Eat Like a Local: The Island of Anguilla

Food has a unique power to evoke memories. The smells and tastes connect to some of our most deeply held emotions, including comfort, nostalgia, excitement, and love. Food is also one of the most easily accessible ways to get to know a place when traveling.

Equity Estates invites you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of your vacation, one destination at a time.

• Destination: Anguilla
• Number of restaurants: 100+
• Famous For: Fresh seafood, crayfish, johnny cakes, goat, and rum punch

Located in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles about ten miles from St. Martin, the quiet island of Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, renowned for its sophisticated food scene, live music, and genuine warmth and hospitality.

It’s known as one of the culinary capitals of the Caribbean, boasting over a hundred beloved restaurants—ranging from local diners to five-star establishments—and hosting the Anguilla Culinary Experience, a multi-day international food festival, each year.

Though the beautiful scenery, great food, and welcoming attitude attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, you won’t find large cruise ships, casinos, or high-rise hotels on Anguilla. Instead, you’ll discover a charming island that’s more low-key and less crowded than some of the other Caribbean vacation destinations, which adds to its appeal.

A vacation on Anguilla is equal parts adventure, good food, and laid-back, sun-kissed days. It’s a playground of high-end luxury, stunning, soft-sand beaches, world-class snorkeling, and delicious cuisine, which may be why it ranks at the top of Travel + Leisure’s Favorite Caribbean Islands list year after year.

Three Regional Favorites

Fresh-caught seafood, tropical fruits, local vegetables (such as pigeon peas and tomatoes), Caribbean spices, and locally sourced meats from smaller animals (particularly goat) are key to Anguilla’s incredible cuisine and take center stage in the island’s most iconic dishes.

When vacationing in Anguilla, these are a few of the not-to-be-missed specialties that are worth seeking out, as well as some of the best places to find them:

Crayfish is one of Anguilla’s most popular ingredients and can be found (served a variety of ways) at just about every restaurant on the island. Not to be confused with the freshwater crawfish found in the United States, crayfish are a type of clawless, saltwater lobster. Smaller than a Caribbean lobster, but also slightly sweeter and more tender, crayfish is delicious simply grilled with butter and garlic, and it also works well in different recipes and preparations.

Where to find it: One of the best, casual places to dig into this local delicacy is Nat’s Palm Grove Bar and Grill. Open-air and right on a quiet stretch of beach overlooking calm blue water, this spot has been a favorite of locals and vacationers for over 30 years. They serve their crayfish perfectly seasoned and bathed in a light curry sauce. You can get it on its own or as a combo meal with fresh lobster and a selection of house-made sides.

Pro tip: Don’t pass up the Johnny Cakes when you order. Fried golden brown and lightly sweetened, they are considered some of the best on the island.

Goat is another ubiquitous ingredient in Anguillan cuisine, most often found curried in a stew, served jerk-style, or barbecued. The animals are raised on the island — you’ll often see them roaming freely and grazing in scrubby areas or tethered in front yards — and are a traditional, readily available source of protein for staple meals and special occasions.

Where to find it: The ever-popular Elvis’ Beach Bar serves goat as one of their premium proteins. Seasoned and slow-cooked or prepared jerk-style, you can enjoy it on tacos (served with sides of black beans and rice), in burritos, or on the restaurant’s “World Famous Goatchos” — fully loaded nachos with goat meat, a homemade cheesy pico sauce, jalapeños, olives, and sour cream.

Pro tip: Come prepared for fun. This on-the-beach restaurant is all about good food, good times, and cold drinks in a party atmosphere. Try the famous Elvis’ Rum Punch, relax on a seaside hammock post-meal, play games on the beach, or just sit back, listen to music, and enjoy the experience.

Grilled lobster in Anguilla, though similar to crayfish, has a different taste and experience—think fresh, rich flavor and a firmer texture. Clawless and spiny, it’s also different from the Maine lobsters served in the U.S. The Caribbean lobster’s meat (and flavor) is in its tail and tends to be a little more tender and clean-tasting than cold-water varieties. On Anguilla, it’s typically served grilled with garlic sauce, but you can also find it on salads, as a main ingredient in decadent pasta dishes, or served with flavored butter.

Where to find it: Sharky’s Restaurant at the West End Village is known for its fantastic lobster dishes — both appetizers and entrees. Diners can dig into it in the form of lobster cakes served with a tomato tartar sauce; seasoned and placed on a bed of local lettuce in a lobster salad; or as an entrée, grilled with your choice of butter sauces (lemon garlic, honey lemon curry, Cajun spice or simple butter) and two house-made sides. You can’t go wrong with any of those options if you’re looking to get a true taste of this island staple.

Pro tips: Seating is on an open-air veranda and terrace. Make reservations in advance to ensure you get a table, especially on Sundays when there’s live entertainment. If the lobster stir-fry or the jalapeno shrimp & lobster risotto are on the menu when you visit, definitely try them.

Fine Dining in Anguilla

Considered one of the top (if not the number-one) Caribbean vacation destinations for foodies, Anguilla offers up a diverse food scene that features high-end, sophisticated restaurants alongside family-run eateries, on-the-beach cafes and bars, and everything in between.

One of Anguilla’s premier dining spots is Straw Hat Restaurant in Mead’s Bay. This gorgeous restaurant, located at the Frangipani Beach Resort, boasts a beautiful, open-air dining room with panoramic views of sea and sky framed by white pillars — the perfect setting for an unforgettable meal.

You can’t go wrong with the ceviche starter and seared tuna entrée, though the curried goat, grilled local crayfish, and vegan pumpkin curry dumplings are also worth considering. Round out your meal with a fantastic vanilla crème brulée or caramelized bananas from the dessert menu. And don’t forget to try one of Straw Hat’s signature rum cocktails or a glass of wine from their extensive bar menu.

Set above Meads Bay and overlooking the water, the upscale yet relaxed, beachy Celeste restaurant at Malliouhana resort is a lovely spot for a light, fresh breakfast, an elegant dinner, or a special-occasion meal. Led by Chef Kerth Gumbs, Celeste offers Caribbean-inspired, fine-dining cuisine made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

The tableside ceviche (with cured jerk salmon or sashimi-grade tuna) is an excellent starter. After that, move on to one of the pasta dishes or opt for a land or sea entrée. The glazed short ribs with mashed potatoes and a red wine sauce and the queen snapper with creamed mushrooms and cassava are two popular options, though don’t overlook the delicious BBQ’d lobster with lemon butter sauce.

For a true fine-dining experience, Pimms at Cap Juluca is the epitome of elevated island cuisine showcased in a stylish (and romantic) waterside setting. The restaurant is a local institution, welcoming diners since 1988. Today, under Head Chef Justin Hughes, Pimms presents expertly prepared Anguillan dishes with an eye towards simple ingredients, local flavors, and beautiful presentation.

From cauliflower croquettes and snapper crudo to fresh seafood towers, the small bites and starters are just a taste of what’s to come. For main dishes, the spiny lobster entree shines with roasted baby carrots and sweet potato hashbrowns. The special Creole bouillabaisse en croute — a savory fisherman’s stew with saffron broth — is a showstopper. Elegant in flavor and presentation, it offers a sophisticated taste of the island married with the depth of Creole-inspired flavors.

Private Chef Experiences

With so many excellent restaurants convenient to your Equity Estates villa, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to visit as many of them as you can during your stay on Anguilla. But for investors who’d like to try a special meal at home, your Local Host is happy to connect you with a private chef to come in and cook for you.

Every stay in an Equity Estates home comes with access to unforgettable chef experiences and a fully stocked kitchen with your choice of food and beverages (including local specialties).

In Anguilla, Chef Joseph Hodge and Chef Tyrone Hughes are available for family-style dinners, brunch, lunch, and special occasions.

Born and raised in Anguilla, Chef Hodge has a passion for cooking and specializes in beautifully prepared, modern dishes that are authentic to the island.

Chef Hughes was also born on Anguilla and raised in a family of locally famous chefs. He studied and worked in London, including at the high-end Wolseley Restaurant, for eight years before bringing his culinary talents back to Anguilla. He specializes in island favorites and European-inspired dishes, using local, seasonal ingredients.

Both chefs offer custom-crafted menus personalized to individual tastes and preferences.

Before, during, and after the meal, you can sit back and relax with drinks and appetizers while your private chef preps, cooks, serves, and cleans up.

Investors rave about the in-home private meals in their Equity Estates residences, with many recommending starting the trip with a private chef dinner so that you can enjoy the leftovers during the rest of your stay.

About the Equity Estates home:

Our stunning four-bedroom Anguilla vacation villa embodies paradise. Overlooking secluded Lover’s Cove and nestled along a dramatic shoreline, this luxuriously spacious residence is truly a tropical retreat. Contemporary interiors in stucco, stone, and rich woods open to the expansive patio, infinity pool, and small private beach.

Surrounded by dramatic seascapes and lush landscaping, you’ll savor seamless indoor/outdoor living while enjoying expansive views of St. Martin and St. Barts.

The home’s modern amenities and technology, including a state-of-the-art media room, hot tub, and chef-style gourmet kitchen, offer ample opportunities for in-home fun and relaxation after a day out exploring the island.

With three master suites that open onto the pool area, an upstairs penthouse with its own kitchen and outdoor terrace, and close proximity to some of Anguilla’s best beaches and attractions, this villa is the perfect home-away-from-home for friends’ trips, adult getaways, or family vacations with older kids and teens.

Your Vacation Concierge will work with you to plan your itinerary before you arrive and make sure your stay is effortless by arranging reservations for activities, transportation, and dining.

Travel with Equity Estates for a unique and memorable experience. If you would like more information about investing with Equity Estates, please reach out to our Investor Relations team at 404.445.8501 or click to schedule a call. Download our Executive Summary to learn more.