The Beach Travel & Lifestyle

Food and travel are inseparable. If you’re visiting the Cayman Islands on a budget, there are delicious, affordable eats for CI$20 or less if you know where to look. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Curated by The Beach team, bookmark this list of top value bites for your next dining adventure. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 1. The freshly made croissants at @KaiboBeach Espresso 🥐⁠⁠ 2. The Trinidadian curries and flaky dhal puri at @singhsroti 🍛⁠⁠ 3. The virtuous bowls, wraps, salads and soups at @IslandNaturalsCafe 🥗⁠⁠ 4. The generous starters and tacos @Casa43Mexican 🌮⁠⁠ 5. The fluffy pockets of goodness @arepa345 👌⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ To name just a few! Got somewhere that should be on this list? Tell us about it! 👇⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 📸 @arepa345 @island_epicurean

Today marks the start of @jacquesscottcayman’s @caymancocktailweek! 🙌 Get ready for seven days of cool events, including flower arranging, a food-pairing workshop, Indian street food brunch, trivia and even a tattooing session (!), featuring top-shelf spirits and insane creations from some of our best bars. ⁠ ⁠ Check out the full line-up at the link in our bio and lock in your friends for the fun🍹

Who loves tacos? *Every single person raises hand* ✋✋✋⁠ ⁠ The taco love is next level in the Cayman Islands, with so many restaurants serving up delicious renditions of this versatile dish. This #TacoTuesday, The Beach editors share their taco checklist ✔️⁠ ⁠ 🌮 Coccoloba⁠ For toes-in-the-sand tacos with pinch-yourself views, Coccoloba @seafireresort is the place. Visit on Tuesdays for bang-for-your-buck tacos and margs. ⁠ ⁠ 🌮 Luca ⁠ @lucacayman’s fine dining restaurant at the heart of stunning Seven Mile Beach ups the ante with fillings like fresh, locally caught tuna.⁠ ⁠ 🌮 Casa 43⁠ Seven Mile hole-in-the-wall @Casa43Mexican has a classic menu of tasty tacos – swing by on a Sunday at happy hour and they’re $3 a pop. ⁠ ⁠ 🌮 Agave ⁠ Handmade corn tortillas topped with the best, freshest ingredients – @agavecayman works hard to nail every element, and its tacos are a must-try. ⁠ ⁠ 📸 @madelinejamrok

Against all odds, excellent restaurants continue to crop up in the Cayman Islands 💙 Some of the latest openings exciting The Beach team’s editors include: ⁠ ⁠ @MsPipers, a cottage garden with beautiful, thoughtful details and a produce-driven menu 🌺⁠ @UnionCayman, an upscale dining destination on the Camana Bay waterfront ⛵⁠ The new-look @TomFooderyCayman, dishing up innovative twists on Caribbean cuisine in a good-vibes setting ✌️⁠ ⁠ Keep an eye on our pages for more soon-to-be-open spots! 👀⁠ ⁠ 📸 @mspipers

October means the return of one of the Cayman Islands’ most decadent events – #RestaurantMonth! 👏 Every year, the islands’ culinary minds concoct brilliant menus and offer them for a fraction of the price, and The Beach editors have scoured the line-up to bring you five highlights.⁠ ⁠ 🍽️ @levelecayman’s menu of super-fresh seafood, hand-cut pasta and Italian flavours ⁠ 🍽️ @anchorandden’s globe-trotting line-up of juicy wontons, truffle aioli-topped burgers and New York-style cheesecake ⁠ 🍽️ @lloydssmokehouse’s saucy barbecue, soul food sides and fudgy brownies ⁠ 🍽️ @caymancabana’s Caribbean mix – think fresh catch, curries and favourite local ingredients ⁠ 🍽️ Ave @seafireresort’s Meditteranean-inspired menu, feat. dishes like lemony saganaki and honey-drenched loukoumades

The Cayman Islands has several distinct areas, each with its own flavour. From the laidback cool of West Bay to the sparkle of Seven Mile Beach, the sprawling seaside mansions of South Sound and easy-breezy vibes of East End, North Side and Bodden Town, there’s something for all comers. ⁠ ⁠ Which suits your style best? Explore them all at the neighbourhood guide linked in our bio, brought to you by our friends at Bovell 💡⁠ ⁠ @bovellrealestatecayman 🏠⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @damien_murphy

The sea surrounding the Cayman Islands is a playground for watersports, boating tours, and snorkelling and diving adventures 💙 Which activity is topping your bucket list? 👇⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 1. Catching air on a kiteboard⁠⁠ 2. Sailing where the wind takes you⁠⁠ 3. Diving in the deep blue⁠⁠ 4. Boating at speed for a sea breeze⁠⁠ 5. Chasing the perfect wave ⁠⁠ 6. Paddleboarding fun (📸 @heatherholtphotography)⁠⁠

For a tropical vacation 🏖️ with a variety of accommodation, the Cayman Islands has everything from beachfront resorts to cute cottages, sprawling private villas and character-filled bed and breakfasts.⁠ ⁠ Start with this Beach-approved selection, including some of the best at every point of the Grand Cayman compass 🧭⁠ ⁠ Grand Cayman Marriott, Seven Mile Beach⁠ There’s nothing like a luxe resort stay for a sense of indulgence and holiday fun 😎 Set on Seven Mile Beach, the stylish suites @grandcaymanmarriott come with an array of on-site dining @anchorandden, one of the islands’ best spas in @botanikaunion, plus a pool for lounging around with cocktails and the ocean just beyond 💙⁠ ⁠ Botanica, West Bay ⁠ If you’re a traveller with an eye for design and a preference for stays that feel like home, put @botanicacayman on your radar. These stunning cottages blend a clean, modern aesthetic with cool coastal touches, featuring rainwater showers 🚿 and super-soft bamboo and linen bedding. A pool 👙 tropical gardens 🌴 and cruisers 🚲 to make the short cycle to Seven Mile Beach complete the package. ⁠ ⁠ The Cottages, East End⁠ For that real Caribbean feeling, it pays to explore the outer corners. East End’s lush vegetation 🍃 cooling breezes ⛵ and colourful character make it the ideal destination for those seeking serenity in paradise. The sea greens and blues of @thecottagescayman match the incredible views of the Caribbean Sea from every room, with each of the 10 cottages boasting a unique style. ⁠ ⁠ Rum Point Residences, North Side⁠ Rum Point is another dreamy destination for holidaymakers, with popular places like Stingray City and Starfish Point right off its shores ⭐ The area’s @rumpointclubresidences is a striking small hotel by the sea, its crisp whites and sleek finishes popping against floor-to-ceiling ocean views. This hotel’s suites are spacious and well-equipped for extended stays.⁠ ⁠ 📸 @grandcaymanmarriott @botanicacayman @thecottagescayman @damien_murphy ⁠

The Cayman Islands might share the sparkling Caribbean Sea with several other isles, but one thing that sets it apart is its drinking and dining🍴⁠ ⁠ As the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, there are so many options to explore – below, The Beach brings you in on a few local treasures ✨⁠ ⁠ 🍴Agave, George Town ⁠ ⁠ In an unassuming area of George Town, @agavecayman is a Beach favourite for its commitment to authentic Mexican cuisine using local ingredients 🌮 A vibrant atmosphere, passionate, knowledgeable staff, and cut-above food – not to mention the extensive mezcal and tequila offering – make it worth getting off the beaten track to try. ⁠ ⁠ 🍴Bacaro, West Bay⁠ ⁠ @bacaro_cayman is beloved for its Venetian-style menu of share-friendly dishes and sharp service in a relaxing environment ⛵ Enjoy the breeze off the water alongside a selection of small bites washed down with a creative cocktail or wine from the well-curated list. It’s also a chill spot for a Saturday breakfast 🥞⁠ ⁠ 🍴Agua, Seven Mile Beach⁠ ⁠ There’s not much better than kicking back with a drink on @aguacayman’s tree-shaded terrace – or sliding into one of its plush banquettes, or taking a seat at its intimate bar, for that matter. The sleek interiors with aquamarine features set the scene for a menu with lots of fresh seafood plus Italian and Peruvian influences. While you’re there, pop into Agua’s new cocktail bar, @NextDoorCayman 🍸⁠ ⁠ 📸 @aguacayman

If you’re coming to the Caribbean, beach time is undoubtedly on the agenda ☀️ One of the best parts about the Cayman Islands is that no matter what glitzy resort or waterfront mansion is on it, every beach is open to the public.⁠ ⁠ With so many patches of sand to choose from, The Beach editors share their tried-and-true faves at the link in our bio ⛱️⁠ ⁠ Want more travel tips and insider guides to the best of the Cayman Islands? Subscribe to our e-newsletter 📧⁠ ⁠ 📸 @heatherholtphotography

Another day, another pinch-yourself moment in the Cayman Islands, with crystalline waters allowing for a perfect view of this pod of wild dolphins 🐬 Magic ✨⁠ ⁠ Want a guide to which marine parks to visit and the seasonal highlights to check out now? @doecayman has just launched an app where you can do exactly that 📱– download it and plan your adventure. ⁠ ⁠ 🎥 Matt Diaz

It’s #InternationalDogDay! 🐶 The Cayman Islands is a dog lovers’ paradise 🌴 with public beaches around the island and plenty of pup-friendly restaurants and hotels. If you’re missing your furry friend while visiting, @caymanislandshumanesociety offers a dog walking 🐾 and foster programme for willing volunteers – pop by to tee up a play date 🐕