Ambergris Caye has so much good food packed into such a small island that it’s honestly hard to mess up dinner here. Half the fun is just following the signs and pulling your golf cart over wherever looks good. But since people always ask, here’s a rundown of the spots we keep coming back to, grouped by area so it’s easy to find something close by.
Closest to Blue Breeze
These are your home base go-tos — basically all of them are a quick cart ride away, so there’s no excuse not to try a few.
Up North Bar (1 min by cart) Literally just past our property, about 7 miles north. Good food, a driving range, and axe throwing if you need to burn off some energy between beach naps. Go on a Wednesday if you can — everything’s half price. Facebook | Map
X’tan Ha (3 min by cart) This one’s built right out over the water, which makes for a pretty unbeatable view while you eat. Menu’s great too. Instagram | Map
Sweetwater Reef Resort (5 min by cart) Right at the turn-off to Secret Beach, on the reef side. Good music, good food, and one of those settings that makes you forget to check your phone. Map
Moon Bar (5 min by cart) Great pizza, and every so often they do a golf-cart drive-in movie night, which is exactly as fun as it sounds. Instagram | Map
Portofino (6 min by cart) Solid no matter what meal you’re showing up for — breakfast, lunch, dinner, all good. Reef side. Instagram | Map
Sun Deck (6 min by cart) The Jamaican jerk chicken here is the move. They also do beach bonfires, so it’s worth a night visit too, not just a meal stop. Instagram | Map
The Crow’s Nest (8 min by cart) Just north of us. Menu’s got a little of everything, and Fridays mean fresh BBQ. Instagram | Map
Mambo (8 min by cart) This is the restaurant at Matachica, one of the fancier resorts on the island. Breakfast and lunch are great, and dinner goes full fine-dining if you’re in the mood to dress up a little. Instagram | Map
North of the Bridge
The Farm House About a quarter mile past the bridge, reef side. Their panini’s are great for breakfast or lunch, and it’s a fun spot to sit and watch the golf cart traffic go by. Instagram | Map
The 303 A palapa spot on the reef side. Facebook | Map
Rum Dog Another reef-side palapa, and the food’s actually really good — not just a drinks spot. Facebook | Map
The Truck Stop Lagoon side. Opens at 11am, live music most nights around 6. There’s a pool, a bunch of games, several food vendors (even ice cream), and it’s genuinely fun whether you go for sunset or just to hang out for the afternoon. Instagram | Map
Croc’s Lagoon side, right past the bridge. A good sunset bet, and they’ve got TVs everywhere if you want to catch a game. Facebook | Map
Aji Not far from Grand Caribe. Good live music, good food. Facebook | Map
Rain This is inside Grand Caribe, reef side, with a 360° view of the ocean and lagoon from an open-air patio. Steak, seafood, wine — it’s a proper dinner spot. Try to get there by 5pm, or just book a table if you’re going later. Instagram | Map
Aqua Also at Grand Caribe, reef side. Good sushi, good steak. Same deal as Rain — go early or reserve ahead. Map
Downtown San Pedro
Blue Water Grill Right on the beach, across from the airstrip. Sushi nights and Italian nights, both worth a visit.
Carumba On Middle Street downtown. Nice dinner spot — pick whatever’s fresh off the catch, or go for steak instead.
Elvie’s Also on Middle Street. Good for lunch or dinner — it’s technically indoors but has a sand floor, so it still feels casual.
Estelle’s Reef side, right on the beach downtown. This is the breakfast-and-mimosas spot.
Palapa Bar & Grill Reef side, palapa-style. Order a cocktail, grab a tube, and just float for a while.
Purple Pelican Lagoon side. A bit more of a proper dinner place, and they don’t open till 4pm.
Street food Honestly just eat whatever looks good downtown — it’s safe, cheap, and some of the best food on the island.
Secret Beach
It’s about a 20-minute cart ride from Blue Breeze, lagoon side, and it’s got the best water and views on the island, hands down. Sundays are when it gets packed since that’s the day locals show up too — worth knowing if you’d rather go on a quieter day. There are a bunch of stops along the way out there too, so don’t feel like you have to rush straight through.
Be on the lookout for Crocodiles on your drive out!
That’s the list, but really — just follow the signs and stop wherever looks good. You can’t go wrong out here.