14 of the best places to eat in English Harbour
Historic English Harbour is situated on Antigua's most southerly point just 40 minutes drive from the airport. It became Lord Admiral Nelson's naval base for a few years from 1784 due to the protection it gave ships from hurricanes. Today this area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the world's only working Georgian dockyard. With so many activities and restaurants nearby it is a popular place to stay for all or part of a holiday. For more information on this check out my blog post on how to spend a few days in English Harbour.
Many of the best restaurants in English Harbour are blessed with picture postcard views of yacht filled marinas, shimmering water and undulating hillsides but not all of them. Roadside eateries are open for lunch selling a range of local food such as ducana and fungee. The prices tend to be cheaper too for those who are looking to explore Antigua on a budget. The standard of food is still excellent and a chance to experience some of Antigua's national dishes.
Catherine's Cafe is a high end, French inspired restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nestled snugly at the far end of Pigeon Point beach, choose from a selection of tables spread out amongst the golden sand or covered raised patio area. Whether you come along for a pilates brunch, afternoon meal with live music or dine under the stars at night it is definitely a place diners return time after time. Food is outstanding and ambience, chilled. It is a popular venue for a celebratory meal or special occasion. Food choices include a seafood platter, fire grilled vegetables with a creole sauce and a selection of sandwiches, steaks and salads.
Maia at South Point
This fancy waterfront restaurant specialises in sushi alongside incredible Mediterranean and Asian inspired dishes. Perch at the counter-top bar with an ice-frosted glass of rosé while watching chefs flame-grill steaks to one side and delicate sushi preparation to the other. During peak season enjoy live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.
When your table is ready, look out over the harbour with shimmering reflections from super yachts and listen to popular tunes. Food here is outstanding with impeccable presentation. To start, complimentary warm breadsticks and rosemary focaccia are served alongside olive oil and salty tapenade. Select a plate from the extensive menu - perhaps the spicy lobster uramaki, a carpaccio of breadfruit roasted with a scattering of parmesan or fresh catch of the day. For dessert sample slivers of Antigua’s national fruit, black pineapple, known for being the sweetest in the world, bathed in lemon vodka.
Trappas is a superb 'no frills' restaurant popular with locals and tourists alike. The inviting venue with cheery, friendly staff is set back from the road behind a white picket fence. The ambience is lively and cocktails on point. Tables inside are cooled by fans while the outdoor seating areas benefit from a gentle breeze. Choose from a range of local and International dishes from a blackboard style menu. Dishes include catch of the day with a garlic, lime and caper butter, a big phat pork chop with mushrooms and onions, West Indian curries and Trappas 'wing dings' with a blue cheese dip.
Roquita
Roquita is part of the well known Rocks Group open for casual breakfast and lunches. By night, the Spanish inspired tapas restaurant has a cozy dining area with ambient low lighting and tables made from wine barrels furnished with spiky cactus plants. Dishes are tasty and generous in size. They include Iberico ham, smoked chicken thighs, aged manchego and succulent prawns with garlic and paprika. Upstairs is a lively roof top bar serving shots and cocktails with a DJ for those who like to dance after dinner.
La Brasserie d'Antigua
La Brasserie d'Antigua is owned and run by a lovely French couple and located in an idyllic harbour side setting with a collect and return boat service for local waterfront hotels. Expect to arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food is cooked to perfection. Dishes include melt in the mouth croissants for breakfast and croque monsieur for lunch. At night, the outstanding fillet steaks with pepper sauce are perhaps the best I've had.Â
Live bands perform on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are 2-4-1 pizza night with a daily happy hour for certain drinks from 5-6pm.
Pillars is Admiral's Inn's waterfront restaurant within the picturesque Nelson's Dockyard National Park. It specialises in local seafood and is a wonderful spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. By night watch tarpan leap out of the glistening water while tucking into pepper encrusted mahi-mahi atop sautéd plantain with roasted baby potatoes. Caribbean nights on Wednesdays offer a special set menu in addition to the a la carte menu. A local steel band play well known tunes throughout the evening.
Open from 12-6 Boom's elevated position offers diners far reaching views over English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard. After a delicious lunch of catch of the day or burgers with truffle and parmesan fries, take a dip in the cool, turquoise-hued infinity pool. Afterwards, relax in a poolside hammock or lounger and perhaps indulge in a spa treatment at The Powder Room Spa beneath the restaurant.
Located smack bang in the middle of a stunning stretch of white sand, Loose Cannon at Galleon beach is a buzzing bar/restaurant with Michellin star chefs, cocktails and bottomless brunches. Weekends can be spent dancing barefoot on the sand to live DJs and for EC$300 on Tuesdays to Thursdays, hire a canopied cabana for the day. The price includes a mezze platter, use of a paddle board, bottle of wine or pitcher of a cocktail. The beach itself is home to a shipwreck with a plethora of marine life and turtle sightings so make sure you bring your snorkel too!
Bumpkins
Bumpkins cafe bar is located at the entrance to Pigeon Point Beach. The casual venue with a relaxed vibe is directly on the beachfront, well positioned for stunning sunsets. Cocktails are popular here - their specialities are pina/banana coladas, blended and served in tall glasses or in paper cups to take away. Food is great - a selection of burgers, salads and fish and the staff here are amazingly friendly.
Club Sushi & Steak House
Open 7 days a week for dinner, The Club House is a covered, open air restaurant with the dining area built around palm trees. The atmosphere here is vibrant - loud music with happy staff and a busy bar area. Booking is recommended especially on themed evenings - Wednesdays for quiz nights, Saturdays - all you can eat sushi for EC$110 and Sundays, steak and live music. Sushi fans can order a love boat - the wooden, boat shaped sharing platter is ideal for two people, brimming with edamame, sashimi and maki rolls. Other dishes include a selection of burgers, salmon teriyaki, fish tacos and fresh catch of the day. Food here is of a high standard with a fun ambience.
Indian Summer
Access the restaurant via a pathway adjacent to a palm tree decorated with a spiral of fairy lights. Smell the spice blend aromas escaping from the kitchen into the spacious dining area as friendly staff greet you.  Without a reservation expect to wait a while, either at the countertop bar area or perhaps in one of the outdoor courtyards with a favourite drink. The extensive menu has flavourful, authentic Indian dishes including Goan Fish Curry - fish cooked in a Goan masala coconut sauce, Dal Makhani - a black lentil dish with spices and cream and well known favourites such as lamb korma and chicken tikka masala. Sundowners are available from 5-7pm daily and recently, Indian Summer began hosting live music on Fridays. Book a table in advance to avoid disappointment. Takeaways may be pre-ordered by phone to collect.
3 of the best restaurants in English Harbour for local food
Mama's Delight, Piccadilly
Mama's Delight is approximately 15 minutes on foot from English Harbour and it is worth the walk. Climb the steps of the brightly coloured building and select a table on the verandah overlooking the street or wait for it to be boxed up to takeaway. Sip on one of the chilled local juices while waiting for your meal. Well seasoned dishes change daily including a choice of rotis, stewed chicken and bull foot soup. I can recommend the fungi with pan fried fish in creole sauce, served alongside yam, vegetables and potato salad. Make sure you arrive very hungry!
Zelma's Kitchen
Zelma's Kitchen is a roadside restaurant on Dockyard Drive beside the harbour. It offers a range of tasty local dishes such as fried snapper or bbq chicken. Take a seat on one of the brightly painted benches with a chilled local juice, perhaps tamarind or lemongrass.
Brenda's Place
Brenda's Place is a local roadside restaurant with bench seating beside it and often a queue of people awaiting a takeaway order. Food is good and offers a selection of local dishes including fried fish with chop up and ducana as shown above.
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