An understated luxury experience inside a pristine Caribbean oasis. The cottages provide all the modern convenience of being at home but with a generous touch of tropical indulgence and coastal design aesthetic. Catering to sophisticated travellers and families alike, guests enjoy the proximity of Seven Mile Beach without sacrificing a single ounce of comfort.
A visit to the tranquil Cayman Islands is about as idyllic as island living gets. The holy grail of what is Seven Mile Beach – is perhaps the biggest draw to Grand Cayman, extending 6.3 miles along the pristine beach is filled with plenty of foot traffic, via the multiple luxury hotels, shops, and exquisite restaurants offering the best culinary experience and options in the Caribbean.
Here in Cayman, seaside eateries are a dime a dozen. While sweeping ocean panoramas are a definite selling point, we also appreciate a restaurant that can stand alone with its quintessential essence and cleverly-curated aesthetic. A trendy local spot to show off on social media, perhaps? Read on to discover the most instagrammable restaurants in Cayman, sure to impress with their signature design and of course, appetizing menus.
Home to multiple luxury resorts, Grand Cayman offers a selection of top spas for those looking to restore, re-energize, re-align, or just simply unwind. The best part of it all? You don’t have to be a hotel guest to use these spa facilities.
Living in perpetual beach season calls for liquid encouragement, and I’m not talking about Mudslides. For as many tropical cocktails as Cayman has to offer, this Caribbean paradise also boasts a plethora of health-conscious options with pressed juices taking a front seat on the wellness scene. Sip your way through our top 7 island juice spots with an unexpected bonus at the end.
A visit to the tranquil Cayman Islands is about as idyllic as island living gets. The holy grail of what is Seven Mile Beach – is perhaps the biggest draw to Grand Cayman, extending 6.3 miles along the pristine beach is filled with plenty of foot traffic, via the multiple luxury hotels, shops, and exquisite restaurants offering the best culinary experience and options in the Caribbean.
I’m originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Have you been to Winnipeg in the winter?! It is bitter cold and I love the sunshine!
Working out is something that is very important to me and by far the hobby I am most passionate about. It is a form of meditation where I am only focused on the workout, whether it be a run, lifting weights, or beach walks!
Baking is also a fun hobby that I have enjoyed for as long as I can remember! I am an accountant by trade and work as a compliance manager in Hedge Funds, so my daily life is ensuring everyone is following laws and regulations and that leaves very little room for creativity and experimenting. Baking allows me to use my imagination and make something beautiful and that people will enjoy! Being able to give someone something sweet treat provides me with great joy!!
I love a mixture of the gym and the beach. I used to spend hours on the treadmill back in Winnipeg but when you have one of the world’s greatest beaches at your front door, that is where I want to run or take a long beach walk! I have been a member at World Gym since my first day on island, 12 years ago, and it is my second home. I have met a lot of great people there and enjoy nothing more than a good lifting session at World Gym!
Chocolate chip cookies, who doesn’t love these!
We are so lucky in Cayman to have so many options of amazing restaurants! I would have to say Morgan’s for the food, the wine, the view and the atmosphere!
Hard to choose, but I would have to say Governors Beach.
Brussels Sprouts! The Coconut Milk Chia Seed Pudding is unreal and the breakfast hot buffet is delicious! Cutest little spot where you can dine in or grab and go if you’re in a hurry!
Don’t think about, just do it! But honestly, the one piece of advice I would give is to appreciate the beauty of this island; both the people and the place. Talk to locals who grew up here and they will tell you where the hidden gems are! I am 12 years in, and still have so much to discover!
I was born in Jamaica, but moved to Cayman back in 1991. Literally the words “Beautiful Cayman Islands” back then was the game changer for me.
I just love how everyone knows one another. Well, that and the fact that I can wake up and step right onto the beach!
Well, I see people all over the world that just don’t know about the Cayman Islands. So when I started photographing I just wanted tourists to see what I see and come visit this beautiful place.
I have a lot of favourites but Spotts Beach is one where I can swim with turtles and sharks. Pedro St. James has a massive hole by the edge of the bluff. Sometimes it’s dry, and sometimes it’s filled with water and creates this gorgeous pool. Stingray City never gets old as I can photograph the most beautiful stingrays.
My inspiration is Cayman. Not to be fancy, but just to capture something that people don’t get to see often or usually found on the internet.
I would say just being home with my family. Or to be with my friends on the beach.
This one is tough… Mango Tree, Cracked Conch, and Fish Shack. It’s all about the seafood!
Where I'm originally from?! It's a bit of a trek, but I was born in Fort Lauderdale and lived there until I was 5. My family moved to Windsor, Ontario and I grew up most of my life, school, first jobs, etc. there. When I was 25 I quit my 9-5 job with the Government, broke up with my boyfriend (at the time) and decided I wanted to bartend in the Caribbean. I definitely watch the movie Cocktail on repeat! Funny enough, I went to highschool with two girls that moved to Grand Cayman! It took me two whole weeks to down size my Windsor life, pack and move to Cayman. After a few years on this glorious rock, my then boyfriend decided we should take a break and try "real" life back in Canada. It took four years, and our honeymoon trip back to Cayman and we decided to move back. We've been back now for three years.
The sense of community! I love walking down the road and people you know honk as they drive by. I love walking on the beach with my dog and running into others. I love walking into my favourite bar for a glass of wine and run into old friends, or even make new friends! There is no way to be lonely on this island!
I am an Assistant Food & Beverage Manager for the largest restaurant group on island. I also love my job, which makes my island life even better. Watching visitors and locals enjoy their nights out and lunches in Camana Bay is a great job!
I do enjoy my playtime! My days off always include my husband Eric and my big dopey, beach loving Labrador! We usually start our mornings off with a beach run and swim. We love having a nice quiet lunch on the water. Morgan's, Waterfront Urban Diner or Karoo are all dog friendly! To end our day, we love having a sunset drink at Calicos, catching up with friends and cheersing to another beautiful sunset in the Caribbean!
We moved to my husband's native prairies to take a break from island life in 2012. I am officially and unequivocally NOT a winter girl. We missed the sun, sand and water the most. We missed being barefoot and seeing friendly faces wherever we went. I missed jerk chicken, rum runners, and swimming in the ocean. Once we came back for a visit, we knew Cayman was where we were meant to be.
Well, then it's not a secret! But yes, we love sitting in the adirondack chairs on the water at Morgan's, with a nice bottle of wine. The breeze there, looking over the bay, it's all very screensaver-esk. In the mornings it's nice to go get a coffee at the Marriott and sit in the swings around the courtyard. It's awesome to feel like you're on vacation, even if you live 10 minutes down the road. Every three months or so, we take an island drive and stop at dive bars along the way. The South Coast Bar has my favourite conch fritters and jerk burger! The beer is cold, the bartender is friendly and a few dollars on the jukebox gets you a solid mix of Country, 80's music and Reggae.
Just Northwest of The Kimpton is a nice quiet area of beach for Dude to roam and play in the water. Dude enjoys a good spa day and plays with other pups. He's enrolled in doggy daycare with Love Your Dog and occasionally heads to Cay 9 Resort and Spa. Lastly Rackam’s. Dog friendly and he LOVES watching the tarpon swim around. We are constantly making sure he doesn't dive off the dock into the water to tackle a 30 pound tarpon.
The hardest is getting used to "island time". It's very endearing in lots of ways, and us Westerners could learn a lesson or two about this time keeping. However, when it comes to waiting for the AC repair man, or in line at the bank, you do miss the luxuries of quick service back home. The easiest is there is always friends to help you out and make sure your transition is just as good as theirs was. After you drop your bags, you have a drink in your hand, unlimited hugs from friends and meeting new people.
Do your research. I used to recruit for a living and no matter how many times I explained the cost of living here, people were usually pretty broke for the first couple of months. Save, and ensure that you do your research about setting up costs. You have to be able to adapt and adjust to the lifestyle too. If you're the type of person who has a hard time adjusting their routine and appreciating a slower lifestyle, than this may not be for you for the term.
I actually split my time growing up between Florida and Cayman. Summers and Christmases were spent here running around with my cousins and working at Foster's. We'd spend weekends out at Cayman Kai eating mangoes, snorkelling, playing on the sandbars, fishing, and just enjoying life in the sun!
I'm the Marketing Senior Manager for Foster's. It’s an amazing position because not only do I get to be part of such a great organization, but my team and I are constantly crafting connections between brands and our customers. We have fun exploring the infinite ways to creatively tell stories that matter to people and encouraging them to step outside their food comfort zone to try something new. Plus, we get to see and hear from the people that make Cayman such a special place every day.
Everything, really. I’ll raise my hand and be the first to admit I spend too much time on my phone, but I make it a point to stop and just look around. There is so much beauty around us that it’s easy to spot a cool angle or a colour that brightens your day. Capturing beauty isn’t some hard to master technique; if you’re feeling what you’ve captured, then it’s Insta worthy.
Images available as premium postcards at select locations across the island with more locations being added all the time. You can purchase them directly through Julian by reaching him on his Instagram handle @iamjfoster
My sweet boy! I fell in love with Remy at an event for Jeep and the Humane Society a couple of years ago, it was love at first sight. He loves long walks down the beach in South Sound or North Side, chasing leaves and tennis balls, and giving me the side eye when he hears me calling him but pretends to not. He’s also super into laying around the house [just like his dad].
Would you judge me if I said my couch? Outside of that though... I’m always up for a snorkel with the turtles at Spott’s, a coffee at Bay Market (so delicious and affordable!) or a drink at Seafire. FAVE THING THOUGH - spending the weekend up at Cayman Kai. It's like a whole other world out there - so relaxing and peaceful.
Ritz, Kimpton or Marriott! The Ritz’ food is top notch and the free flowing Moët seems to make all your troubles go away [at least until Monday]. The Kimpton has stellar views, my favorite dessert station, and delicious handcrafted cocktails. The Marriott’s vibe is unmatched and no matter who you go with you always have a great time.
There are so many options! Da Fish Shack, Coccoloba, Sunset House, Tillie’s.
No questions asked? Stingray City, Botanic Park, Blowholes, Cemetery Beach and The Crystal Caves. Hit those spots and you'll get to see an amazing mix of the beauty this island has to offer.
One of the best parts about living in Cayman is the locals and the stories they have to tell. Although English is our first language, the Caymanian dialect has it's own unique twist that make this island even more spectacular and special. Taken from 'the Cayman Islands Dictionary' by Kevin M. Goring, and in honour of all the native Caymanians out there, here are a few of our favourite Caymanian phrases.
Cayman Mutts, or the politically correct term, 'Cayman Mixes' are a special breed of pooch that are like no other.
Loyal, affectionate and scarily human-like, these puppies will steal your heart and have you locked in for life.
Here are just five reasons why you need one of these adorable canines as a companion.
