Restaurants in Montego Bay
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Houseboat Grill
Moored in Bogue Bay at Montego Bay Freeport, this converted houseboat is one of Jamaica’s top-notch restaurants. The changing menu offers eclectic Caribbean fusion cuisine such as spicy conch fritters with a rémoulade dipping sauce, or honey-soy-glazed, grilled tenderloin of beef with Chinese oyster sauce, and homemade ice cream. You can dine inside, or reclusively out on the moondeck. The bar draws the local middle class and is open until the last guest goes home. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekends.
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Native Restaurant & Bar
An excellent place to learn about Jamaican cuisine, this modest yet engaging spot features an extensive menu and open-air veranda. Try ‘goat in a boat’ (curried goat in a pineapple half) or ‘yard man fish’ (whole fish escoveitched or steamed). If you’re really hungry, consider the ‘Boonoonoonoos’ sampler (composed of ackee and saltfish, jerk chicken, curried goat, escoveitched fish, plantains and pineapple) – it’s like taking a crash course in Jamaican food.
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Ma Lou’s
With African-themed decor and exciting nouvelle-Jamaican cuisine, this small place tucked away in the Coral Cliff Casino is one of the nicest restaurants in town. The adventurous menu features delicacies such as roasted Peking chicken, curry with coconut and fried plantain, and specialty jerks. A nice touch is the large window open to the kitchen by the front door, where you can chew the fat with the garrulous chef.
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Town House by the Sea
This elegant dining room overlooking the beach takes food seriously, so come seriously hungry. If you’ve been craving snails – and who hasn’t? – you’ll find escargot with a Jamaican twist. Equally rich is the stuffed lobster, red snapper or the filet mignon. If you’re merely peckish, choose from the pasta, curry and Jamaican dishes. The smoked marlin is one of the best on the island.
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Marguerite’s
Adjoining Margaritaville, this celebrated restaurant provides a lovely setting from which to watch the sunset while drinking cocktails, followed by dinner on the elegant clifftop patio. The pricey menu edges toward nouvelle Jamaican and fresh seafood, but also includes sirloin steak and inventive pasta dishes. The chef displays his culinary chops at a central flambé grill.
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Pelican
Don’t be mistaken by the roadside diner appearance of this good-value local favorite. Its menu of Jamaican dishes is outstanding, highlighted by red snapper in parchment paper, cooked in wine and béchamel sauce. Other dishes include stew peas with rice and stuffed conch with rice and peas, but the Pelican also serves sirloin steaks and seafood. Sunday buffet is US$12.
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Nikkita’s
Outstanding French–Caribbean fare that lives up to its expensiveness. In an elegant if dark dining room with marble floors and wrought-iron chairs, you can feast on mouthwatering mahi-mahi, broiled or baked lobster and an array of steak dishes. The perfect spot for a last-night-in-Jamaica send-off bash.
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Pork Pit
Searing tongues for decades, this jumping jerk joint is MoBay’s best. Eat at open-air picnic tables shaded by a gargantuan silk-cotton tree that the chef reckons to be 300 years old. Finger-lickin’ jerk chicken, pork, fish and shrimp are ordered by the pound, with yams, ‘festival’ and sweet potatoes as sides.
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Dragon Court
This is the best fine-dining option for Chinese cuisine in MoBay, located in the modern Fairview Shopping Centre. The menu is replete with Chinese standards with a few standouts including the tempting crispy duckling with plum sauce and ‘reggae fish,’ with pimentos and other Jamaican spices.
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El Campay Gallo
You’ll be warmly welcomed as if you’re one of the family. This exuberant family-run place serves traditional Cuban dishes like empanadillas (meat-filled pastry) and potent cocktails. If you’re lucky, the owner will display his considerable talent as a jazz violinist.
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Adwa
In the unlikely setting of the second floor of a shopping mall, this small vegetarian eatery with a changing menu doles out salads and excellent, filling dishes like curried tofu in addition to fresh fruit juices and smoothies. Grab a vegetable or soy patty to go.
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Brewery
Grab a seat in the roomy dining room or out on the patio overlooking the strip and sample the large portions of Jamaican, Mexican and American dishes that lure visitors and locals, many of whom stick around as the bar takes over. Wednesday has a lobster special.
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White Witch’s Hideaway Pub & Grill
An atmospheric dungeonlike pub beneath the Rose Hall Great House that once served as a dungeon of sorts. The barkeeps will tell you all about it in gruesome detail. It serves typical Jamaican meals, plus fish and chips, sandwiches and other snacks.
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Hillside Restaurant & Lounge
This small, friendly eatery tucked behind the Coral Cliff Hotel serves daily specials like curried conch and oxtail stew, all made to order, hot and fresh. On most afternoons and evenings there is a fierce dominoes competition on the small terrace.
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Nyam ‘N’ Jam
This local fave, adjoining the downtown craft market, has real-deal Jamaican fare and daily specials including standards like jerked meat, and callaloo and saltfish – but also more adventurous choices like cow mouth, cow foot and oxtail.
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Toby’s Good Eats
This casual hotel eatery is a good place for a decent meal followed by a game of pool. The menu features red snapper prepared the local way – steamed in foil with Jamaican veggies and spices – and vegetable dishes plus pasta.
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Pier 1
Although primarily known for being a nightclub, the waterfront setting away from the strip makes this a relaxing place to come for sandwiches, burgers or Jamaican seafood dishes like jerked conch with papaya.
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Guangzhou Restaurant
With an impressive view of the bay and a menu strong on seafood, this old favorite serves up a huge variety of Chinese, Thai and Mongolian dishes. Sample the scrumptious curried squid (US$12).
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Groovy Grouper
Location is the attraction of this spot on Doctor’s Cave Beach. The food – from burgers to lobster – is average, but on a beautiful breezy evening you may not notice.
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Raine’s Burger Bar
This popular breakfast spot serves it up all day, including homemade muffins, omelettes, and ackee and saltfish. Fish and chips and burgers are also available.
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Level Crossing
After exploring Greenwood House you can drink a cold one at the atmospheric Level Crossing, a bar situated near the entrance to the house.
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