Grand Cayman has long been a popular destination for travelers in search of white-sand beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving spots, and well-heeled accommodations. Just 22 miles long and eight miles wide, the island is the largest of the Cayman Islands and has a reputation for providing travelers with a quiet, low-key getaway. And with most of the action happening near the famous Seven Mile Beach, only 15 minutes from the Owen Roberts International Airport, travelers can start their vacations minutes after landing.
Grand Cayman also attracts repeat visits—on a recent trip, I talked to several travelers who had been coming to Grand Cayman for years, drawn by the island’s warm weather, hospitable locals, and excellent food. The island’s burgeoning food scene has attracted chefs and sommeliers from around the globe, and every November the island’s landmark hotel, The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman hosts the Cayman Cookout, an exciting weekend of demos, competitions, and tastings with top chefs. With a laid-back setting and a sophisticated selection of hotels and restaurants that are sure to inspire a return trip, here are the very best places to eat, stay, and play in Grand Cayman.
Where to eat
In main hub George Town, where you’ll no doubt spend plenty of time, Mrs. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden is a charming backyard restaurant fashioned after a fictitious bohemian traveler who came to Cayman in the ’70s. Tucked behind the Hampton by Hilton hotel on Seven Mile Beach, the intimate, poolside diner is filled with kitschy details like tropical patterned outdoor couches, fringed umbrellas, and wicker lamps. The food represents Cayman’s eclectic population—wood oven empanadas are served alongside Korean ribs, vegan biryani, and seafood tagliatelle. The cocktail menu includes drinks named after iconic women. Our recommendation? The earthy but light “Alice Walker,” made with organic vodka, lemonade, fig lavender, and Indian tonic.
Once you’ve had your fill of the island’s capital, venture with a 20-minute drive to Thatch & Barrel, a modern Caribbean restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu filled with local flavors. Menu highlights include scotch bonnet-infused ceviche, a hearty root vegetable stew, and beer-steamed mussels. The sticky toffee cake, made with Caymanian Seven Fathoms rum and served with a side of raisin ice cream, is not to be missed.
The next day, head to West Bay on the north end of the island for a fine glass of wine in the tucked-away Le Petit Bar. The lengthy wine list here includes a rotating selection of over 220 wines curated by sommelier and wine educator Christian Esser, along with a selection of beers and a dozen craft cocktails. The bar menu includes a fish charcuterie board that features local wahoo crudo and tuna pastrami, Welsh rarebit fritters topped with caramelized onion jam, and beef rib croquettes with Cayman-style aioli.
Where to play
Grand Cayman is a haven for water activities, and most travelers head straight to the white sands of Seven Mile Beach to swim, paddle board, or jet ski. Another popular aquatic activity is swimming with stingrays at Grand Cayman’s famous Stingray City. Book a boat ride to wade with dozens of stingrays who gather at a series of sandbars about 25 miles from shore, and if you’re brave enough, you can gently pet the stingrays or feed them chunks of squid.
