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 travelling. Equity Estates invites you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of your vacation, one destination at a time.
- Destination: Grand Cayman
- Number of restaurants: 100+
- Famous for: Fresh seafood, conch dishes, and stews and soups
The largest of the three Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman is a British Overseas Territory in the Western Caribbean Sea about 270 miles south of Cuba and 270 miles northwest of Jamaica.
It’s home to famously beautiful beaches and clear, turquoise water, a vibrant food scene, upscale oceanfront resorts, world-class hospitality, and near-perfect weather year-round. It’s easy to see why it’s consistently ranked one of the best vacation islands in the world.
A trip to Grand Cayman means an exploration of fresh seafood, traditional Cayman comfort foods, and creative global influences. Natural, simply prepared meals with seasonal ingredients and Caribbean flavors provide an authentic taste of the region.
Three regional favorites
Fresh-caught seafood, local fruits and vegetables, traditional spices, and locally sourced meats are key to Cayman’s incredible cuisine and take center stage in the island’s most iconic dishes.
When vacationing in Grand Cayman, 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:
Conch is one of Grand Cayman’s most popular ingredients, typically offered as fritters or in stews and found at just about every restaurant on the island. One of the best places to enjoy it though is the comfortably high-end (and aptly named) Cracked Conch restaurant. There you’ll find a delicious Conch Chowder (the restaurant’s version of the famed conch stew). Made three ways — with red sauce, white, or combined — and creatively prepared with bacon, leeks, peppers, and creamy coconut milk, it’s a rich and simply satisfying dish.
The restaurant also serves a really nice conch ceviche and a conch fritter appetizer with house-made chili jam tartar sauce, if you want to sample the ingredient three ways.
For a simple but out-of-this-world Fish Fry (alongside other popular Cayman dishes), Heritage Kitchen on the beach in West Bay can’t be beat. This no-frills gem is a colorful, on-the-sand outdoor restaurant serving up incredible fried snapper, grouper, conch fritters, and more. Plates come with traditional sides such as beans, rice, slaw, and Johnny cakes — everything perfectly seasoned and so delicious. Covered picnic tables with ocean views and friendly service add to the island experience.
Jerk chicken may be best known as a Jamaican specialty, but Grand Cayman has its own equally delicious version, similar in flavor but with a few extra local spices. It’s easy to find fabulous jerk dishes at small roadside restaurants and the more upscale spots around the island, but Jerk BBQ Hut in George Town has some of the best.
The juicy, jerk-seasoned grilled chicken and pork served with spicy scotch bonnet sauce, rice, and fritters is unbelievably good. Just order at the counter, grab a table on the covered outdoor picnic area, and dig in.
For a unique twist on the famed jerk chicken, Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant at the Yacht Club on Governor’s Creek offers a house-special jerk duck dish, as well as a fantastic 10 oz. jerk burger with caramelized onions and melted Brie — both of which we highly recommend.
Fine Dining in Grand Cayman
Considered one of the best Caribbean vacation destinations for foodies, Grand Cayman offers up a wonderfully diverse food scene that features high-end, sophisticated restaurants, local, family-run eateries, casual on-the-beach cafes and bars, and everything in between.
Grand Cayman’s premiere restaurant is the award-winning Blue by Eric Ripert at the Ritz Carlton Resort. Inspired by daily catches (locally and responsibly fished) and featuring multi-course prix fixe, set, and decadent tasting menus, dining at Blue is a feast for all of the senses. Meals may also be expertly paired with wines from the restaurant’s cellar, featuring over 800 selections. Though the menu changes regularly, be sure to try their refreshing conch in yuzu sauce or tuna foie gras if you get the chance.
The renowned Grand Old House waterfront restaurant on the South Sound is a beautiful spot for an elegant dinner or special occasion meal. A former plantation house, the building blends the charm of its historic architecture with modern touches, and features an expansive seaside terrace, indoor dining space with classic decor, and several private dining rooms. The food — from conch fritters in key lime aioli to poached lobster salad, seafood curry, and locally sourced rack of lamb — are stunningly prepared and plated for an extraordinary meal.
Located next to a peaceful lagoon on a 14-acre bird sanctuary, Ristorante Pappagallo is a stunning (and spacious) thatched-roof contemporary eatery that specializes in expertly prepared Italian cuisine with Cayman influences. The menu changes depending on season and availability of ingredients, but always serves a great variety of antipasti, pastas, seafood, and meats. The calamari with pickled scotch bonnet tartar sauce makes a great starter. Follow that with the grilled mahi mahi (with mango and papaya salsa) or slow-cooked beef short rib with pomegranate Brussel sprouts, and you’ll have a meal to remember.
Private chef experiences
With so many excellent restaurants close 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. But for investors who’d like to try a relaxing meal at home, your Destination Manager is happy to arrange 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 Grand Cayman, Chef Roman is available for small, family-style dinners, brunch, and special occasions. An avid fisherman with over 15 years of experience in fine dining and Cayman cooking, he specializes in fresh seafood dishes, island favorites, and 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 local Equity Estates home:
Equity Estates’ lovely three-bedroom Grand Cayman penthouse is located on the most sought after, premier section of Seven Mile Beach. Convenient to amazing fine dining and casual restaurants and just 600 feet from the Ritz Carlton, it boasts unbelievable views and luxurious details.
A spacious, covered patio overlooks the pool, beach, and beautiful turquoise water, offering expansive, unobstructed views. Walls of glass doors and large windows let in lots of light. And cozy indoor living spaces, including the small gourmet kitchen, invite guests to relax and unwind after a day outdoors exploring the island. A large infinity pool with two hot tubs are also yours to enjoy during your stay.
