USA TODAY 10Best
Best Caribbean Beach Bar: Tamboo Bar & Seaside Grill
Best Caribbean Beach Bar (2018)
Nothing says "vacation" quite like sipping a tropical cocktail while digging your toes in the sand. The Caribbean could be called the beach bar capital of the world with countless places to sip the day away.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Caribbean Beach Bar are as follows:
- Sunset Bar and Grill - Sint Maarten
- Le Petibonum - Martinique
- Goatie's Bar - Petit St. Vincent
- Da Conch Shack - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
- Reggae Beach Bar & Grill - St. Kitts
- Elvis' Beach Bar - Anguilla
- The Naked Fisherman - St. Lucia
- Nipper's Beach Bar & Grill - Abaco, Bahamas
- Jack's Shack - Grand Turk, Turks And Caicos Islands
- Tamboo Bar & Seaside Grill - Rincon, Puerto Rico
Photo courtesy of alljengi / Flickr
No. 10:
Arriving and departing planes soar right overhead at Sunset Bar on Maho Beach in Sint Maarten. Regular live entertainment sets the scene for relaxed cocktails on the beach or a meal of island comfort food favorites.
Photo courtesy of Le Petibonum / Facebook
No. 9:
Le Petibonum, a destination restaurant and beach bar right on the sands of Le Carbet in Martinique, specializes in grilled seafood and Creole cuisine served alongside perfectly poured mojitos.
Photo courtesy of Petit St Vincent / Facebook
No. 8:
Stretching out over the water's edge on the private island resort of Petit St. Vincent, Goatie's Bar provides a casual and comfy lounge area perfect for sipping a rum punch while watching the spectacular sunset.
Photo courtesy of da Conch Shack
No. 7:
Da Conch Shack, situated on the island of Providenciales, specializes in conch, but other fresh seafood dishes include lobster, snapper and grouper. Non-seafood enthusiasts can chow down on fiery jerk chicken at this delightfully casual beach bar.
Photo courtesy of Reggae Beach Bar & Grill / Facebook
No. 6:
Situated on the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts, Reggae Beach Bar serves up fresh seafood, tropical cocktails and even a menu of water sports equipment available for rent.
Photo courtesy of Elvis' Beach Bar / Facebook
No. 5:
Locals mingle with tourists at this toes-in-the-sand watering hole in Sandy Ground, popular for afternoon cocktails and all-night partying. Those who've danced up an appetite can sink their teeth into fish tacos or jumbo wings, supposedly some of the best on the island.
Photo courtesy of The Naked Fisherman / Facebook
No. 4:
Smuggler's Cove Beach sets the scene for seaside dining and drinking at The Naked Fisherman, one of St. Lucia's newest and best beach bars. It's an excellent barefoot spot for sipping cocktails, and the barbecue cooks up snapper, grouper, dorado and steaks.
Photo courtesy of Nippers Beach Bar & Grill / Facebook
No. 3:
Open daily for lunch and dinner, this Abaco hot spot appeals to both locals and travelers who come to sip cocktails, splash in one of two swimming pools or dine on conch fritters, all to the sounds of Caribbean tunes.
Photo courtesy of Jack's Shack / Facebook
No. 2:
This mojito hut on the sand in Grand Turk within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal. Travelers flock to this charming beach bar to sip cocktails and snap photos with Topher, the resident dog.
Photo courtesy of Joe Jungmann / Flickr
No. 1:
Diners and drinkers at Tamboo Bar & Seaside Grill sit on a two-level deck right above the sand of a popular Rincon surfing beach. The menu features Puerto Rican-American fusion, with standouts like grilled lobster and plantain-crusted shrimp.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (JetSetSarah.com), Melanie Reffes and Chelle Koster Walton (10Best) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of Caribbean travel.
Congratulations to all these winning bars!
A note on Irma and Maria: The 2017 hurricane season greatly impacted the Caribbean, with hurricanes Irma and Maria leaving destruction in their wakes. Where some islands were able to bounce back quickly, recovery continues on others. Each of our nominees in this contest is either currently open to visitors or has an expected opening date in 2018.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Chelle Koster Walton
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for... Read More
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean — has been covering the destination for 30 years. Her top-selling Sarasota, Sanibel Island, and Naples guidebook (Countryman Press) is in its sixth edition. She was contributing editor for Caribbean Travel & Life for 12 years and has written guidebooks on the Bahamas. A veteran travel writer, Chelle has published thousands of articles for Miami Herald, USA TODAY, Latitudes; has written/contributed to a dozen guidebooks, and produces travel shows for the local PBS station.
Chelle Koster Walton
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean — has been covering the destination for 30 years. Her top-selling Sarasota, Sanibel Island, and Naples guidebook (Countryman Press) is in its sixth edition. She was contributing editor for Caribbean Travel & Life for 12 years and has written guidebooks on the Bahamas. A veteran travel writer, Chelle has published thousands of articles for Miami Herald, USA TODAY, Latitudes; has written/contributed to a dozen guidebooks, and produces travel shows for the local PBS station.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist... Read More
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a... Read More
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she is a special correspondent for Travel + Leisure magazine and creates content for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler; Afar; Food & Wine; Islands.com; and the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Facebook @JetSetSarah.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she is a special correspondent for Travel + Leisure magazine and creates content for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler; Afar; Food & Wine; Islands.com; and the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Facebook @JetSetSarah.
