In Search of Paradise on Nevis – Part 2 Where to Stay & Dine on the Island
Dining on the island
We dined at a wide variety of restaurants while we were on the island and also experienced a few special dinners by guest chefs during their Mango Festival, which takes place every July. Some of our favorite spots are included below.
Bananas
This lively and unique restaurant features an eclectic menu from around the globe, but also offers local favorites like Fresh Lobster Linguini in a Saffron Cream Sauce or Salt Fish and Johnny Cakes. The setting is in a lush tropical garden situated on the former Hamilton Plantation with torches lining the walkway as you arrive. Enjoy specialty cocktails and aged rums surrounded by colorful and original works of art by Caribbean artists. Then head over to the boutique after dinner to take home a piece of jewelry or trinket to remember your time in Nevis.
The Hermitage
The Hermitage (Photo credit – The Hermitage)
It’s all about the rum punch on Nevis and The Hermitage makes one of the best versions on the island. Don’t miss an entertaining evening with Rich Lupinacci and his family as they host their weekly West Indian Buffet, better known as “Pig Night,” every Wednesday evening at their manor house resort set in the foothills of Nevis Peak. The Great House (where dinner is served) is known to be the oldest wooden structure in the Caribbean dating back to 1640. The Lupinaccis purchased the property in ruins in 1971. Richie is a wealth of information about all things Nevis, the history of the island, and Alexander Hamilton, so pull up a chair in the Gathering Room of the Great House and enjoy conversation with soon to be friends before dining on an extravagant buffet of local dishes and Caribbean flavors.
Rich Lupinacci
Gathering Room (Photo credit – The Hermitage)
Montpelier Plantation
Montpelier Plantation
The old sugar mill
The Great Room at Montpelier
Dinner at Montpelier
This award-winning luxury Relais & Chateaux property, built on a former sugar plantation and in the foothills of the island, is a delightful resort to book for your stay in Nevis or is the perfect place to enjoy lunch or dinner. Spend an afternoon poolside at Indigo, their casual restaurant, where you can dine on lighter fare and cocktails. Ask Kaddy, their talented bartender, to prepare one of his signature rum punches to accompany your lunch. In the evening, dinner at Restaurant 750 provides an intimate and elegant atmosphere to experience fine cuisine and wines on the terrace with views of Charleston and St. Kitts in the distance or book a very romantic dinner for two inside the sugar mill on the plantation.
Indigo by the pool
Kaddy at Indigo
Sunshine’s
Sunshine’s
Or a Killer Bee
For a casual, yet impressive lunch or dinner on the beach, Sunshine’s is one of the island’s most famous spots. Sunshine, the restaurant’s owner, is also quite the celebrity on and off the island. Known particularly for their deadly Killer Bees, there is more to Sunshine’s than this lethal version of rum punch. Fresh salads, BBQ ribs (prepared with their own secret sauce), chicken wings, and lobster sandwiches are all excellent. Spend an afternoon or evening in the open-aire restaurant or under the stars for an evening to remember, or maybe not remember, depending on how many of those Killer Bees you consume.
The famous Killer Bee with a dash of nutmeg on top
Salad at Sunshine’s
BBQ chicken and ribs
Plan to take a week and head to this tropical paradise for your next getaway. There is plenty to do on the island, as you’ll discover in Part 1 of our article on Nevis. As the island becomes more popular, additional airline carriers are entering the market to service Nevis and St. Kitts, the sister island, which is just 10 minutes away by ferry boat.
If you’re interested in making your own Hamilton pilgrimage to see where it all started, many of the resort properties are offering Hamilton packages from April to November 2017, so please refer to their websites for details.
For more information on the island of Nevis, visit their website at NevisIsland.com.
Read our other articles on Nevis:
In Search of Paradise – Part 1 on PratesiLiving.com
Chasing Hamilton from New York City to Nevis on U.S. News & World Report
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Disclosure – We worked with the Nevis Tourism Authority on this trip. As always, the opinions expressed are our own.
