While you are visiting St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands you will inevitably want to eat out at some of the best restaurants available. When you think of eating out you may think only of the fine dining you will find on St. John, but St. John has such a wide diversity of restaurants that you can find not only fine dining but dining with local cuisine, meals that are moderately priced, and restaurants that offer you great food at a reasonable price. You can get meals that satisfy your meat lovers, vegetarians, or vegans. There is always something that everyone can eat or drink at many of the island’s restaurants.
One of the things you will notice about dining at St. John is that there are no big-chain restaurants. Whether they were raised on St. John or arrived as a visitor and made St. John their home, most of the restaurants are owned by the people who live on St. John making the restaurants a part of the local island community.
Below are some dining tips for eating out when you are visiting St. John:
- When you dine out, expect the service to be slower than what you are used to when you are home. On St. John, your meal is cooked to order.
- Most restaurants do not take reservations but if they do, make them if at all possible
- Because supplies are limited, expect the restaurant to run out of ingredients. Try to get to the restaurant as early as you can so the dish you want hasn’t been sold out.
- Most of the restaurants in St. John close early
With a large selection of places to eat on St. John, some of the favorite restaurants to go to include the following, in no particular order:
- The Longboard
The Longboard is located in the heart of Cruz Bay and offers food with a Caribbean flair using local spices, freshly caught local seafood with locally grown herbs, greens, and fruits as well as robust cocktails and an extensive wine list. - The Beach Bar
The Beach Bar is open daily from 7:00 am until when they close. They have a varied menu including a Grab N Go Breakfast, world-famous Painkillers, Bushwackers, and big juicy burgers. - The Tap Room
The Tap Room brews their local craft beer in small batches, along with their sodas and their Green Flash energy drink! They have a full lunch and dinner menu. - Cruz Bay Landing
Located just steps from the St John ferry dock, Cruz Bay Landing is your first and last stop on St. John island. A family-owned business that offers affordable quality breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.
- The Lime Inn
The menu at the Lime Inn consists of classics and features fresh, locally sourced fish and bright organic Caribbean ingredients. There is something for every palate. - Sun Dog Cafe
The Sun Dog Cafe has open-air dining in its courtyard. The menu has an eclectic mix of classics and originals including vegetarian and gluten-free options. They are open from 9 am to 9 pm for brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. - Extra Virgin Bistro
Extra Virgin Bistro is dedicated to locally grown and sourced products. The fish they serve is from local fishermen and the herbs they use are from their own gardens. - 1864 Restaurant
Serving St. John’s Finest Selection of Fresh Seafood, Hand Rolled Sushi, and Stellar Beverages in the Beautiful Surroundings of Mongoose Junction. - La Tapa
At their new location, on the beach, at Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay, La Tapa offers an elegant yet eclectic menu with a warm rustic ambiance. Their menu changes nightly. - Sam & Jack’s Deli
Sam and Jack’s Deli is family oriented and provides fresh, gourmet deli food at affordable prices as well as an option for catering.
These are just some of the restaurants in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands waiting for you to experience what they have to offer.