A gourmet guide to St Kitts

You might think of St Kitts as a diver’s paradise – and you’d be right – but it is also the destination for discerning diners. The island is awash with innovative restaurants, inventive chefs and laid-back locales showcasing the best Caribbean, international and fusion cuisine. And, of course, you can’t stay in St Kitts without trying the local tipple. Here are six places to discover the island’s food and drink scene

Dine with the locals

Restaurants don’t come much more local than Ital Creations. What started life as a vegan and vegetarian food truck has morphed into a casual café with a permanent home at Fari Organic Farm. This family-run kitchen serves up fresh food from its surroundings, meaning you can savour veggie burgers and moringa smoothies in the cooling shade of a mango tree. Or you might prefer roasted breadfruit topped with mixed bean stew, veggie nuggets and fresh salad. While you wait for your culinary creations, take a tour of the organic garden to see where the ingredients are grown.

Beeline for the beach

There’s no shortage of places to grab a drink and a bite to eat along the tempting shoreline of Cockleshell Bay. But if you’re on the lookout for casual yet refined dining with those effortless beach vibes, then head to Spice Mill. This beachfront spot with views of neighbouring island Nevis is ideal for whiling away the hours on a beach chair while sipping one of its famous Hibiscus Spirits cocktails to go with delicious homemade pizza. Here on a Saturday? Book a table for steak night.

Hang out at the hotel

You might already be familiar with Koi Restaurants thanks to their acclaimed sites in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Their latest outpost is housed in their very own resort on the island. Fans of the stylish Japanese-inspired menu won’t be disappointed as their classic crispy rice and miso-bronzed cod make an appearance alongside more locally inspired dishes. With sleek, sophisticated design and innovative cocktails from the in-house mixologists, this new opening is currently the hottest address in town.

Meet the rum makers

No trip to St Kitts would be complete without sampling the local rum – and there is plenty to choose from. Start your tasting adventure at the oldest surviving rum distillery in the Caribbean. Old Road Rum is the brainchild of St Kitts local Jack Widdowson, whose aim is to bring small-batch rum production back to the island. He’s got plenty of history to work with, as the Old Road Distillery has been delighting discerning rum drinkers since 1681. Alternatively, look out for rums from family-run Brinley Gold Shipwreck at bars and restaurants all over the island. It’s a specialist in flavoured rum, so you’ll find everything from classic spiced to vanilla, coffee, mango and coconut served up neat or with your favourite mixer.

Pasture to plate

At The Kitchen at Belle Mont Farm, it’s all about a local food philosophy. That means sustainably sourcing products and ingredients from the resort’s own organic farm, and working with local producers to support the community, while providing world-class food. The restaurant is housed in the Great House, the main building of the estate, which enjoys both mountain and ocean views, and serves a mix of international and Caribbean favourites. Alternatively, try the resort’s Farm Table, a twice-weekly farm-to-fork event for 30 people. You’ll dine on greens from the garden, roasted lamb and freshly baked bread.

Try a tasting menu

Taking its name from the historic buildings that once safely stored crops and produce throughout winter, the Stone Barn at Park Hyatt in Christophe Harbour offers two select tasting menus of either five or six courses. Book in for the Origins menu and you’ll sample spiny lobster and Nassau grouper, as well as boneless lamb loin with a mint crust, smoked potatoes and Kittitian sour orange. Or opt for the Banana Bay menu for sustainable king prawn and red snapper and Wagyu tenderloin and mi-cuit (cured salmon).