What to eat Trinidad & Tobago? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Most restaurants are open from 11am to 10pm, but in the center of Port of Spain, things are a little different. Many restaurants only open for lunch. Most are closed on Sundays, with the exception of tourist areas like Crown Point, where business is not dependent on office workers but rather on passing tourists.

For lunch in the cities, it's best to wait until 2 p.m. to avoid the crowds of office workers on their lunch break.

In small roadside restaurants, you can usually eat for less than TT$ 100 for a full meal but as soon as you enter a more traditional restaurant, expect to see the bill easily reach the prices of our countries.

Service is not included on all menus, but will often be added automatically at the end of the meal... allow for 10% service, 12.5% VAT (usually included in the price) and don't hesitate to add a tip if the service was good.

Trinidad & Tobago is a major producer of chillies (the Moruga scorpion pepper held the world record for potency for many years) and the locals love it! But beware, it can be strong for a Western palate.

Fish and meat are very (over)cooked in the islands. Let the waiters know what you like.

Children are welcome in all restaurants except those that also offer gambling (casinos and small gaming rooms).

Smoking is not allowed in restaurants in the country, but many restaurants have a small terrace where smokers can meet.

Many of the country's bars offer happy hour , which often lasts from 5pm to 8pm. This is an opportunity to discover the wide range of rum-based concoctions enjoyed by Tribagonians and visitors alike. Mondays and Tuesdays are generally the least festive days, except in very high season such as Christmas.

Expect to pay around ten dollars for a cocktail, US$3 for a local beer and more than US$8 for a glass of wine in general. Service is not always included, so don't forget the 10%.

Alcohol is permitted in Trinidad & Tobago from the age of 18, so if you look young, don't forget your ID before going out, even if it's rarely checked.

What we call buller, translates as "liming" in Trinidad & Tobago. It's a tradition of socializing while having a drink and something to eat, because you can't limn well on an empty stomach. A Carib or a Stag? For those who don't drink alcohol, a good tropical fruit juice or a cup of local cocoa will do the trick.

Most of the bars have a terrace where smokers can settle down without any problem but be careful, smoking is forbidden inside and this law is well respected.

Beware of tempting happy hours, which are often limited to local beers and spirits, without this necessarily being clearly indicated on the menu...