Just Back From: The Cayman Islands

In this edition of Just Back From, I speak with someone who has been traveling to the Cayman Islands for several years and is currently planning her wedding in this beautiful destination.

How long have you been going to the Cayman Islands?

I've been visiting since 2017. My fiancé's family has a home there, which is why I started going.

How long has your fiance been visiting?

Since he was two. His parents met there because both of their families vacationed in the Caymans. His mom was with her family, and his dad was with his family. Back then, it was more undeveloped and off the grid. In the 80s, it became a tax-free zone, so the money eventually flooded there, resulting in more development and infrastructure.

Where do you stay in the Caymans? Do you have recommendations for potential guests? 

My fiancé's grandmother's house is on Seven Mile Beach, located on a small island with many of the restaurants, shopping, and resorts within a five-mile radius. Palm Heights, a trendy boutique hotel, is just five minutes from the house. In my opinion, the top three places to stay are the Kimpton, The Ritz Carlton, and Palm Heights.

Can you tell us a little more about Palm Heights? 

So my fiance grew up staying at the Hyatt, which was the first major resort in the Caymans. It changed ownership a few times, and, eventually, it became the Palm Heights. It was renovated and reopened in 2019 as a chic boutique hotel with a Miami vibe. It has gained much more popularity in recent years due to celebrity endorsements and influencer visits.

What are some of your favorite restaurants and bars in the Caymans?

For breakfast, Jessie's Juice Bar serves refreshing juices and coffee to start the day – we love going there after we work out. The Kimpton is another excellent place for an all-you-can-eat brunch spread.

 Cocolobba Bar at the Kimpton is fantastic for lunch; they serve tacos, margaritas, salads, and fries in an outdoor beach bar setting. Plus, they have over 200 tequilas and agaves to choose from!

Saint June at The Ritz is probably my favorite lunch spot, serving everything from jerk chicken to salads and burgers. You can eat at the bar or snag a covered table on the beach.

 Coconut Club at Palm Heights is another good option, with excellent salads and sushi for lunch.

What about dinner spots?

Palm Heights has an excellent restaurant called Tillie's, which is also open for lunch. It's primarily outdoor with a lush jungle vibe, a cool bar, and an open kitchen. We love their Thursday night special, which includes a burger, lobster tail, glass of wine, Caesar salad, and french fries. The food is excellent; I've tried everything from kale salads to curry and sushi – there's something on the menu for everyone!

Luca is another one of my favorite spots for dinner. It is located on the bottom of a condo called the Caribbean Club, but it is open to anyone. You can sit inside or outside, but I prefer inside because it has a huge wine cellar and comfortable seating. It is a really nice restaurant that offers a massive wine list with three or four vintages of each bottle, plus excellent Italian food and fresh seafood.

Nova is another delicious dinner option that opened within the last year. However, it's located in the West Bay, so you would need to drive there. It has an enormous bar, excellent food, and great cocktails, and it overlooks the pool and beach, which is super fun.

Eric Ripert has a restaurant called Blue at The Ritz. It's a very small place geared towards foodies. We have yet to go, but we have heard good things about it.

In terms of local spots,Chicken! Chicken! is great – it's a rotisserie spot that has been on the island forever! The jerk sauce is so good, and it's very authentic. 

A quick note about hotel restaurants: something I love about the Caymans is that the resorts here have great restaurants, and you can walk into any resort and instantly be treated as a guest. It doesn't matter if you are staying there or not.

Are the restaurants accommodating to food allergies?

I have a gluten intolerance, and in my experience, almost all of the restaurants I've been to in the Caymans can accommodate food intolerances and allergies. They ask about allergies before you order and sometimes even bring out gluten-free bread as an appetizer.

What are some options for nightlife?

Next Door is one of our favorite places – it's a bar with live jazz music and a speakeasy vibe. Paradise Pizza is also fun, hosting DJ nights with a club atmosphere. Palm Heights has a secret club for VIPs, but it is invite-only. If you ask around, you might get invited!

We've also heard that Mykonos is a lot of fun with DJs and a cool bar, but I haven't been there yet.

Are there family-oriented restaurants you would recommend?

Camana Bay, a large outdoor development with lots of shopping, is a great place to bring the kids. There's a delicious gelato shop here called Gelato & Co. that serves authentic gelato you can also purchase by the gallon. Scoops is another excellent spot for standard ice cream on the island. 

In terms of actual restaurants, there's a place at the back of The Ritz called Andiamo. They serve pizza and gelato with a really cool vibe on the bay. Every night, they feed tarpon on the pier, which is a lot of fun to watch.

How do you get around the island?

We usually walk or drive around the island. Unfortunately, there are no Uber services available. No matter where you're going, taxis typically have a flat fee of around $10 or $20.