Your ship has come in. After you've seen the sights, your priority is to eat like a local. Whether you're soaking up the Franco-chic vibe of St. Lucia or the relaxed mood of Jamaica, Bon appétit Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton recommends the best bites and where to get them.
Restaurant: Mustors (McGregor Street; 246-426-5175)
Must-Order: Steamed Flying Fish and Cou-Cou (polenta-like cornmeal with okra)
The Friday and Saturday fish fry in Oistins is legendary. So, too, are the nightly parties along Baxter's Road and the colorful rum shops that dot the island. For honest Bajan home-style cooking (flying fish, fish cakes, rice and peas), head to this family-owned spot that's open for breakfast and lunch. The downstairs bar is ideal for a drink and snack.
Restaurant: Deyna's Tasty Foods (Melville Street; 473-440-6795)
Must-Order: Stuffed Crab Backs
Island-hopping foodies, rejoice: Following a number of devastating hurricanes, Grenada (known as The Spice Isle) has rebounded, thanks in large part to the growth of ecotourism. After hitting the colorful Market Square stalls, be sure to try this humble spot for great sea views and equally excellent home cooking, including one of the island's best "oil downs," hearty stew-like mixtures of meats, breadfruit, and coconut milk.
Restaurant: Scotchies (Off Route AI, Coral Gardens; 876-953-3301)
Must-Order: Jerk Chicken
If you can't make it to Boston Bay, home of the jerk shacks that Jamaica is so famous for, you can visit this equally popular joint across the street from the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort near Mo' Bay. An eclectic crowd comes to sit on stools under grass umbrellas and feast on the pork and chicken rubbed with proprietary jerk seasoning. After the meat is cooked low and slow over pimiento wood, locals slather it with fiery chopped Scotch bonnet chile sauce.
Restaurant: Sandbar (Duke Street; 649-243-2666)
Must-Order: Rum Punch and Cracked Conch
You can't beat the prime beachfront locale of this laid-back, open-air bar-cum-restaurant that's popular with scuba divers. The rum drinks are potent, the conch comes from local fishermen, and the sunsets are unforgettable.
Restaurant: La Casita Blanca (Calle Tapia 351; 787-726-5501)
Must-Order: Tostones (fried green plantains) and Patitas con Garbanzos (pig's feet in Creole sauce with chickpeas)
A quick taxi ride from Old San Juan, "The Little White House" serves hearty traditional fare—bacalaÍtos (salt cod fritters), carne frita con mofongo (fried pork with mashed plantains), tembleque (coconut pudding)—in a funky, folk-art-filled setting. On Sundays it's especially lively, as families pack the place for an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Restaurant: Jacques Waterfront Dining (Vigie Marina; 758-458-1900; jacquesrestaurant.com)
Must-Order: Conch Fritters with Chili Mayonnaise
Every table is in a breezy pavilion at this sophisticated (but not stuffy) restaurant, nicknamed "Froggie Jacques," overlooking Vigie Cove. Chef Jacques Rioux serves up French-inspired dishes; his wife, Cathy, runs the front of the house. Salsa comes with house-made plantain chips; local fish is served with garlic butter, Creole sauce, or white wine and ginger; and island limes flavor the meringue pie. Be sure to order the specialty cocktail, the Jacques Amazing Electric Frog, made with rum, curaçao, and passion fruit juice.
Restaurant: Chez Carole (Grande Marché, Rue Isambert)
Must-Order: Fricassee of Octopus and Conch
Inside the Fort-de-France Grand Marché farmers' market, Carole Michel specializes in the island's rich Creole cooking traditions at this colorful spot. Seafood (most notably, the prized local langoustine) is the thing to order, as is anything made with Colombo powder, a curry-like spice blend.
Restaurant: Johnny B Under the Tree (15 Miracle Drive, Cole Bay; 011-599-557-5576)
Must-Order: Grilled Local Spiny Lobster
What you see is what you get at this bare-bones outdoor grill stand—or lolo, as a makeshift food stand is known locally—run by the always-smiling Johnny Bridgewater. Pork ribs, garlic shrimp, and barbecue chicken make ideal take-out food for a picnic at one of the nearby beaches.
Veteran cruisegoers agree: Planning is everything. Before you go, decide which of the ship's land excursions to sign on for, so that you'll leave plenty of time for your own itineraries on the days that are left. For example, on the January sailing of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel, back-to-back stops in Barbados and St. Lucia mean you can enjoy a ship-arranged beach day on Barbados, then dine on your own in Castries the next day. Or on Silversea's Silver Shadow Barbados round-trip, you can celebrate your voyage at our favorite Bridgetown locals' spot, Mustors.
Before you go, download our PDF guide, complete with an illustrated map of the top destinations.