The Marine Room
The Marine Room specializes in fresh seafood and ingredients, with a Mediterranean influence, and overlooks the Bight Beach.
Turks & Caicos Restaurants
Unearth New Flavors
A Hub for Great Dining
There's no shortage of opportunites to enjoy an incredible meal in the Turks and Caicos Islands. There are over 60 restaurants and cafés to discover on the culinary island of Providenciales, with offerings ranging from timeless and fresh local seafood dishes to international favorites.
You will find a range of cuisines, ambiances, and settings, from breezy oceanfront restaurants that are perfect for getting drinks to upscale gourmet establishments ideal for date nights or special occasions.
Best Restaurants
Gourmet Tastes
Fine Dining
While you can find gourmet dining on a few of the other main islands, Providenciales (also known as Provo) offers the best range of gourmet restaurants. There’s always a great restaurant or bistro to explore and new dishes to try.
Several fine dining restaurants are led by award-winning international chefs, who combine their unique dining backgrounds and culinary experiences from around the world with Turks and Caicos tastes.
Unbeatable View
Beachfront Dining
Beachfront dining is a must during your visit, whether you're looking for a relaxed lunch or a romantic dinner. One of the best locations to dine beachfront is world-famous Grace Bay Beach, which boasts sparkling turquoise waters and miles of white sand.
Some fine dining restaurants are more casual, serving bar and grill fare and local cuisine, while others offer a more upscale atmosphere and gourmet menu. Ever-present is the peaceful Turks and Caicos breeze that blows year-round.
Coffee and Treats
Cafés and Bakeries
Fresh coffee is easy to find on Providenciales, whether you want a simple drip coffee to start the day or a fancy cappuccino or foam latté. Most cafés are in Grace Bay, with the earliest opening from 7:00 AM.
Grace Bay is also home to two bakeries that serve fresh bread and artisanal sourdough loaves, croissants, muffins, chocolatines, and baguettes. These tend to sell out early, so it's best to go in the morning.
Morning Indulgences
Breakfast and Brunch
There's a nice selection of breakfast and brunch spots to try on Providenciales, whether you're looking for a light meal of a croissant and coffee or a full continental brunch with a mimosa. Several beachfront restaurants offer weekly breakfast specials, allowing you to enjoy your omelette, eggs Benedict, or bagel and lox with a view.
Breakfast on Providenciales is typically served until 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. You can also find themed brunches held throughout the year on Providenciales, which often feature live music.
Eat Like a Local
Authentic Turks & Caicos Cuisine
The favorite dishes and foods of the Turks and Caicos have traditionally been prepared from freshly caught seafood, local greens and produce, and imported rice and grains. The most popular seafood is queen conch, a giant sea snail prepared as fried conch fritters, conch salad (ceviche), cracked conch, and more.
The local restaurants and the weekly island Fish Fry on Providenciales are well worth a visit to try conch, lobster, and traditional dishes like fish stews, pan-cooked fish with peas n' rice, and seafood chowders.
Popular Restaurants
The Best Restaurants
Resort Dining
If you're looking for a resort that has great dining choices onsite, a few properties stand out. The Ritz-Carlton, located in central Grace Bay, offers four excellent restaurants and several bars. There’s BLT Steak, the fine Italian Casa Nonna with its extensive wine list, Coralli Restaurant, and Noori, which offers sushi, raw foods, and light fare. The resort also has an elegant lobby bar, a beachfront bar, a café, and the Beach Buggy food truck, which serves refreshments in a retro Volkswagen van.
Seven Stars also has nice dining options, with Seven, The Deck, and The Farm located on the grounds of the resort. Just down the road is The Terrace, which serves everything from conch salad and nachos to juicy burgers.
Turks & Caicos ResortsGreat Resort Restaurants
Choosing a resort with great onsite dining can do a lot to simplify your vacation. Most resorts offer options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The cuisines and the number of onsite restaurants varies widely. Some resort restaurants offer room service, while other do not. Certain restaurants have a dress code.
Seven
This fine dining restaurant is well-known for its excellent drinks and cocktails, seafood, and luxe ambiance.
Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar
The open-air Infiniti is right on Grace Bay Beach, and offers fine dining and a luxurious beachfront atmosphere.
BLT Steak
BLT Steak is Provo's only dedicated steakhouse, with prime cuts, delicious seafood dishes, and an excellent wine list.
Solana
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at this laid-back bar and grill restaurant right on Grace Bay Beach.
Casa Nonna
Serving fresh seasonal Italian dishes, Casa Nonna provides a cozy yet upscale atmosphere overlooking Grace Bay Beach.
The Farm on Grace Bay
The Farm is one of the only restaurants on Providenciales specializing in vegetarian cuisine, and even grows some produce onsite.
Lua Restaurant
Lua has an elegant open-air ambiance, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner overlooking South Bank's Lagoon.
Types of Cuisine
A wide array of cuisines and countries are represented in the local dining scene. Whether you're in the mood for European flavors (Italian, French, Mediterranean, and contemporary fusion cuisine), Asian cuisine such as traditional Japanese sushi, Thai, and Indian—or even just the classic burger or pizza—there's a large selection of cuisines to choose from.
Featured Dishes
BLT Steak
Wagyu cowboy bone-in ribeye steak
Mangrove Bay Restaurant
Steamed local snapper
Casa Nonna
Saffron risotto with scallops, asparagus, and piccata sauce
Simone's Bar and Grill
Conch salad made from fresh local conch
Las Brisas Restaurant
Local lobster with baked potato and vegetables
Terra Mar Restaurant
Glazed Wagyu short rib with sweet potato pave
The Deck
Tacos with local wahoo and seasoned fries
Baci Ristorante
Wahoo with side salad
Noori
The nigiri
Turks & Caicos Restaurant Locations
Most Turks and Caicos restaurants are located in the Grace Bay area within walking distance of many resorts and world-famous Grace Bay Beach. Several other areas offer restaurants that are worth exploring. Driving distances between these locations are typically 30 minutes or less, with Five Cays being the farthest from the Grace Bay area.
Grace Bay
Grace Bay is the main center for fine dining and many popular restaurants, such as Caicos Café, Coco Bistro, and Cocovan.
Long Bay
Several luxury resorts are located in Long Bay and have onsite fine dining options spanning Japanese, Peruvian, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisine.
Turtle Cove
You can find Italian, bar and grill, Caribbean, and fine dining cuisine in Turtle Cove, which is just 10 minutes by car from Grace Bay.
Five Cays
Several of the top island dining restaurants for conch, lobster, and fish are beachfront in this historic fishermen's settlement.
Blue Hills
Blue Hills is where you'll find the famous Da Conch Shack restaurant, which serves cracked conch in a colorful beachfront setting.
Restaurant Prices
Dining prices tend to be higher than equivalent restaurants in much of the United States, yet are on par with cities such as London, Toronto, and New York.
It's common to pay 22% or more in tax on your meal. Some restaurants charge additional fees, or an additional gratuity for large parties.
Exclusive Dining
Private Chef Services
The Turks and Caicos attracts top-tier talent when it comes to chefs, and many of them offer their services for private dinners. A private chef is an excellent option if you're staying at a luxury villa or vacation rental, want a unique dining experience, or have dietary restrictions or allergies.
Collectively, the private chefs on Providenciales have a large range of specializations, from local cuisine to European and Asian. It's also possible to hire a private bartender, who can concoct tasty cocktails that incorporate foreign spirits or the local Bambarra rum.
Events and Weddings
Catering
Whether you need a caterer for a destination wedding or a coprorate event, many Turks and Caicos restaurants offer catering for special events.
These restaurants can work with you to plan the perfect menu, overseen by their executive chef team. You can also find dedicated catering companies on Providenciales that can put together just about any menu for your event, from a local buffet with fresh-caught grouper and fish tacos to plated fine dining dinners.
Saving a Seat
Making Reservations
Reservations are recommended for dinner at most of the Grace Bay and fine dining restaurants (Coco Bistro, for example, often books tables several weeks in advance). During the winter high season, availability may be limited at popular establishments, so it's best to book well in advance.
A great experience is going deep-sea sport fishing on a local charter and having a restaurant expertly prepare your catch. It’s difficult to surpass fresh tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo when it’s cooked right. Charter companies may organize this service for you, or you may need to inquire with a restaurant yourself ahead of time.
Where to Eat
Wondering where to eat? Looking through the local Dining Guide magazine published by the editors of Where When How magazine is one way to narrow down your search. This thorough guide has a listing of all restaurants on Providenciales and includes a sample menu with prices. It’s also free. You can find the Dining Guide at your hotel and at many local businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Turks and Caicos restaurants accommodate dietary restrictions?
While most restaurants are able to accommodate special dietary requests, it's recommended that you call ahead to ensure the kitchen can source the appropriate ingredients. Numerous restaurants on Providenciales offer vegetarian options, and an increasing number are offering vegan dishes too. It's possible to organize kosher meals through certain private chefs.
How expensive is it to eat at the restaurants on Providenciales?
The cost of eating out on Providenciales depends on your choice of restaurant and meal. Dining on Providenciales can cost anywhere from $60 per person per day to upwards of $250 per person per day. The Turks and Caicos Islands imports the vast majority of its food. Considering the additional government taxes that apply to most meals—22% for resort restaurants—dining in Turks and Caicos is expensive.
What is the minimum drinking age in Turks and Caicos?
The legal drinking age in Turks and Caicos is 18. Servers or bartenders may ask for an ID before serving you.
Is the food safe to eat in Turks and Caicos?
Generally, the food throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands is safe to consume. Most of the country's food is flown in directly from the United States. Compared to destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Bali, the risk of contracting a foodborne or waterborne illness in the country is fairly low.
When should I visit the Turks and Caicos?
The best time to visit Turks and Caicos is during February, March, or April. These months typically offer the best weather, and it's when virtually all tourism businesses are open. It's common for restaurants to close during the September and October slow season (or silly season, as it's locally known). Visiting during this time typically means fewer dining options.
Do I need to make reservations?
It's generally best to make reservations before visiting a restaurant in Turks and Caicos. Some restaurants require reservations, while others (such as the more casual beachfront restaurants) do not. It's recommended to book your table in advance if you plan to dine at one of the fine dining establishments. Some restaurants can book up several days in advance.
Do Turks and Caicos restaurants take credit cards?
The vast majority of restaurants in Turks and Caicos accept payment via major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) as well as cash. If you plan to visit the other islands, it's recommended that you travel with cash. These islands may only have a few, or no, ATMs present. A couple of restaurants only accept credit cards and not cash (such as Shay Café in Grace Bay and Bugaloo's Conch Crawl), while some only accept cash as payment.
Do restaurants in Turks and Caicos split the bill?
Some restaurants allow you to split the bill evenly among members of your party, but rarely do sit-down Turks and Caicos restaurants accommodate separate bills.
Are there any hidden fees or taxes?
The Turks and Caicos Government charges a tourism tax of 12% on all tourist stays in the islands (except for Beaches and Club Med, which charge 7.5%), which applies to resort restaurants. All Turks and Caicos hotels must also charge a 10% service fee. Expect to pay at least 22% tax if you're dining at a resort restaurant. Some restaurants may charge additional fees for larger parties.
Do I need to tip at Turks and Caicos restaurants?
A tip of 15% is standard and expected for service in the Turks and Caicos. Most restaurants charge a 10% service fee, which is split among the server, chefs, and service team. It's not required to tip at the all-inclusive resorts.