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.
Christmas is especially exciting for little ones. Everything about the festive season is pure magic through the eyes of a child, the lights, traditions, carols and of course, the occasional sighting of Santa! We have compiled a list of the best Christmas events for kids (and parents) to enjoy together.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a more romantic location in the Caribbean than picturesque Grand Cayman. Its pristine white beaches are framed with lush green palm leaves, freckled with fallen coconuts and lined with towering luxury hotels. Couples travelling to Grand Cayman can rest assured that romance is in the salty sea air and practically unavoidable.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia & grew up in Cape Town, South Africa
I was working a desk job in Fort Lauderdale and desperately looking for a change. I got a call from a friend of mine living in Grand Cayman and he pitched the idea of bartending on an island in the Caribbean. Within a month I was working behind a bar in the beautiful Cayman Islands.
It’s summer all year long, but that doesn’t take much time to adjust to. The pace of life is a lot more relaxed here compared to big-city living. And let’s not forget, there’s no tax!
My struggles on island were minimal. It was a bit of a shock realising everything closes on Sundays. The people make it so easy to settle in… #CAYMANKIND
I love to go to the beach! Also, the service industry is a very tight-knit group so it’s always fun to visit friends where they work and catch up. Did I say BEACH?!
I work for an amazing fine-dining restaurant called Agua. Our menu is a combination of Italian and Peruvian-fusion, and of course the cocktail bar must be mentioned. Alternatively, I really enjoy Bacaro. It’s geared around Sicilian tapas-style dining and it’s right on the water. Kick back with a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine… or 2, and you’re laughing!
Our sister restaurant Catch! It’s right on the water with an incredible view and equally-matched beverage program.
The island has an incredible sense of community. It’s a great place to make friends and meet people from all over the world. It’s such a melting pot of cultures, there’s something for everyone here. And don’t forget, we only have 2 seasons: hot summer and less-hot summer!
Hurricane season is always an interesting period. Thankfully, I haven’t experienced anything worth noting in the 7 years I’ve lived here.
Stingray City and Snorkel Tour with Captain Marvin’s Tours
Give the island some time, it will grow on you. Appreciate it for what it is, and don’t get frustrated for what it’s not.
I am from southern town of Potenza about an hour east of the beautiful Amalfi Coast.
When the previous owner of Edoardo's took over in 2002, I was living in England. They called an co-worker of mine and asked him if he wanted to move here and he couldn't so he asked me if I was interested.
I have not left! I have now been in Cayman for almost 17 years.
Yes I have been here the whole time and, in fact, I ended up buying the business a few years ago with my Business partner Brian. Edoardo's has become my family over the years and couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
The Filet Cambozola is my absolute favorite! This dish is a filet mignon wrapped in bacon with melted Cambozola cheese on top - it’s to die for!!!
A bottle of bubbles anywhere at the beach is my absolute favorite spot.
I love to be involved in Crossfit with my Crossfit 7Mile family as well as long walks on the beach.
Make the most of the island’s beauty, enjoy the beach and some water sports as much as you can!
Kittiwake, the Sand Bar and any remote beaches on the East End/North Side of the island.
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!
Tampa, FL USA
Nine years
Bartend
Margarita (also my favorite to drink :)
Calico’s!
Boat day to Stingray City and Starfish Point
The people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made.
Morgan’s.
Keep an open mind and open heart, there’s a lot to learn on our little island.
I moved to Cayman in November 2004.
I was finishing up with High School and contemplating a gap year. Right before I booked my ticket I was at a party and met two guys that had been chased back by Hurricane Ivan. We chatted for a while and they sold me on life in the Caribbean so I took a chance. The next day I booked a ticket, told my family and 2 days later was on my way.
I work at Calico Jacks and also moonlight as a DJ.
I usually follow the jam night circuit. Each bar hosts a jam night on a different day of the week. Lonestar, The Lodge, and Rackams to name a few.
It changes all the time but mostly something involving the ocean. Beach, Diving, Fishing etc. We are so spoiled here that sometimes we forget how lucky we are.
Island Drive - the layers only really get peeled back when you head out to the other districts. I always tell people to head out to "the other side" for good fish fry and a maybe a Mudslide with a few stops in between.
Almost too hard to choose. I don't have a favourite restaurant, but, favourite dishes at different restaurants depending on what mood I'm in. If I have to pick one, I'd say Copper Falls, they have been around for years, are consistent, and reasonably priced.
Calico Jacks without a doubt.
Join a club, sports league and or a society!
I was born in Poland, then lived in Germany for 18 months at 7, and finally moved to Canada at 9. You can decide which part of that was the growing up bit!
It was November in Canada, and my then boyfriend had got a job here. I shouldn’t have bothered with him so much, but Cayman sounded amazing in the face of a Canadian winter. I didn’t actually move here until July of the next year, but just knowing the move was coming made it bearable.
I’m a co-owner at a Vegan restaurant called Bread and Chocolate in George Town, but have become pretty hands off as I’m in the second year of homeschooling my son, Xero.
BBQ Jackfruit sliders. No, the Island Bowl. Or the beet burger. And now we have the Impossible Burger too. It’s like choosing a favourite child, except it’s food, so it’s even more difficult!
Bandido’s, Yoshi’s, and Southern Spice should cover the basic food groups. For an occasion: Gilbert at Cracked Conch does absolutely amazing tasting menus with a bit of notice. Plus he’s vegan himself, so there’s some extra love involved.
Bay Market has nice coffee, and the offspring can run around while I actually get to enjoy it. There isn’t a whole lot of opportunity to meet friends in the daytime.
There’s really nothing that compares to Seven Mile Beach early in the morning, although now that I’m a West Bayer, I like the dock at sunset. Still not Seven Mile though.
Go for it! I mean, worst case, you’ll end up back home after a short, unsuccessful vacation. More likely, you’ll come and find a new home, discover fun new ways to spend your weekends, teach your liver some serious endurance, and find awesome friends from all over the globe. And then you’ll turn around and it’ll be 15 years after you came for just 1.
I like Carey’s Karma Closet because recycling!, and they have the kid’s closet too. To be honest, I don’t shop for clothes much on island. My mom shops for the kids like it’s her full time job, and they have older cousins for hand-me-downs, so I’ve bought them nearly nothing clothes-wise. I’m not buying me anything until the fat goes away, and considering I’m a food hog, that’s not happening any time soon!
Barbados!
Was looking for a change and got a job offer so I decided to give it a try.
Lifestyle is similar to what I am used to so there was very little culture shock for me. The cost of living is reasonable for an island lifestyle and I get some uncrowded surf as well!
Surf is VERY inconsistent so I would not advise anyone to come here on a surf trip unless they can be sure there is a swell coming. We wait for storms sometimes to get the bigger stuff.
Vodka soda with lime... or if I am really thirsty I would go for the Red Stripe.
Everywhere!
Beach... always the beach!
The lifestyle, it can’t get any better than these surroundings.
The size of the island can make it boring at times, especially for people who are used to living in larger cities, etc.
Do your research and ask questions of others already living here. I used this website https://caymanresident.com/ for a lot of info as well as EcayTrade to get cost of rentals/car etc. Remember you are moving to an island so things will move a bit slower than you are used to.
18 years (with one year away.. long enough to know I wanted to come back.)
A friend helped me get a “3 month working vacation”
Missing my family back home in Canada. They now visit several times a year..
Try out new restaurants in our vibrant culinary scene.
Incentive Travel Sales & Destination Management
Scuba Diving, snorkeling, caving, waverunners, beach for days!
Icoa for breakfast, Ragazzi for lunch, Grand Old House for a fancy dinner and Peppers for a more Casual one. Royal Palms for drinks!
Don’t be afraid to go out by yourself and explore the island on your own. The people in Cayman are extremely friendly and welcoming. You certainly will make friends who before long become your family! Also take advantage of the amazing food scene and try something new. We have over 200 restaurants with chefs from all over the world. No matter what type of food you choose, the recipes are authentic and the food is amazing. It’s hard to have a bad meal in the Cayman Islands.
Born in Toronto, but moved around a bunch. Since I graduated college in Barrie, Whistler was home until I moved to Cayman.
The reason I left was burnout. Too much drinking, partying, fomo of the new place. But everytime I left, I kept in contact because people here are like really close family. When opportunities arose, I was excited to come back and see my friends, and wake up wearing board shorts everyday! Also, everytime I came back I took a new job and moved up the hospitality ladder. Kind of like a promotion each time I returned.
Getting used to the slow moving process. Bank cards can take months to arrive, the hoops you have to jump through to get bills in your name.
Palm trees! Also, walking down the beach is just as busy as the bar. You can see all your friends at 3 in the afternoon being active and enjoying the sun and sand.
Calicos, hands down. If you don't know why, you've never visited calicos.
These days, my favourite cocktail would be an Aperol Spritz. Westin beach bar has the best view for a spritz, but Bácaro makes a mean one too!
Finding that quiet spot on Seven Mile Beach.
Self guided walk up Seven Mile Beach stopping at as many bars as you can. Or taking the water taxi from Camana Bay to Kaibo. You get a nice boat ride, plus you get to see a different side of the island.
Trini doubles from Singh’s Roti in George Town.
Not to waste money on a car or the best accommodation at the start. Live with some roommates, take the local bus, learn the way of the island. Also, come for vacation first and check out where you will be working. Meet your bosses and coworkers. Maybe it's not the right spot for you. With visas it's not as easy to switch jobs if you get stuck at one you don’t like.
My name is Javiera Aguayo. Born in the beautiful city of Santiago, Chile but island girl at heart. Most of my days are spent with family and friends, working out or at the beach. I LOVE to eat, and by eat, I mean pretty much everything and anything (lol). My favorite types of foods would be seafood (crab and lobster are my favorite) and sushi.
I moved to Grand Cayman with my mother and two sisters when I was 6 years old. We were first introduced to the islands by our grandma (Tita) who had been living here for a few years. We came for our first visit in 1995 and immediately fell in love with the relaxed island life. I just remember it being very hot and humid when we landed but the people were so friendly.
Coming from a big city to such a small island you immediately are embraced by the quietness of the rock. We lived in a farm with a lot of land. I have fond memories of my sisters and I riding our bikes all over the place with our dogs chasing behind us. We were always outdoors. I always felt safe here!
It would definitely have to be the food. Not saying this just because I live here but Cayman is top quality when it comes to cuisine. From their small local spots to their 5-Star restaurants, they truly cater to all taste buds.
How small the island is. Everyone knows everyone’s business. There’s many times I would just love to go somewhere and not know anyone there.
That’s such a tough one! Calypso Grill - I love this spot for lunch or dinner because it overlooks the water and their food never disappoints. They always have amazing dishes on special and you have to try their sticky toffee pudding!
Casa 43 - My fiancé and I probably go here at least once a week (I am not kidding.) Their street corn is a must and all their tacos are unique and delicious. You also must try their churros. Ragazzi - Their pizzas are the best on island. They also have a great selection of pastas; try their mushroom ravioli. Copper Falls - Best steaks on island in my opinion. This place never disappoints and their staff is always so friendly.
Order take out, grab a bottle of wine and have a picnic out on the beach on full moon.
Spotts Beach is a nice quiet beach good for snorkeling and if you are lucky you may spot a turtle or two.
This one is not much of a hidden gem but Starfish Point is always a nice weekend spot on the more quieter side of the island. A lot of the boat parties are held here.
Fried snapper from the Grape Tree Cafe in Bodden Town.
The Westin Hotel. Love to go to their pool bar for happy hour. The ambience of the place combined with their drinks and the views of the ocean will always guarantee a good time.
In 2004 my brother was working for DiveTech as a scuba instructor. I had spent a year as a journalist at a small town paper in Alberta before heading to Whistler to work as a photographer for the ski season. At the end of the season I was wondering what my next move would be, whether to look for another journalism job or not, when my brother called me up and asked if I wanted to work as an underwater videographer making videos for tourists on snorkelling!
