The Best Restaurants In Trinidad And Tobago

The food of Trinidad and Tobago is a one-of-a-kind mashup of Caribbean, European, Chinese, Indian, African and Latin American cuisine. There are so many national dishes to try – doubles (a sort of fried chickpea sandwich), roti (flatbreads), coconut bake (a sweet bread), shark and bake (a bit like a fish burger) and pelau (rice with chicken and spices) are just a few. From Port of Spain to Buccoo Bay, here are some of the top places to taste both local and international dishes.

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Veni Mange, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Restaurant, Caribbean

This Port of Spain restaurant is more colourful than a piece of Pop Art. Paintings fill the walls and the table tops are hand-painted with bright murals of local market and port scenes. The menu is true-blue West Indian, showcasing dishes like butter fish, stewed pigeon peas, dumplings, pelau and chicken in Creole sauce. Don’t miss the rum punch – it’s made to the owner’s secret recipe.

Richard’s Bake & Shark, Trinidad

Restaurant, Caribbean, $

Bake and shark is a classic fast-food dish in Trinidad – it’s made by stuffing a fried flatbread with seasoned white fish and salad. Richard’s, on Maracas Beach, is one of the most popular bake and shark joints in Trinidad. Here, the fish comes topped with pineapple salsa, pepper sauce and tamarind sauce. It tastes even better washed down with a cold Stag beer.

Caribbean Kitchen, Tobago

Restaurant, Caribbean

Courtesy of Caribbean Kitchen, Castara Retreats / Expedia

Caribbean Kitchen crowns a hilltop just a 10-minute drive from Englishman’s Bay. The tables are dotted across a veranda, which serves up grandstand views of Castara Bay with its electric-blue waters. The highlight of the Caribbean menu is always the jerk fish of the day, which is made with whichever fish the local fishermen catch that morning. The best way to end a meal here is with a local rum and a few chunks of chocolate from the Tobago Cocoa Plantation.

Makara, Tobago

Restaurant, Fusion

The best tables at Makara look out over Buccoo Bay, with its bobbing fishing boats and unforgettable sunsets. The menu is a mash-up of cuisines – it features dishes like whole Tobago spiny lobster and creole shrimp, alongside options such as Moroccan lamb and Korean bao buns. Whatever you go for, you can expect it to be made with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Edge of the Reef, Tobago

Restaurant, Seafood
Murals of underwater scenes, sharks and stingrays colour the walls at Edge of the Reef in Black Rock, on the north coast Tobago. The menu is as sea-centric as the artwork – you’ll find dishes like coconut shrimp and calamari on the appetiser list, and options such as conch curry cauldrons and sautéed shrimp on the main course selection. The highlight, however, has to be the lobster, which comes in a creamy coconut or spicy garlic sauce.

Kariwak Village Restaurant, Tobago

Hotel Restaurant, Caribbean

Courtesy of Kariwak Village Holistic Haven and Hotel / Expedia

Don’t let the fact that this is a hotel restaurant put you off – everything here is home-made with ingredients from local producers and the Kariwak’s own organic garden. The dinner menu changes daily, to reflect what’s in season, but you can expect dishes like grilled fish in lemon curry butter to feature. The tables here are set in an open-sided ajoupa, or thatched hut, and you can often spot hummingbirds and red-headed woodpeckers flitting through the grounds as you dine.

Lola’s Food Company, Trinidad

Restaurant, Snacks, $
A 10-minute walk from Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Lola’s is a breakfast and brunch restaurant with tiled floors and wooden tables. Many of the dishes on the menu have a Trinidadian twist to them: think saltfish omelette, coconut bake topped with eggs and bacon or sada roti flatbread heaped with black pudding. If you can take a little heat, order a portion of pepper fries on the side.

Krave, Trinidad

Restaurant, Fusion, $$
Chandeliers hang from the ceiling of this San Fernando restaurant. The food is served with just as much style – on slates, boards and sometimes even in coconut husks garnished with edible flowers. The menu, meanwhile, showcases dishes from around the world: you’ll find options like Greek salmon listed alongside entrées such as Cajun shrimp. If you’re celebrating, go for the Kut and Katch – it’s a platter featuring your choice of steak and fish.
There are so many reasons why you should visit Trinidad and Tobago. Need a place to stay? Here are some of the best hotels in Trinidad and Tobago check them out.

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