Barbados - Culture, Food and Travel Tips

Barbados is an island located in the Caribbean and it is home to approximately 280,000 people. People from Barbados are referred to as Bajan or Barbadian. Barbados is known for its stunning beaches with a coastline that runs for about 96km. Barbados is also known for Rihanna (singer, actress and entrepreneur) who doesn’t forget her roots and is always representing her country. We were excited to finally take the boys to Barbados to hang with their grandparents who are snowbirds and live in St. James. And of course, they were there to visit extended family and to learn more about their Bajan culture. They are half Bajan and proud of it!

TOUR THE ISLAND BY CAR

Fun fact! It takes approximately three hours to drive the entire island of Barbados. But it’ll take you longer because you’re going to want to make some stops for food and to take in the views. A couple of things to note to prep you, motorists drive on the left hand side of the road (they follow the British driving system), there are lots of roundabouts and you’ll need to get a visitor driving permit. My father-in-law drove us towards the east coast of the island.

We went to Farley Hill National Park in St. Andrews. It’s a spot where families come to picnic and the views from the top of the hill looking out to St. Andrew’s parish is gorgeous. There is an entrance fee for guests, so come prepped with blankets, drinks and snacks. Large mahogany trees and a garden with rare native plants. There is also the ruins of Farley Hill house which was once one of the largest mansions on the island. You cannot access the mansion, it’s fenced off.

The Barbados Wildlife reserve is across the street from Farley Hill. You’ll see the famous Barbados Green Monkeys along with reptiles, peacocks, deer etc. We didn’t go. Throughout the island we saw the monkeys. There were even a couple running around my in-laws’ backyard.

If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat after, head over to Sand Dunes (you get the deets on this restaurant when I talk about Bajan food). On the east coast, you can also check out Bathsheba Beach. The surfers come out to the east coast and the waves can be quite rough and dangerous. One other area to drive through is Rihanna Drive. The house it tucked away and it’s worth a quick stop. There is a monument along with some local bars.

Other spots we enjoyed from a previous trip to Barbados is Speightstown. It’s quaint with pretty architecture. And all I can remember is buying coco bread there and it was soooo good. Don’t ask me the name of the bakery.

BAJAN FOOD

Barbados is known for their flying fish and throughout our stay I always opted to order a fish cutter (Bajan sandwich made with salt bread). My boys love macaroni pie and it’s not the mac ‘n cheese style that you’re thinking. It’s bursting with flavour and it’s got a kick to eat! Bring on the heat..I love spicy foods. I spent my entire trip eating Bajan food and the options are endless.

Links to our favs

Oistens Fish Fry – open seven days a week but to get in on the full out experience show up early evening on a Friday or Saturday. It is a fishing community and there is a fresh fish market and local vendors in the area. The actual fish fry is where the magic happens. An opportunity to eat the best local food from numerous vendors, a casual atmosphere, plenty of seating, music and dancing.
Rum Stop – located in Holetown, in the upscale Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, Rum Stop speciaizes in rum infused Bajan cuisine. We watched the Superbowl here and celebrated with the many proud Bajans dancing and singing to Rihanna’s performance. Fishcakes and fish cutters for hubby and I, while the boys at burgers and chicken fingers. The desserts were amazing, rum and chocolate marble cheesecake and bread and butter pudding with a caramel rum sauce. While the restaurant is in an upscale mall, the atmosphere is casual. A little on the pricier side but well worth it. Quick tip: Limegrove Centre is beautiful and boujie! High end shops but worth checking out spots that carry local designers and souvenirs. Hot tip – the centre is closed on Sundays and they close 7pm from Monday – Saturday.
Sand Dunes – located in St. Andrews parish and more of a local setting far from a beach, I would recommend eating here if you’re on the east side of the island exploring or just cruising. While it’s not near a beach, buses come through with tourists and the locals know what’s up. My father-in-law Earl took us to this spot and knows the owner. Generous portion sized meals and the fish is packed with flavour!
Yelluh Meat – found this spot on the “gram”. A build your own breadfruit bowl or order from the menu. Breadfruit is similar to the texture of a potato but grows on trees and has a hard shell. It can be mashed or roasted. Yelluh Meat roasts breadfruit and fill it with what you desire. We ordered a tuna and their butter bowl. We didn’t get a chance to go during the day to watch them roasting the breadfruit. Michelle (hubby’s cousin) ordered ahead of time and we got there before closing to pick it up. On my bucket list to go by and watch the roast breadfruit.
Chefette – restaurant chain catering to families with kids playgrounds at various locations. We order here because their rotis are so good. I always opt for the beef. The rest of the menu is your standard burgers and fries. We had our last fill of Chefette at the airport. It’s not inside so you’ll have to order and bring it into the airport and there is no problem at security bringing it. Just allow yourself enough time, because there is a line up and you don’t want to risk missing your flight out. And if you love their rotis, you can also order 24 hours in advance and take those bad boys back home with you.

Other honourable mentions that support local Bajan businesses:

Amanda’s Products – if you’re going to eat in, season your meats with Amanda’s Bajan Seasonings. Keep it Bajan alright! They sell all sorts of condiments and spices. I also like their hot sauce. I took a couple of seasonings home. I recommend wrapping them in bag and then clothes. I had one Bajan seasoning bag burst. Their products can be found at Massy grocery stores.
Wyndhams Coffee – family-owned coffee roasters. Google maps was not playing nice the day I wanted to stop by their cafe. I reached out to the owner and he was so kind and dropped off a box of goodies for me to try. If you can’t make it out to the cafe, you can pick up beans in the grocery stores and airport duty free on your way out.
Agapey Chocolate Factory & Shop – located in Bridgetown, the shop is luxury chocolate and gourmet ice cream. Vegan, gluten and dairy free, I bought the Mount Gay Rum Caramel Truffle Bar and Coconut Milk Chocolate. If you’re a chocolate aficionado, you can book a factory tour. Their chocolates can also be found at Massy grocery stores and airport shops. The best selection is found at the factory store.
Crisma Cream Liqueur – I found this liqueur shopping at Massy grocery stores but they also have it’s also avail at the airport. So, I picked up a bottle and brought it home. It’s so good but on rocks or add a splash to your coffee. This liqueur cannot be found in Canada.
Sorrel Flirt Liqueur – never got around to getting this because you need to go to St. Nicholas Abbey’s Plantation where you have to pay entrance to even go to their gift shop. Cannot find this anywhere except for here. Maybe one day.

DAY or HALF DAY EXCURSIONS

HARRISON’S CAVE – the tour takes all guests through the 2.5km tunnel via tram and you get front and centre with the crystalized limestone stalagmites, flowing streams and crystal waters. It can get quite hot during the tour and water drips from the walls of the cave, so make it a bad hair day. After the tour, the group went on a 30 minute nature walk experience. Mother nature is quite spectacular with huge trees, tall plants and flowers blooming. We ate lunch onsite and it was a BBQ menu with some Bajan items. We ordered fish cutters, fish cakes and sweet potato fries. The boys had hotdogs. While we waited, we BIG CHUNES coming through the speakers while playing dominoes. There is a gift shop onsite and we picked up a couple of souvenirs. Hot tip: book your reservation ahead of time. They book up fast.

CHEAPSIDE MARKET – Maxwell and I were all hyped up to go to a farmers market because he was on the hunt for passionfruit. Markets are typically set up on weekends, but Cheapside Market is open Tuesday through Saturday. We showed up mid week excited to go fruit shopping, but because we went to visit on a Wednesday, there was only a handful of vendors. It was a little bit of a letdown for us, but next time we’ll know to head down on a Saturday when all vendors and local artists set up shop.

MOUNT GAY RUM TASTING – Barbados is the birthplace of rum with the world’s oldest running rum distillery – Mount Gay Distillery. We did the Signature Rum Tasting in Bridgetown, and we learned that the distillery was founded in 1703 and since day one, they create their rums with only three ingredients, water, cane and airborne yeast. The rum tasting package ran for about 1 hour. My husband’s niece and her fiancé joined us along with our boys. We were part of a bigger group with guests from a cruise ship. You can have drinks at the bar or grab a bite to eat before or after the tasting and there is a gift shop where I picked myself up Mount Gay Rum hot sauce. I was told that the beach is also near by so you can head out there afterwards. However, I don’t believe you can walk, you’ll need to catch a ride.

Other popular distilleries for rum tasting are St. Nicholas Abbey, Foursquare Rum Factory and West Indies Rum Distillery.

FOR OUR NEXT TRIP: to be real, next time I’m going to leave the kids with their grandparents (if they will babysit them of course!). It is a family friendly excursion; however, I’d prefer it to be just hubby and I alone or with other adults. My bucket list for the next time is to register for the Mount Gay Rum – Master Class and Cocktail Workshop. Leaving the link here so I can manifest a workshop sooner than later.

BEACH BUMMIN’

The beaches are just gorgeous with soft white sand and stunning turquoise water. The West Coast aka Platinum Coast can be found along the parishes of St. James, St. Peter and St. Michael. The beaches are public and accessible, however kilometers upon kilometers of villas, resorts and hotels can be found. And don’t worry, there are restaurants, bars and amenities along the beach but with easy access, it comes with a higher price point. I suggest packing snacks and drinks. Our villa was in St James Parish about two kilometers from Holetown. The beach was 200m across the street from us, but barely any sidewalks so we had to cross quickly to get across the way.

BEACH TIPS

The restaurants along the beaches are convenient but comes with a higher price point. With kids or no kids, I still suggest packing your own snacks and then grabbing a bite to eat or having a drink during happy hour.
Beach chair, umbrella rentals and children’s beach toys are available in the touristy area and you can rent a chair all day for $15 USD. I brought our buckets and floaties from home. So worth it.
The beach we hung out is Alleynes Bay, not a lot of families and more of a couples thing, but the boys were happy to keep each other company. Leaving you the link to help you find the perfect beach for you when you book your trip to Barbados.

I wish I had more to share re: beach and water activities. My boys are happy with a bucket, shovel and their floaties. That is family activity enough for us. However, I did a little bit of browsing just in case the boys got bored.

Atlantis Submarine Tour – located in Bridgetown, you can explore the underworld via a submarine by day or night dive to check out the fish and coral formations. You’ll need to book ahead, because they sell out fast.
Animal Flower Cave – located in St. Lucy (North Coast). It is known to be one of the beautiful meeting points of the Atlantic Ocean and the Carribean Sea. I came across it scrolling through the “gram” and it was recommended as being an instagram photo op. Restaurants, local stalls and a playground is to be found near by.

Hoping the glimpse into the culture, food and vibe of Barbados has you curious. It’s a destination for families looking for a fun, relaxing, and culturally enriching vacation. It will be a trip you’ll never forget.

Until the next adventure,

ShineLily XO