our "favorites" List
Breakfast
We like to go out for breakfast and then pack snacks for the beach. You can't go wrong with any of these:
- The Landing - www.cruzbaylanding.com Best bacon on the island!
- Hightide Bar & Grill - www.hightidevi.com Pam loves the huevos rancheros
- Sun Dog Cafe - www.sundogcafe.com Always have a great daily special - proof is in the photo!
Bars
After an afternoon of relaxing on the beach stop by for an appetizer and cocktail on the way back to the condo. Here's a few spots to checkout after the beach or before dinner:
- Drink - www.drinkstj.com Our favorite little bar on the island. No food, just great drinks and wonderful staff. Check out their New Years Eve Party!
- Longboard - www.thelongboardstjohn.com I like the cheese dip!
- Beach Bar - www.beachbarstjohn.com Iconic St John bar with a great view and live music.
- Windmill Bar - www.windmillbar.com Try the Windmill Breeze drink, yum!
- Blind Donkey - www.blinddonkeystj.com A new bar in Cruz Bay - excellent cocktails and a nice deck for people watching
- Skinny Leg's - www.skinnylegsvi.com If you're near Coral Bay, you may as well hop over to Skinny's. Wonderful hamburgers
Several bars have live music depending on the season. Make sure to catch Ted Wyman - www.ted-wyman.com and Moss Henry - www.mosshenrymusic.com
Dinner
This is really hard, because there are so many good options. We tend to skip the fine dining options - we have that at home! So here are some of our regular stops:
- Shambles - www.shamblesvi.com A local bar and grill located close to Sunset Dream on Centerline Rd. Try the BBQ! They have a "bar cat" named Meme. She's sweet. I would go every night, but Pam won't let me. LOL.
- Lovango Rum Bar - www.lovangorumbar.com Great pizza!
- Love City Tacos - www.lovecitytacos.com My favorite is the queso birria!
- The Wine Shop - www.wineshopvi.com This place reminds us of home. The best wine selection on island. The photo is of one of the appetizers they serve.
- The Back Bar - www.stjohnbackbar.com Great sushi. I always get the Karma's Still a "B-word" roll and tuna nigiri.
- The Terrace - www.theterracestjohn.com This is a causal fine dining restaurant with a great atmosphere. The daily lobster risotto special is delicious
- Banana Deck - www.thebananadeck.com Great option for Sunday brunch
- Tap and Still - www.tapstill.com This is our favorite hamburger on the island!
Day Trip to Jost Van Dyke
Jost (pronounced "yost") is the home of White Bay and the famous Soggy Dollar Bar - www.soggydollar.com There are a couple of options to get to Jost.
- Day Charter - You can book a day charter that will normally take you snorkeling and then sail to Jost and back to Cruz Bay. You'll swim in from the boat to shore to get to the beach and the bars. This is a fun day, but you don't get a lot of time on the beach.
- Ferry Service - This is our favorite way to go. The ferry usually runs 3 days a week. Check the schedule here, www.interislandboatservices.com/ferry-trips/red-hook-cruz-bay-jost-van-dyke You can take your cooler, beach bag, etc. The ferry arrives in Great Harbour. After clearing customs, a taxi truck will take you to White Bay which is only a few minutes away.
Once we get to the beach, we head over to Hendo's Hideout for mimosas and breakfast - www.hendoshideout.com After a bite to each, we grab some beach chairs and relax. Of course, you'll need to get a pain killer from Soggy Dollar!
Sunset Sail
A relaxing way to end a day is to take a sunset sail. Enjoy a rum punch and watch the sun drop below the horizon. You can do this a couple of ways - a private charter or a group trip. Here's our favorite trips:
- Kekoa - Kekoa is a large catamaran that can accommodate large groups. There's lively music, open bar and a terrific crew. Be sure to read the story about the boat! www.blacksailsvi.com
- Helios - Helios is a 48 ft mono hull sailboat that is great for private groups. Captain Ray makes sure that everyone has a great time while sailing around Pillsbury Sound. www.sailhelios.com