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Tobago Restaurants
Sharon & Pheb’s - Charlottevile
The more well known of C’ville’s eating spots and offers a tasty range of Caribbean local style cooking in a clean and relaxed atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinner mon-sat. Very friendly staff. We have an arrangement with Sharon that pre arranged lunches are available here ready and waiting for us when we return from dives.
Top River Pearl - Charlotteville
In house cappuccino café as part of Top River Pearl Guesthouse ( see review ). Mixed menu of local and international meals. Lunch and evening menu and good coffee!
Gails - Charlotteville
Past the jetty on the way to Pirates bay is this little known restaurant. This is one of my favourite eating places on the island. Very good authentic local food and good prices make it a nice place to relax and eat out, the proprietor Gail is very friendly. High season it gets busy and seating is at a premium so get there by 6.30pm to secure a table.
Jane’s Quality Kitchen - Charlotteville
Jane’s is right in the centre of the village and directly on the beach. It really is a little shed with a tin roof and bamboo bench seats but offers good food at reasonable prices and is very popular amongst tourists. I’d say quality has dropped recently and the home cooked local meals have been replaced by fires and fried chicken but the weekly barbeque night is very popular!
Eastman’s Restaurant - Charlotteville
The bright yellow building at the far end of the village by the jetty. The food is basic and not as convivial as the others in the village but there is often a good atmosphere when the place fills up.
Blue Waters Inn - Speyside
The food and drinks here are extremely overpriced and very poor quality. If the management brought in a good chef it would be THE place to eat as the location is fabulous and the staff are not renowned for their friendliness. It’s a great place for at least one overpriced beer but not recommended to eat here.
Speyside Inn - Speyside
Was at one time some of the best food on the island but recent changes in management and restaurant staff have seen the quality fall. However Speyside Inn is still a good location and a nice spot for a meal and one thing they still have good steak and good wine.
Birdwatchers - Speyside
Really good local style food, reasonable prices and very friendly and helpful staff who have (unbelievable but true!) been known to re-open the kitchen for late comers and stay late for those who sit drinking under the stars longer than happy hour.
Sunset Hotel - Speyside
A little known place on the waterfront close to Speyside post office. It’s basic and only does local food but if your in the area and need a very good ‘belly full’ style Caribbean lunch for $25tt this is the place.
Sandcastles – Castara
Open air Caribbean dining on a terrace with fantastic Caribbean views. Food is unique, modern British with a Caribbean twist, something different and special but be prepared for London prices. Still very much worth the drive, always good friendly hosts! Recommend you phone ahead and book in advance.
The Fish Pot - Pleasant Prospect
One of Tobago’s best for sure. Wonderful surroundings, excellent food and friendly service. Good Bar staff and occasionally live music make it a good place to unwind or talk about your adventures at the end of the day. Perfect spot for couples seeking that special romantic candle light dinner.
The Surfers Beach Bar – Mt Irvine beach
Open every day for lunch and an early dinner. The Surfers beach bar is located right on the beach at Mt Irvine. Several nights a week with live music is played and Christmas time sees plenty parang. A casual atmosphere and reasonably priced food makes this a good choice at least once. Its Local meals that leave your belly full and a fantastic spot to drink a pina colada and watch the sunset.
Benson’s Bake Hut - Buccoo Village
In the heart of Buccoo’s famous Sunday School street party, next to the beach facilities where the gambling tables are, you’ll spot a little hut selling Bake. The tuna bake is an absolute must!!! Don’t forget the pepper. This is as local as it gets. A treat not to be missed, please don't eat the shark.
Ciao Café - Scarborough
Known locally as the Italian Ice cream shop. Located mid town close to Crooks river mall. Good coffee and even better Ice Cream
Ma Kings Restaurant - Scarborough
If you find yourself in town, head for Ma Kings, Look for the blue wooden building with the terrace opposite the market car park. You’ll find some great local lunches at good prices, especially the grilled fish, jerk chicken and freshly squeezed juices. This is my regular eating spot in Scarborough.
Shore Things - Lambeau
On the old Scarborough to Crown Point road, There is this little gift, arts and craft shop where you can sit and eat on their open terrace. Really very good place for a late breakfast or lunch.
Store Bay Beach Vendors
At one point or another during your visit to Tobago you have to hit Store Bay beach and get lunch from one of the vendors. The beach is one of the more popular beaches and there are plenty of vendors to choose from Ms Esmie, Ms Jean and Ms Alma are some of the better ones. Seamoss and Granola Punch are a favourite of mine but not always available. If you like shellfish try the local delicacy ‘Curry Crab and Dumpling’. Close by is a shaded seating area for you to enjoy the view of the beach, a beautiful place to sit and have a cold drink while savouring this Caribbean delicacy and good company. It’s also a good spot to sit and wait for planes. If you’ve checked in already and dumped your cases off then just take your beach stuff and hang out at Store Bay. When your plane arrives you’ll see it land and can then go take a shower for $2tt at the Store Bay beach facilities, change into your travel clothes then make the 2 minute walk to the airport.
HAPPY HOUR HAUNTS, MUSIC & LIMIN’ SPOTS
Crown Point Hotel (Crown Point) has both a restaurant and a nice relaxing sunset pool bar excellent bar snacks and cutters.
The Great Lime Inn (Store Bay / Pigeon Point Junc.) set on the main road friendly staff and good vibes.
Bago’s Beach Bar (Cable Beach/Pigeon Point) Changed hands in early 2006 and is now a great little beachside restaurant offering a basic menu. Nice limin' spot popular with ex-pats. Open 10am til…… well til you leave really. Closed on Mondays.
The Beach Bar (Charlotteville) go local country style. DJ Sound system Friday & Saturday nights, dancing on the beach until 4am.
The Hot Spot / Green Lime (Canaan) this is a night club for the over 30’s with nice atmosphere - back in time music - and cool vibes. Ladies:- there will always be some older gentleman who is willing teach you how to dance two step.
Sunday School (Buccoo Village) Tobago’s beach party Sunday night at Buccoo. Starts around 9pm with steel pan and then sound systems start up and go on until 3am. It’s Ok, something visitors should try at least once, good fun and pleasant atmosphere. Women be prepared to be harassed whether single or not. Avoid taking opened drinks. You need a rental car to get there and back or pre arrange a time for an official taxi collection.
Café Iguana (Crown Point) nice bar to hang out on Salsa night, Latin music. Food is poor.
Bar Code (Scarborough) your regular sports bar, burgers, hot wings and beer, 4 pool tables and big screen TV. Good place to hang out on Friday before Shades or after a big sport event. Is the place to be for watching major sporting events.
Café Coco ( Store Bay) an attempt at a Spanish – Italian style building with inside fountain etc… food is reasonable but not cheap, nice change for a happy hour drink.
Golden Star (Store Bay / Pigeon Point junc.) Average bar with overpriced food and hidden charges. Is to be avoided on Scouting for Talent night. Partly because Scouting for talent makes Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks look a Royal Variety Performance at the Palladium but mostly because when compere Michael Baker wears his Gold one piece lycra spandex and sequin suit (I am serious!) It’s frighteningly bad. But on scouting night there’s always a good after party at Golden Star worth attending.
Shades (Bon Accord) This is a night club opened in mid 2005. It quickly got a bad reputation. Friday & Saturday nights see big crowds where it normally starts off well with a great party atmosphere and a good mix of locals and tourists. Later in the night the vibes change. There have been problems late at night. If you go then don't stay late, keep your wits about you, avoid taking opened drinks and leave in pairs or groups, do not leave by yourself. Do not make yourself a target.
Crime & Safety: Tobago is like anywhere else in the world and therefore is not exempt from crime. It is not however anywhere near as bad as what is written around the internet or issued by various countries Travel Advisories. This is mostly due to the fact that the crime statistics are compiled for both Trinidad and Tobago. This may seem understandable to the uninitiated as Trinidad & Tobago is one country BUT they are two entirely different islands both socially and geographically. Trinidad is the larger of the two and is a developed commercial oil producing island, often referred to as “New York of the Caribbean”, with gun crime, drug and gang related murders and kidnapping. Tobago is the smaller peaceful twin sister island where it is generally a safe and peaceful holiday destination. The problem is that statisticians, media, travel advisories and webmasters seem either unwilling or unable to distinguish the difference between the two islands. To put it in context, it’s like issuing a Travel advisory warning for Jersey based on the crime statistics of mainland UK, or Key West based on the crime rate in Miami. That’s not to say there are no problems for tourists as from time to time there are, like anywhere else in the world, but for the most part it’s a safe place to visit. In perspective there are on average 800,000 people reported missing presumed dead in the USA per year, which equates to half the entire population of Trinidad & Tobago yet despite Miami having one of the highest murder rates it the US, Florida is still the number one destination for Brits to travel to abroad. The reality is that the statistical crime levels are mostly gangrelated and confined to the island of Trinidad and what crime there is in Tobago itself tends to be restricted to secluded beaches or private villas condensed within a small area in the south of the island between Lambeau, Bethel, Mt Irvine and Bon Accord. Serious crimes in Tobago are extremely rare. It is the world we live in today where crimes are committed all over the world against tourists and often you find that they could have been avoided if the tourists exercised caution or were more vigilant. Visitors should understand that Tobago is like anywhere else in the world, and in many cases better and safer for example in Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba you are told by car rental companies NOT to lock your vehicle and not to leave anything in it so to avoid locals breaking the windows to get inside. You would not leave your wallet or handbag on the front seat of you car in London so why do it in Tobago? Visitors can come and relax but you do need to be vigilant and avoid putting yourself in potentially harmful situations or putting temptation before others. Don’t make yourself a target. On a finishing note, in nine years of living in Tobago I have never heard of any crimes committed against Tourists or to any of my dive clients in Charlotteville.
Sex tourism has reached Tobago, as with most English speaking Caribbean islands it’s mostly local men prostituting themselves for foreign white women. Shade is a pick up place. I advise singles, if you’re drinking and feeling uninhibited, be careful. Don't fall for the chat, the guys saying they love you and your so beautiful is nonsense, they just want sex and your money. If you do leave with a local guy or girl be prepared to pay. Either in cash or by getting robbed or because the HIV infection rate in Tobago is very high.
Hotels | Restaurants | Beaches | Activities | Marine Life
