USA TODAY 10Best
Best beach bar in the Caribbean? Soggy Dollar Bar!
Best Caribbean Beach Bar (2019)
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. We asked a panel of Caribbean travel experts to nominate their favorites, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their top picks.
The top 10 winners in the Best Caribbean Beach Bar category are as follows:
- Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience - Freeport, Bahamas
- Da Conch Shack - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
- Nipper's Beach Bar & Grill - Abaco, Bahamas
- Chat 'N' Chill - Great Exuma, Bahamas
- Umbrellas Beach Bar - Saint George's, Grenada
- Elvis' Beach Bar - Anguilla
- Pete's Pub & Gallery - Abaco, Bahamas
- Catherine's Cafe - Antigua
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club - Staniel Cay, Bahamas
- Soggy Dollar Bar - Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Photo courtesy of Andrew Conway / Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience
No. 10:
This thatch-roofed beach bar at Taino Beach in the Bahamas is the island’s go-to destination for roast conch, lobster, shrimp and Caribbean cocktails.
Photo courtesy of da Conch Shack
No. 9:
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 Nippers Beach Bar & Grill
No. 8:
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 Craig Dennis / Flickr
No. 7:
One of the top rated bars and restaurants in the Exumas, Chat 'N' Chill sits on a cove of Stocking Island, where visitors from around the globe come to relax over a cold drink, tuck into an award-winning conch burger or play a game of volleyball in the sand.
Photo courtesy of Umbrellas Beach Bar
No. 6:
This beach bar in Grenada is owned by the same folks as Westerhall Estate, so guests are sure to taste the award-winning rum in the menu of cocktails, serves alongside a menu of comfort food favorites.
Photo courtesy of Elvis' Beach Bar
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 Pete's Pub & Gallery
No. 4:
The only working sculpture foundry in the Caribbean doubles as a classic beach bar in the Bahamas, where visitors can sip cold beer and tuck into some fresh Bahamian seafood.
Photo courtesy of Catherine's Cafe
No. 3:
This refined yet relaxed beach bar and restaurant on Pigeon Beach features a menu of sharable Tartines and other French fare alongside an impressive list of wines and cocktails.
Photo courtesy of Staniel Cay Yacht Club
No. 2:
Located along the turquoise waters of the Exuma Cays, the dock-side bar at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club pours traditional island cocktails to the sounds in a lively atmosphere. The deck offers a front row seat for watching a Caribbean sunset.
Photo courtesy of kimoxford / Flickr
No. 1:
The Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is known for creating the Painkiller, a rum cocktail featuring cream of coconut, pineapple, orange juice and fresh grated Grenadian nutmeg.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Melanie Reffes and Chelle Koster Walton (10Best Local Expert) were chosen for their knowledge of the Caribbean.
Congratulations to all these winning beach bars!
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 Walton
Chelle Koster Walton took her first Caribbean trip... Read More
Chelle Koster Walton took her first Caribbean trip to Jamaica in the 1970s and has been in love with the region ever since. Author of the award-winning Caribbean Ways: A Cultural Guide, she served as contributing editor and contributor for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine for more than 15 years. Two-time winner of the Bahamas Cacique Award for International Writer, Walton is also the author of Explorers Guide: The Bahamas and a guidebook app about Nassau.
Chelle Walton
Chelle Koster Walton took her first Caribbean trip to Jamaica in the 1970s and has been in love with the region ever since. Author of the award-winning Caribbean Ways: A Cultural Guide, she served as contributing editor and contributor for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine for more than 15 years. Two-time winner of the Bahamas Cacique Award for International Writer, Walton is also the author of Explorers Guide: The Bahamas and a guidebook app about Nassau.
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.
