What better way to relax and soak up the sun, sea and sand than hanging out at a beachfront watering hole?
Grand Cayman boasts some top spots to chill out on the famous white sands of Seven Mile Beach while enjoying a cool cocktail or two. The North Side of the island is also home to some celebrated outdoor escapes, where barefoot fun and relaxation is always on the menu.
Seven Miles of Smiles
There are three top spots along Seven Mile Beach’s legendary stretch of white sand offering a slice of Caribbean life: Royal Palms, Tiki Beach and Calico Jack’s.
Royal Palms is an island institution, drawing locals and visitors alike. Mix, mingle, and enjoy friendly island service along with good grub and refreshing brews. Perched on one of the premier stretches of beach on the Seven Mile strip, Royal Palms recently underwent a revamp, with a swim-up bar and poolside cabanas among the new star attractions. Sunday is a prime time to soak up the scenery and enjoy great poolside drinks specials. Its $5 personal-size pizza (available after 3 p.m. on Sundays) is one of the best deals around. It’s an ideal place to people-watch and take in the sunset, and it definitely lives up to its motto: “No shoes, no shirt . . . no problem!”
Further down on West Bay Road is Calico Jack’s, another casual spot to relax and sink your toes in the sand. Go for a swim, and then sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Order a Cayman Colada — a traditional piña colada mixed with Chambord (raspberry liqueur) for an extra kick — and enjoy nibbles such as jerk chicken or scotch bonnet mahi-mahi.
Tiki Beach offers an array of seating options to drink in the view — shaded cabanas, a roomy bar and several comfy bamboo lounge chairs on the deck overlooking the sea. Its tiki-thatched roof can be seen for miles around. Highly recommended is sampling items from its appetizer menu, including crispy grouper fingers paired with a wonderful spiced mango-curry rémoulade. Its most popular cocktail is Cayman Lemonade, a 16-oz drink that will turn your frown upside down.
Barefoot Escapes
If you’re seeking a little more tranquillity, take a leisurely drive to the quaint district of North Side. First stop: Driftwood Bar & Grill. This rustic beach bar is a top draw for locals and visitors. There’s volleyball on the small stretch of beach and you’ll likely find locals involved in an animated game of dominoes. Sit indoors and watch the game on the big screen, or relax outside on the shaded deck and enjoy cool sea breezes while watching the waves roll in. This is a spot for some serious chill time, as the wooden sign over the door will attest: “Stress, what’s dat?”
Driftwood is known for its barbecue specialties and unique Cayman-style pizza toppings, including conch, jerk pork and Cayman-style beef. Mix it up, and order a Hawaiian-conch pizza. Or dig into its signature dish, the Driftwood Seafood Chowder.
This unassuming bar is now famous for being on the silver screen; it’s the setting for the film Zombie Driftwood. The tongue-in-cheek comedy pits a group of holidaying heavy metal fans against an invading cruise ship full of tourists who turn into zombies. You’ll recognize Driftwood’s affable owner in the flick, Phil Eckstein, who also wrote the screenplay (a sequel is in the works). If you’re in the mood, this is the perfect place to zone out with a zombie cocktail or two.
The beach bar at Cayman Kai is another great place to relax and unwind. Full of charm and good vibes, Kaibo Bar & Grill is a favourite hangout for North Siders. Sunday afternoons are the busiest, where you’ll see everyone and their dog — literally — enjoying some down time in this down-to-earth beachfront playground and marina. Enjoy a swim, rent a kayak or go on a full-throttle jet-ski safari.
Kaibo’s legendary mudslide is a must — a heavenly mix of Absolut vodka, Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream blended with real ice cream. Try its cooked-to-order burger or grilled mahi-mahi. Kaibo boasts that it has the island’s coldest beer; the brews are cooled to their core with ice (the bar’s two huge ice-making machines are capable of churning out 20,000 pounds of ice per day; they usually go through 600 pounds a day to maintain that frosty flavour).
A hop-skip away is Rum Point, undoubtedly the most recognized beach bar in Cayman and a definite must-do destination. The beautiful aqua-blue shallow waters are ideal for swimming and exploring, and its lovely white sand beach and long wooden dock are great for picturesque photos. It’s also the only beach bar where you can pull up a hammock and laze away the day.
Rum Point is ‘the home of the mudslide’, and its concoction is truly top notch. Another favourite is the Rum Point Sunset — four different rums mixed with orange and pineapple juice. (The joke is, if you have too many, you won’t see the sun set!) At the Wreck Bar & Grill, order the jerk-spiced cheeseburger, served with its famous jerk mayo sauce.
Life’s a beach in Cayman — so be sure to enjoy some downtime at these idyllic beach bar retreats.
Source: caymanairwaysmagazine.com