Christ Church Restaurants and Dining

(Christ Church, Barbados)

Neighbouring Bridgetown may be the best place in Barbados for shopping and sightseeing, but Christ Church's St. Lawrence Gap is certainly the place to go for the best restaurants and nightlife. If you come to 'The Gap' for dining, you will find a heady mix of fine-dining restaurants and laid-back waterfront eateries that serve fresh fish and generous cocktails.

St. Lawrence Gap fronts Dover Beach and has an abundance of seaside restaurants serving a mix of local Caribbean cuisine and European fare. Most of the dining establishments in The Gap huddle along the main waterfront road, where you're likely to find other Christ Church diners and party-goers at just about any hour of the day or night.

What to Eat, and Where

Diners who approach this district from outside Christ Church will arrive via Worthington Main Road. There's a satisfying mix of establishments here, with a little bit of everything on the menu. Many restaurants play live music, especially reggae and calypso.

There is an abundance of fresh seafood on dining menus. Locals are especially fond of flying fish. It's hoisted into Oistins fish market and expedited to kitchens across St. Lawrence Gap. Mahi-mahi is another popular fish. 'Mahi-mahi' is actually its Hawaiian name, and in Barbados you may hear it called 'dorado' or 'dolphin fish'. Do not despair - dolphin is a misnomer. This is a fish and not a mammal.

If you're up for trying some local cuisine, you will have an even better array of options, with many restaurants around the parish specialising in traditional Barbadian fare. Jug-jug is a hearty stew made from split peas plus pork or beef (sometimes both). Another popular dish is coo-coo, which is made of okra and cornmeal. Most Barbadian dishes are seasoned with thyme and chilli peppers, though you can order non-spicy dishes. No matter what you eat, every dinner served in Christ Church ought to be accompanied by some locally made Barbados rum.