Hamilton Restaurants and Dining

(Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda)

Being the resort destination that it is, Hamilton teems with upscale restaurants offering fresh seafood, airy outdoor seating and spectacular views. Hamilton has the best dining scene of any town in Bermuda, and so each evening tourists arrive from all over the island to take a seat at local eateries.

Despite being backed by a rich culinary tradition, most restaurants in Bermuda serve more international than local cuisine. The most popular restaurants serve European and American fare, with some dabbling in pan-Asian fusion dining, thanks to all the fresh seafood in these North Atlantic waters.

What to Eat, and Where

A favourite international restaurant in the city of Hamilton is Ascots. It serves mainly continental cuisine from a century-old house. The real draw here is the period furniture and elegant colonial atmosphere. Most of the dishes are Italian or French. Opposite this, the Barracuda Grill provide slick and ultra-modern dining, serving innovative dishes.

One of the most creative Bermudan dishes on menus in Hamilton is 'Hoppin' John'. This is a simple dish built around hearty portions of black-eyed peas and rice, and no trip to Bermuda is complete without at least one serving of this authentic, local fare.

Another dish that most tourists try is salted codfish, which is usually served on Sundays with a helping of boiled potatoes.

Restaurants in Bermuda still cling to the old-world paradigm, and many ask their patrons to meet certain dress code requirements. The dining atmosphere is more relaxed now than it was just a few years ago, but several restaurants in Hamilton still ask men to wear shirts and ties in the evening. A similar calibre of dress is usually expected of women.