The best restaurants Jamaica

Timetable

Restaurants can be closed on one day, or on the contrary, they can be open every day, depending on the address (you should check beforehand). Hotel restaurants are open every day for lunch and dinner with certainty.

Some local restaurants open between 6 and 7 am for breakfast, and often close at 6 pm. Other Jamaican and international restaurants close their kitchens between 9:30 and 10 p.m., but on the whole, Jamaicans eat a hearty breakfast, snack at noon and dine early.

Budget & Tips

A jerk chicken in the street will cost 5 US$, a burger in a small restaurant or a Jamaican dish between 7 and 10 US$, fish or meat dishes more like 15 US$, in a fancy restaurant 20 US$, lobsters from 30 US$, but the dishes can go up to 40 U$ in the high end restaurants. You must pay in cash, Jamaican or American dollars in modest restaurants, but credit cards are accepted in fast-food restaurants, hotel restaurants and in tourist places in general

What costs extra

Taxes. In restaurants, prices are often advertised without taxes. In addition to the General Consumption Charge (equivalent to our VAT) of 16.5%, you must also add 10 to 12% for service. It is therefore advisable to have the prices specified and to read the restaurant menus carefully

A tip is always appreciated, but in the case of a service charge, it can be waived

The local way

In general, Jamaicans eat a hearty breakfast, snack at noon and dine early. The plates are copious, but for the jerk chicken, you choose the size (1/4 chicken, 1/2 chicken). Beware of spicy dishes! Ask for a mild dish if you are afraid it will be too spicy.

Kids

Children are very welcome everywhere in Jamaica and children's menus are available in all tourist hotels. You will have to make do in local restaurants with the à la carte dishes.

Smokers

Restaurants are often outdoors in Jamaica, and smoking is generally tolerated. Simply ask for an ashtray or sometimes a dedicated smoking area. However, in luxury resorts, smoking is not allowed directly at the table.