish. Including snapper, grouper, mahi-mahi, wahoo, barracuda, black and yellowfin tuna, sailfish and even marlin!
