Bugaloo's Restaurant on the beach at Five Cays at dusk Bugaloo's Restaurant, Five Cays, Providenciales.
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Providenciales Restaurants & Dining

Dining in the Turks and Caicos

Gourmet wahoo dinner at the Beach House Restaurant in the Turks and Caicos
Wahoo crudo with an edible martini.

Providenciales is the undeniable culinary center of the Turks and Caicos. There are over 60 great restaurants and cafés to discover, with cuisines ranging from our timeless local seafood dishes to international favorites.

Several of our fine dining restaurants are led by award-winning international chefs, who combine unique dining backgrounds from around the world with Turks and Caicos tastes.

Fine Dining

Of all the culinary genres, Providenciales does gourmet dining the best. There’s always a great restaurant, café, or bistro to explore, and new dishes to try.

As may be expected from the many luxury resorts in the area, Grace Bay is home to most of the island’s restaurants, and many sites are within walking distance of or are inside the region’s accommodations.

New York strip at BLT Steak restaurant
New York strip steak at BLT Steak, located at the Ritz-Carlton.

Although we’re a small tropical archipelago with limited agriculture, local food and produce is fresh, as it’s either imported by a short journey from the United States, or is locally grown in one of our hydroponic or organic farms.

The desserts can be more impressive than the main courses. There is carefully crafted gourmet ice cream and sorbet, crème brûlée or cake, and chocolate and fruit fondue to name just a few choices.

Reservations are recommended for dinner at most of the Grace Bay and fine dining restaurants. During the winter high season, availability may be limited at popular establishments, so book well in advance.

A great experience is to go deep-sea sport fishing on a local charter, and have a restaurant expertly prepare the catch. It’s difficult to surpass fresh tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo when it’s cooked right.

Dining at Resorts

Food from Noori restaurant
Sushi and light fare from Noori.

For those that would prefer to have great dining choices onsite at their resort, some choices 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, Coralli Restaurant, and Noori, which offers sushi, raw foods, and light fare. In addition the resort has an elegant lobby bar, a beachfront bar, and the Beach Buggy, which serves refreshments in a casual and fun retro VW van.

The expansive and family-oriented Beaches all-inclusive undeniably has the widest selection of onsite dining, with 21 restaurants representing a full range of cuisines.

Seven Stars is also a consideration, with Seven, The Deck, and The Farm located on the grounds of the resort.

International Cuisines

Giant hamburger at Las Brisas Restaurant in the Turks and Caicos
The Ultimate Burger at Las Brisas restaurant.

A wide array of cuisines and countries are represented by local dining establishments.

All of the European flavors can be found here, including Italian, French, Mediterranean, and contemporary fusion.

There are quite a few Asian cuisines to choose from as well, from traditional Japanese sushi, Chinese, Thai, and Indian, to kebabs and roti.

Many of the hotels and resorts offer complimentary breakfasts, or a light meal of a croissant and coffee can be found at a bakery or café.

There’s a wide range of lunch and family options too, including places to get the perfect burger, pizza, pasta, or sandwich.

There’s one dining aspect of the Turks and Caicos that very few other countries can boast: we don’t have any chain fast food restaurants. There are no McDonald's, Burger Kings, Subways, or KFC. If you’re craving fried chicken, there’s Sweet T's or Pizza Pizza on Leeward Highway.

Turks and Caicos Cuisine

Grouper with coleslaw and mac and cheese at Mangrove Bay Restaurant
Steamed grouper with coleslaw and mac n' cheese from Mangrove Bay Restaurant.

The favorite dishes of the Turks and Caicos have traditionally been assembled from freshly-caught seafood, local greens and produce, and a little imported rice and grains. These ingredients would be used to create food such as fish stews, pan-cooked fish with peas n' rice (actually beans and rice in most cases) and flavored rice, and seafood chowders.

The ocean has provided quite a bit to the Turks and Caicos, and fishing has always been good. Grouper, snapper, jacks, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo are common fish catches, and conch and lobster are collected as well.

The most popular seafood of the Turks and Caicos is the queen conch. This giant sea snail thrives in the shallow seagrass beds of the Caicos Banks and is prepared in a number of ways, including fried as conch fritters, served raw in a conch salad (the acids in the added lime juice essentially “cook” the meat), and conch stew.

Many of the top island dining restaurants and bars feature great beachfront locations in the old settlements of Blue Hills and Five Cays, so you’ll also be able to get a drink and enjoy the view and sunset.

If authentic Turks and Caicos dishes are a top interest, definitely consider a day trip to the islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos. In addition to the scenic natural attractions and beaches, there are some great island restaurants, which usually incorporate local produce into dishes.

Caribbean Fusions

Jerk chicken with pea n' rice and coleslaw
Jerk chicken, peas n' rice, and coleslaw at Hole in the Wall restaurant

As may be expected due to the close proximity, the sister nation of the Bahamas has had the greatest influence on our dishes, and there is quite a bit of overlap in food as well as recipes borrowed from one another. The fried conch fritters are one such example, and were largely unknown in the Turks and Caicos until the latter 1900s, after Turks and Caicos Islanders who emigrated to the Bahamas for work after the decline of the sea salt industry returned with new ideas for the kitchen.

Although the Turks and Caicos can’t quite claim the invention, many of the local eateries offer excellent Caribbean-style BBQ. These dishes aren’t quite as sweet as the famous varieties from the United States, yet they’re just as good. Although commonly known as an American flavor, barbecue actually originated not far from the Turks and Caicos in the northern Caribbean and on the island of Hispaniola. The indigenous peoples would slow-roast meat with green wood fires, and early European explorers adapted this cooking method.

Another Caribbean classic is spicy Jamaican jerk. There’s jerk chicken, pork, fish and beef, and several great spots on the island to try it at. If you’re looking to try Jamaican-Chinese fusion, look no further than Chinson’s on Leeward Highway. Recent years have seen an emergence of Haitian restaurants, where plantains, fish, rice, and vegetables are combined in spicy flavors.

Cultural and Culinary Festivals

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of local culinary (and by extension cultural) festivals and events held throughout the islands.

The Caribbean Food and Wine Festival offers more of an international focus, with a gourmet culinary tour that spans several days and restaurants.

Deciding Where to Eat

Assortment of craft beers at the Turks Head Brewery on Providenciales
Craft beer sampler at the local Turks Head Brewery.

Providenciales offers a great extent of restaurants to choose from. Most establishments are located in the Grace Bay area, and within walking distance of many resorts.

Dining prices tend to be higher than equivalent restaurants in much of the United States, yet are on par with cities such as London and New York.

We recommend you look through the local Dining Guide magazine published by the editors of the Where When How magazine. This excellent guide has a listing of all restaurants on Providenciales, and includes a sample menu with prices. It’s free and will likely be in your hotel room when you arrive.

Minimum Drinking Age in Turks and Caicos

The minimum drinking age in the Turks and Caicos is 18 years old. Persons appearing younger may be asked for an ID.

Private Chefs

The Turks and Caicos has an excellent selection of private chefs, representing culinary choices ranging from local and Caribbean, to European and Asian. A private chef can be the perfect complement when staying at a villa, and of course, is likewise ideal when there are dietary or allergy considerations.

Popular Turks and Caicos Restaurants

BLT Steak
The newly-opened BLT Steak at The Ritz-Carlton, Turks and Caicos offers a contemporary take on an American steakhouse, with a full complement of 100% naturally raised and certified Black Angus, as well as fresh seafood, salads, and a premium wine list that represents the world.
Mangrove Bay Restaurant
Mangrove Bay Restaurant is a Turks and Caicos cuisine establishment near Downtown on Providenciales, and specializes in fresh local seafood dishes. Enjoy island favorites such as whole steamed fish, pea n’ rice, BBQ, souse, conch, lobster, and more.
Bay Bistro
Beachfront restaurant at the Sibonné Hotel. Serves freshly caught seafood and freshly made desserts and ice cream. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Coco Bistro
Coco Bistro is one of the best-loved Turks and Caicos gourmet restaurants, and is located in central Grace Bay. The restaurant serves a wide menu of international dishes. Reservations are recommended.
Coyaba Restaurant
Coyaba is an award-winning open-air restaurant, headed by British Chef Paul Newman, a graduate of Westminster Culinary College. Paul has worked as a chef at top resorts throughout the Caribbean, with a culinary style of aromatic spices, unusual fusions of flavor, and beautifully presented cuisine. The restaurant features an extensive wine cellar, beautiful garden ambiance, and attentive staff.
Mango Reef
Mango Reef features waterfront fine dining at Turtle Cove on Providenciales. Explore a menu of seafood, Caribbean, and international favorites.
Las Brisas Restaurant
Located at Neptune Villas on the scenic Chalk Sound lagoon, Las Brisas Restaurant offers Caribbean Mediterranean fusion dining. Serves lunch and dinner.
Crackpot Kitchen
Crackpot Kitchen is a Caribbean and Turks and Caicos cuisine food truck restaurant site, located near Grace Bay on Leeward Highway. Discover a wide menu of locally caught seafood and Caribbean favorites.
Chinson's Grill Shack
Chinson's Grill Shack is a popular restaurant and bakery on Leeward Highway, and serves a menu of Jamaican Jerk, Caribbean BBQ, and Chinese dishes. Fresh bread is available for purchase.
Da Conch Shack
This popular open-air beachfront restaurant specializes in locally harvested conch, seafood, and Caribbean dishes including jerk chicken and ribs. Local bands play every Reggae Wednesday. House-made desserts include Key Lime Pie, Ginger Cheesecake, and Rum Cake. Family and group friendly.
Sharkbite Bar and Grill
Sharkbite Bar and Grill is located on the water at Turtle Cove Marina. This popular casual restaurant serves seafood, wings, burgers, sandwiches, and much more.
Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl
Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl is one of the best-known restaurants in the Turks and Caicos. Located on picturesque Five Cays Beach, the restaurant features seafood and conch dishes, a great location, live music, and dining in a coconut grove, on the beach, and in the ocean.