Turks & Caicos Dining Guide

Gourmet and Fine Dining

A restaurant is nothing without a top chef, and many of the establishments on Providenciales are headed by internationally recognized and award-winning executive chefs.

For the traditionalists, authentic Japanese, Italian, French, Mediterranean, Thai, Indian, Jamaican, and many other restaurants await as well.

Restaurants typically stock a great complement of wine and alcohol of wide origins and vintages.

Special requests and diets will often be accommodated by local restaurants. We advise making inquiries in advance of visits, so the kitchen can ensure that appropriate ingredients are available. On Providenciales, it's typically easy to find a restaurant with at least a few vegetarian options.

Catch Your Dinner

A great vacation experience is to go deep sea sport fishing and have a local restaurant prepare the catch. Local fish includes yellowfin, bluefin, blackfin, and skipjack tuna, as well as mahi-mahi, wahoo, and mackerel. If you’d rather try your hand at reef fishing, Nassau grouper and red, mutton, and yellowtail snappers are also excellent eating.

Local Cuisine and Flavors

Before the tourism industry took off in the Turks and Caicos, the common fare to the country tended to use rather humble ingredients. Even considering this, a unique and tasty local cuisine developed. Seafood such as queen conch, fish, and lobster of course was the primary ingredient of most dishes, and sides of spicy rice with beans or peas and locally grown mixed green and vegetable sides were common.

Seafood and some herbs and vegetables could be produced in the Turks and Caicos, but staples such as rice and grains (and to a lesser extent, salt meat, sugar, coffee, and tea) had to be imported.

Although pan-poached fish with peas and rice and classic fish stews are still favorites, breaded and fried conch fritters, conch salad, and conch chowder have become the main signature dishes associated with the Turks and Caicos.

Flavors from across the Caribbean have also made their way into the kitchens of the Turks and Caicos, especially from the fellow Commonwealth countries of the Bahamas and Jamaica with their fish stews and jerk seasonings. Jerk chicken and BBQ are quite popular at local eateries.

Over the last decade, the farming of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices has seen a welcome comeback to the country. Sites such as the Government Farm in Kew on North Caicos raise produce with traditional methods, and the hydroponic and aquaponics farms on Providenciales grow fresh and delicious lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, papaya, and more.

A sign of the changing times are resorts such as Seven Stars Resort & Spa, which features an onsite organic hydroponic farm that supplements the resort’s gourmet dining at its vegetable-centric eatery, The Farm on Grace Bay.

Great places to experience local dining in a tropical beachfront setting include the communities of Blue Hills and Five Cays, where popular restaurants such as Da Conch Shack, Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl, and Omar’s Beach Hut can be found. The hallmark of these restaurants is their locally sourced conch, fish, and lobster dishes—must-try delicacies for a visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Beachfront Settings and Beautiful Ambiances

The Turks and Caicos features a wealth of beachfront restaurants, and some great inland and waterfront locations as well.

For local cuisine dining on the beach, Omar’s Beach Hut, Da Conch Shack, and Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl can’t be beat, with classic TCI menus of fresh fish, cracked conch, conch salad, and grilled lobster. All three restaurants offer a great beach bar too, surrounded by palm trees and white sand.

Bay Bistro, The Deck at Seven Stars, and Infiniti at the Grace Bay Club overlook breathtaking Grace Bay Beach, and serve an international menu. There are also some lively al fresco and casual spots on Grace Bay for those seeking a burger, tacos, or fish and chips. Somewhere Café and Jojo’s Café are located at the Bight Reef, and Rickie’s Flamingo Café is located on the eastern side of Grace Bay. A popular spot for enjoying casual fare in an al fresco setting is The Terrace on Grace Bay, where you can enjoy nachos, conch fritters, or a burger while watching sports on the restaurant's several TVs.

Several marinas on Providenciales offer an elegant waterfront setting for dining, including Turtle Cove, which is home to Mango Reef, Sharkbite, and Baci Ristorante. All offer beautiful sunset views. Rather unique in that its waterfront location is the shoreline of a private ocean lagoon, Lua Restaurant at the South Bank Resort offers delicious Mediterranean and Asian-inspired fare and an upscale culinary experience in a picturesque setting.

On the island of Grand Turk, home to the country’s only cruise port, are four great beachfront restaurants, including the casual Jack’s Shack, Sandbar, and The Bird Cage Restaurant located at Osprey Beach Hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Many restaurants aren't open for breakfast, and some are open for dinner only. On the family islands, reservations are recommended, especially for larger groups.

Bars, Grills, and Casual Dining

Another genre that the Turks and Caicos does well is casual and outdoor eateries.

Restaurants with great beachfront and inland settings can be found on all of the inhabited islands, and cuisines range from local to international and grill favorites. Many casual sites are family-friendly and offer children’s meals. The beach provides perfect entertainment for kids while you wait for the food.

There are many places to find proper burgers, fish and chips, Caribbean BBQ, or wings.

If you’re looking to start with cocktails or drinks, the waterfront sites are an ideal and romantic place to watch the sunset.

Pizza

There are several great Italian and pizzeria restaurants if you’re craving pasta or pizza, and both gourmet and classic American-style pies are available.

Pizza delivery, a common amenity in other regions, has made its advent on Providenciales, and it’s now possible to have a local take-out joint deliver directly to your hotel room or private villa.

Restaurants Across the Islands

Each of the islands in the Turks and Caicos offers a unique set of restaurants to choose from. The number of restaurants on the smaller islands and cays is often quite limited, yet the food tends to be excellent.

Due to the day arrivals of cruise ship guests, Grand Turk supports many lunch spots. In the evening when everything quiets down, restaurants in old Cockburn Town shine, with great food, peaceful ambiance, and live music.

On North Caicos and Middle Caicos, local and fresh ingredients are the center of many dishes. The fish and lobster that factor into the dishes are usually caught only hours before serving.

The little island of Salt Cay isn’t outdone, and the island’s four culinary options reflect local, international, and bar and grill favorites.

If you’re staying on Providenciales, we recommend that you pick up a copy of the local Dining Guide magazine. This quarterly publication offers an overview of most of the restaurants on Providenciales, and includes menus, photos, and price guidelines.

Reservations

Generally, it's best to make a reservation, especially at fine dining restaurants and at establishments on the smaller islands.

Some popular restaurants, such as Coco Bistro, may experience limited availability, so confirm well in advance of your arrival.

The availability of accommodations, excursions, and services in the Turks and Caicos varies according to the season. The winter and spring “high season” experiences the greatest number of tourist arrivals, in contrast to the late summer “low season”. See When to Visit the Turks and Caicos for more information.

All-Inclusive Resorts and Dining

The Turks and Caicos is home to several all-inclusive resorts, and the dining they offer guests varies quite a bit. The family-friendly Beaches Turks and Caicos resort features more than 20 restaurants, with a simple guest policy that allows for unlimited dining and drinks. Also on Grace Bay Beach is Club Med Turkoise, which has a similar unlimited food and drink policy, albeit with far fewer dining choices, most of which are typically buffets.

Many of the other all-inclusive hotels in the Turks and Caicos specifically serve one breakfast, lunch, and dinner per day per guest according to the restaurant’s menu, and may or may not include unlimited drinks.

Private Chefs

Another great dining option when in the Turks and Caicos is hiring a private chef. Vacation villas and many of the larger resort and condominium suites feature full kitchens, and a chef can cook the cuisine that’s desired, and is a perfect choice for special dietary or allergy considerations, or if there’s a good catch from a fishing charter.