5 Best Restaurants You Must Experience In Jamaica

At first glance you might think Jamaican cuisine begins and ends with jerk chicken and rum punches. But having a meal at any of these restaurants reveals the wide array of authentic food and flavors that represent a side of the island you never knew existed. We have selected 5 of the best restaurants in Jamaica for you to try.

* Miss T’s Kitchen

This casual restaurant gives diners a full sense of the pride locals have over their country and people. The tropical setting provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying the restaurant’s curried goat, honey-fried chicken, or grilled lobster. They even cater to vegans and vegetarians with daily dishes that never substitute meat with flavor. Enjoy their ice-cold juices made fresh daily for the perfect elixir from the Caribbean heat.

* Scotchies

A trip to Jamaica is not complete until you’ve had jerk chicken, and the best place to get authentic jerk is at Scotchies. Upon arrival, you might see a line 20 feet long, but trust us, the wait is worth it. This is one of the best places to get a taste of history to go along with your spicy meal. The method for smoking meat on the logs of Jamaican allspice trees originated from the indigenous communities who were the first inhabitants of the island more than 500 years ago. Throughout the centuries, the jerk marinade has evolved to reflect the current population’s love for spicy, flavorful food. Be sure to order a side of roasted breadfruit, fried sweet dumplings called ‘festival,’ and an ice-cold Red Stripe beer for a truly authentic experience.

* Toscanini

It’s hard to imagine finding authentic Italian cuisine on an island 5,000 miles away from Italy, but Toscanini is as close as it gets to the real thing. Owned and operated by the Ricci siblings, the restaurant is an impeccable combination of outstanding cuisine and service. Located at the beautiful Harmony Hall Art Gallery, the restaurant sits in a fully restored 19th century manse, giving diners a view into British colonial architecture. Regular customers know it would be a sin to leave the restaurant without having their profiteroles for dessert. The decadent cream puffs are coated in the restaurant’s special dark chocolate sauce, providing the perfect end to any meal.

* M-10 Bar And Grill

M-10 is a hot spot for anyone looking for quality food in a lively setting for a reasonable price. The bar menu is almost as extensive as the dining menu, making this a popular place for happy hour, especially on Friday evenings. The ambiance is casual and electric, allowing Kingston locals to forget the troubles of 9-to-5 jobs and enjoy a cold rum and coconut water. If you love seafood, you can’t miss the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat crab night every Tuesday. You’ll have your choice of curried, spicy, garlic, and sweet-and-sour crab, served with an array of sides ranging from traditional rice and peas to potato wedges.

* EITS Cafe

Hidden away in the hills of the gorgeous Blue Mountain Range is EITS Café, an acronym for ‘Europe In The Summer’. The restaurant is a refreshing escape from the unbearable heat and noise in Kingston, melding the best of Jamaican and European cuisine. The restaurant is known for their farm-to-table approach, sourcing all of their produce from their own organic garden. Under the covered outdoor veranda, your table will look out to spectacular views of lush forested canopies. You might hear the soft patter of rain on the roof or the gentle beats of reggae being played by locals a few miles down the road. No matter what, the experience will be one you’ll always remember.