Anguilla – The Caribbean’s Quiet Treasure

Where to Dine

For an island so small, the choices are quite diverse when it comes to dining out, with about 100 restaurants to choose from. There are many local spots as well as a number of excellent restaurants at the resorts. I was able to experience everything from more casual options, like Scilly Cay, to a traditional local restaurant, Tasty’s, owned by well-known chef Dale Carty, which serves Caribbean specialties. I also had the opportunity to dine at a few of the resorts with dinner at the new Zemi Beach House & Spa and a sushi cooking class and entertaining Teppanyaki-style lunch at Tokyo Bay at CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa.

Traditional breakfast at Tasty's

Traditional local breakfast at Tasty’s

Johnno's - A popular local spot in Island Harbor

Johnno’s – A popular local spot in Island Harbor

Sushi Class with Chef Joe

Sushi Class with Chef Joe

Teppanyaki Lunch

Teppanyaki Lunch

While all of the restaurants showcased the incredibly fresh local seafood, each was unique in how the chefs put their Caribbean or international spin on the dishes. The ambiance was also very different at each. Two of the most memorable meals were lunch at Hibernia Restaurant Art Gallery and dinner at Blanchards Restaurant.

Hibernia Restaurant & Art Gallery

Hibernia Restaurant & Art Gallery

Raoul and Mary Pat

Raoul and Mary Pat

Hibernia was one of the first restaurants to open on the island (in 1987) and is owned by husband and wife team Raoul and Mary Pat. The menu is French and Asian inspired (Raoul is French) with local Caribbean seafood like Mahi-Mahi, lobster, and crayfish being the star. Beautifully served, the creative dishes matched the stunning setting overlooking the pool, sculpture garden, and Island Harbor. They also have an extensive wine list, featuring many French vintages. The open-aire space is intimate and romantic, perfect for a lunch or dinner for two.

Patio at Hibernia

Patio at Hibernia

Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese

Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese

Thai Casserole with Crayfish

Thai Casserole with Crayfish

Lunch with a view

Lunch with a view

One evening I dined at Blanchards, which is located on Meads Bay Beach. Another longtime island favorite (since 1994), I enjoyed the casual elegance of the restaurant with its white tablecloths, candlelit tables, and views of the tropical gardens from the open shuttered windows with strings of white lights festively decorating the palm trees. One of Chef Melinda Blanchards’ specialties, Sesame-Crusted Mahi Mahi, was the perfect dish to experience her Caribbean and Asian flavors at what is known as one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean. This is a place to relax with friends or that special person and enjoy the food and wines from their Wine Spectator award-winning list.

Where to Stay

There are a number of luxury resorts on the island. Viceroy, Cap Juluca, Malliouhana, Fragiapine Beach Club, CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa are probably the most well-known, but there is a new addition – the chic Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa, located on beautiful Shoal Bay East. Arriving for a casual dinner at their outdoor 20 Knots Restaurant, I was also able to tour this posh modern open-aire property. Town & Country Magazine has called it “One of the 100 Hotels that will change your life.”

Zemi Beach Resort

Zemi Beach Resort

The highlight of the resort was their impressive Zemi Thai House Spa built within the 300-year-old Thai house located on the property. It houses the island’s only hammam (a Turkish bath and form of a Middle Eastern steam bath), and offers a number of treatment rooms, outdoor relaxation and meditation areas, and a yoga deck. Also unique was the resort’s Rhum Room, the only one on the island, featuring more than 100 small-batch, single-estate rums. Yes, they spell rum, “rhum” in Anguilla.

Restaurant and Pool Area

Restaurant and Pool Area

Outdoor dining

Outdoor dining

Zemi Beach Resort at night

Zemi Beach Resort at night

Anguilla is also known for its luxury villa properties, which accommodate everything from couples to multi-generational families looking for an upscale destination getaway. I stayed in one of the luxury Villas of Sheriva. With two pools, views of St. Maarten in the distance, and the cool trade winds blowing through the open screened doors and shuttered windows at the villa, it was an extraordinary experience. The warm Anguillan greeting by Akira upon my arrival with chilled towels, flowers, rhum punch, and small bites, set the tone for my visit.

Akira greeting us at Sheriva

Akira greeting us at Sheriva

Villas at Sheriva

Villas at Sheriva

Views of St. Maarten from Sheriva

Views of St. Maarten from Sheriva

With the luxury villas, guests can customize their stay and level of amenities with stocked refrigerators upon their arrival, breakfast set out each morning, and personal chefs to prepare dinner. One evening I had dinner at the villa and it was a spectacular meal of local Anguillan dishes, grilled lobster, barbeque pork ribs, vegetables, and salad, all topped off with rhum punch and a Caribbean dessert drink, Ponche Kuba. A popular creamy rum drink, it was quite delicious and had a similar taste to a spiked rice pudding with a hint of vanilla. A sweet ending to my last evening on this enchanting island.

One of the two pools

One of the two pools

Dinner at Sheriva

Dinner at Sheriva

Saying Goodbye

As my small island hopping commuter plane took off over the water headed for St. Maarten, leaving Anguilla behind, I was sorry to say goodbye. I felt as though a part of me was still there left to rediscover at some time in the future.

Headed home

Headed home

On my flight from St. Maarten to Charlottesville, I coincidentally was seated next to a couple who were also on the short flight from Anguilla. As I soon learned, they had been coming to the island for over 29 years, so I didn’t need to explain the way I felt after my time on the island. They obviously had experienced this when they first arrived in Anguilla almost 30 years ago. They understood.

Sunset in Anguilla

Sunset in Anguilla

 

Learn & Go for files Medium

This content is protected under International Copyright Laws. Pratesi Living provides this content to its readers for their personal use. No part (text or images) may be copied or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of PratesiLiving.com.  All rights reserved.

Disclosure – We were guests of the Anguilla Tourist Board. The opinions expressed regarding our experience are our own.

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save

Page: 1 2

End of Article.

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.