If you have never sailed the British Virgin Islands before, there are plenty of reasons to do so. While we would love to tell you all about them, this article focuses on one in particular: the abundance of ambient bars and restaurants located on the beaches.
What better way to experience the beautiful BVI than while enjoying a delicious meal right on the beach, gazing out at the clear blue horizon? The easiest way to travel around the BVI — and particularly the beaches — is by boat, so we recommend visiting these coastal gems while on your sailing charter with Navigare Yachting, where every island is right at your fingertips.
With 70 yachts, our base on Tortola, BVI is our largest and one of our top-rated destinations. Come and see for yourself what makes this one of the best sailing destinations in the world. And if you need some more inspiration about things to do in the BVI during your charter, check out this blog post.
Now, let’s dive into the world of tropical cocktails, white sand, Caribbean flavors, breathtaking sunsets, and live music. It’s time to explore 10 must-visit beachfront bars and restaurants for an unforgettable culinary experience. The list represents a wide diversity of recommended restaurants/bars on the beaches but is in no particular order. Whether you are looking for a relaxing romantic escape or a lively beach party after sundown, this list has you covered.
1. Soggy Dollar Bar
Location: White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Do you know that beach bar on Jost van Dyke serving the famous painkiller cocktail that everyone is talking about? This is the one. Nestled among lush tropical vegetation on a white sandy beach in White Bay, it’s no surprise that this bar would make our list of top beach bars in the BVI.
The painkiller drink, made with rum, coconut cream, pineapple, and orange juice, originated at this bar back in the 1970s. Today it is the signature drink of the region. Besides refreshing cocktails, you may also enjoy some traditional Caribbean bar food here while soaking up the sun on the beach or enjoying the shade by the outdoor bar.
The restaurant's laid-back atmosphere provides the perfect setting for enjoying an array of dishes such as sandwiches, salads, wraps, burritos, seafood, and platters. The Soggy Dollar bar serves lighter dishes that include breakfast, lunch, and appetizers but is not open for dinner. There is also a gift shop and you can rent umbrellas and beach chairs for a more comfortable visit.
Location: White Bay, Jost van Dyke, BVI
If you are in White Bay, and you’ve had enough painkillers, then we can recommend another beach bar in the same area.
Coco Loco Beach Bar is located to the west of the Soggy Dollar Bar and while the latter often steals the spotlight on this beach, the Coco Loco Bar is totally worth a visit as well. Their most popular dishes include tacos, burgers, and pizzas — traditional bar food with a Caribbean touch.
Unlike the Soggy Dollar Bar, Coco Loco serves dinner as well as lunches and quick bites. This bar is great if you are looking for something more low-key than the Soggy Dollar, but it can get busy around dinner time, so it’s a good idea to make reservations.
The view from this bar is priceless and it doesn’t hurt that the food they serve is also delicious. How about ending your beach day with a freshly baked stone oven pizza right on the beach with the sound of the waves and the view of the gorgeous Caribbean sea?
Location: White Bay, Jost van Dyke, BVI
In the east part of White Bay, there is a beautiful restaurant called Alice’s Restaurant, serving up anything from exquisite pasta dishes and wood-fired brick oven pizzas to fresh lobster and delicious sandwiches.
Their entrée selection includes fresh fish, seafood, and meat dishes such as ribeye, lamb, or “Virgin Island Goat” if you are in the mood for something different. Just like their pizza, every entrée dish is finished off in the wood oven and paired with two choices of side dishes such as wood-fired roasted potatoes or vegetables, seasoned rice, or crispy fries to name a few.
The restaurant’s seating area is on a very pretty patio right on the beach overlooking a short stretch of white sand where it meets the breathtaking turquoise-colored water.
We also need to mention the fact that this restaurant is powered by solar energy thanks to the photovoltaic solar power system on the roof.
Whether you come for the food, the gorgeous view, or even to support their sustainable thinking, you will not be disappointed at this top-rated restaurant.
Location: Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke, BVI
If you are looking for a beach bar with a pirate/biker vibe, you’ve come to the right place. Located in Great Harbour, Corsair Beach Bar is another restaurant on the beautiful Jost Van Dyke.
Here you may enjoy an array of dishes including delectable pasta dishes, pizza, burgers, calamari, conch fritters, wings, shrimp, lobster, and sushi.
The place is known for good food, great vibes, music, and a beach bar atmosphere.
5. B-line Beach Bar and Restaurant
Location: Long Bay, Little Jost van Dyke, BVI
If you are in the area close to Little Jost van Dyke and are looking to enjoy a relaxing lunch on the beach, we can recommend B-Line Beach Bar and Restaurant.
Located northeast of Diamond Cay, B-line Beach Bar is a must-visit for an ambient Caribbean lunch right on the beach. Stop by after a morning of snorkeling or sailing and take your dinghy or swim to the beach.
This place is known for Caribbean cuisine and serves dishes such as Bbq Ribs, Jamaican curry chicken, Jamaican jerk chicken, and curry shrimp to name a few as well as an array of delicious drinks.
Coming here is probably exactly what you envisioned when imagining a trip to the Caribbean. In this place, you may enjoy your delicious food right on a tropical beach with soft ambient music playing in the background along with the sound of the waves.
Location: Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, BVI
For a more fancy beach dinner experience, try Coco Maya in the Spanish Town of Virgin Gorda. A visit to this modern Asian Fusion restaurant is an experience beyond the ordinary.
From the refreshing fancy cocktails and the beautifully served Asian fusion dishes to the exquisite architecture and music by a live DJ, the Coco Maya restaurant will impress any guest who steps foot here.
This outdoor restaurant is designed with elements like timber, exotic plants, and a Thatch roof for a tropical Balinese feel. The various tables and seating arrangements are located on white sand in between granite boulders overlooking the beautiful sea.
Come and enjoy a fun lunch for the entire family or a romantic dinner by the sunset. After dark, you have the opportunity to roast marshmallows by an open fire pit and enjoy the beach party vibes with a live DJ. Between the gorgeous views, beautiful ambiance, and delicious food, It’s no surprise that this is also a popular spot for wedding receptions.
Location: Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, BVI
For a “pirate dinner” experience like no other, stop by The Restaurant at Leverick Bay. This pirate-themed beachfront restaurant features a live music stage in the shape of a half pirate ship, a well-stocked wine cellar, and local fresh seafood such as the famous Anegada lobster. With some luck, you may even enjoy a fire-dancing show after dark.
As a winner of TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2022, it is a favorite spot among both locals and tourists and has made a name for itself as one of the best beachfront restaurants in the BVI.
Their huge wine selection includes diverse wines from all over the world and they serve mostly seafood and classic dishes. If you like to go fishing, you may bring in your fresh catch and have it cooked to perfection just for you.
Location: Great Carrot Bay, Tortola, BVI
Located between Great Carrot Bay and Apple Bay, D’CoalPot Restaurant is known to be one of the best on Tortola.
While not technically on the beach, it is located at the shore as close to the water as you can possibly get, with the waves crashing right beneath the veranda and a beautiful sunset view. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but if you wish to sit by the water, you may need to make a reservation in advance.
Some of their most popular dishes include ribeye steak, roti, chicken wings, and fresh fish and seafood, but no matter what you choose from the menu, you will likely not be disappointed.
9. Indigo Beach House
Location: Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI
Indigo Beach House will take your beachfront dining experience to the next level. The place, originally a private beach house built in 1977, was later remade into a restaurant after being rebuilt in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
It’s a gorgeous building with Santorini vibe architecture and decor and has both indoor and outdoor seating options. The outdoor patio is of course overlooking the beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, so you’ll enjoy the best view any restaurant can offer while savoring your delicious food.
Enjoy a laid-back lunch or bring your friends for dinner by the sea. Whether you choose to dine inside or outside, the restaurant has a relaxing vibe where you can sit back and enjoy great food, good company, beautiful decor, and soft music, without the big crowds and loud noises.
The restaurant opened in December 2020, so is relatively new, but has a long and fascinating history. Originally an art studio, this restaurant features plenty of interesting artwork to look at — if you can take your eyes off the turquoise sea that is.
Location: Anegada, BVI
If you are making a trip to Anegada, you must try the famous local lobster at one of the following two restaurants.
The Lobster Trap is a great choice for a beachfront restaurant serving fresh lobster. This restaurant is located right on the beach and they have several large outdoor seating areas: one on a patio on the beach, one right on the sand, and another one on a spacious wooden deck in the water. This lobster dinner is one that you will not soon forget. The lobsters are so fresh, they come straight from the trap.
Also located in Anegada, Potters By the Sea (also known as Potters Bar and Lobster House) is another great option for trying the famous Anegada lobster.
This restaurant has a similar beachfront layout as the Lobster Trap, featuring a wooden deck with a seating area out in the water — this one with a roof, both serving to protect from the elements and create ambiance.
Like the Lobster Trap, Potters by the Sea is also famous for their lobster, as fresh as you can possibly eat it. They even grill the lobster right on the beach.
Eating lobster on Anegada, right next to the water from which it came, is a unique Caribbean experience, and one that you will surely savor for a long time.
Trying these beach bars and restaurants in the BVI is the perfect thing to do while on your sailing charter with Navigare Yachting. As these lunch and dinner spots are all located on the beaches, they are easy to get to with your boat.
Turn your sailing charter trip into a culinary adventure where you get to experience the British Virgin Islands like never before, enjoying not only delicious tropical cocktails, fresh seafood, and stone oven-baked pizzas, but also gorgeous sunsets, great service, cozy ambiance and the best views you have ever enjoyed from a restaurant.
Since 2001, over 300,000+ charter guests have set sail with Navigare - it’s safe to say that your yachting adventure will be in capable hands. With 11 exotic locations worldwide, the possibilities are endless! Whether you're an experienced sailor or a first-time adventurer, Navigare Yachting opens up a world of exploration, discovery, and sailing that comes with complete peace of mind.
