13 Best Restaurants in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

A visit to this alfresco eatery requires you to climb a long flight of stairs, but the food is well worth the effort. Although fish is the specialty—try the voodoo snapper topped with a fruity salsa—the chef also creates a vegetarian platter with black beans, fried plantains, and a mound of sweet potatoes.

Sailors who live aboard boats anchored offshore and an eclectic coterie of residents and visitors gather for lunch and dinner at this funky spot in the middle of a boatyard and shopping complex. It's a great place for burgers (they're served with potato chips, not fries—there's no deep fryer), fish sandwiches, and whatever sports are on the satellite TV.

Creative takes on true classics coupled with artfully presented plates draw crowds to this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at Caneel Bay. Start with appetizers like scallop ceviche with mango, avocado, and heirloom tomatoes, then move on to the filet mignon with lobster demi-glace, cauliflower puree, and broccolini. Mango-and-coconut pannacotta is a winner for dessert.

This second-floor restaurant in the heart of Cruz Bay is the place for traditional Italian cuisine, so don't let the underwhelming ambience turn you away. The lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and seafood manicotti are all delicious, as are the small pizza—they're available at your table, but larger ones are for takeout or at the bar. This casual place can get crowded in winter, so show up early. 

This is the place to go for Mexican food on St. John. You'll find nacho starters, tacos, burritos, and enchiladas as well as a half dozen margarita variations to wash it all down. The tortillas are made fresh in the St. Thomas location and ferried across daily. For something different, try the tequilas infused with mango, pineapple, or red chili.

This casual spot right at Cruz Bay Beach serves everything from hamburgers and mahimahi sandwiches to surf and turf and Caribbean lobster. At happy hour, order a Painkiller and watch the sunset over the bay. Or, if you're here for breakfast, order the chicken and waffles or eggs Benedict. The kids' menu includes favorites like chicken tenders and grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Sitting seaside at remote Friis Bay, Miss Lucy's dishes up Caribbean food with a contemporary flair, like tender conch fritters, spicy callaloo stew, fried local fish, and a generous paella with seafood, sausage, and chicken. Sunday brunches are legendary, and if you're around at the time, stop by for the monthly full-moon parties. The handful of small tables near the water are nicest, but if they're taken or the mosquitoes are swarming, the indoor tables do nicely.

At this air-conditioned (but no-frills) sandwich shop you place your order at the counter and wait for it to be delivered to your table or for takeout. The classic Reuben is a favorite, but other sandwiches, like the turkey pesto and vegan Greek flatbread pita with hummus and veggies, also get rave reviews. For breakfast, try the brown sugar oatmeal or turkey hash with toast and eggs.

Pacific Rim meets Caribbean cooking in the cozy dining room of this open-air eatery, with bamboo furnishings and local flora providing a tropical backdrop. Thai crab cakes, Cuban mojo pork, and sesame-encrusted Szechuan tuna are excellent choices. If you feel in the mood to share, order finger-food-style pupu platters with choices like duck potstickers, coconut rice balls, and spicy peanut chicken skewers.

While you can get the usual chocolate and vanilla ice cream as well as smoothies at this tiny spot, owner Colette Rethage also dishes up frozen treats blended with alcoholic beverages. Try the champagne sorbet, espresso martini, peach margarita, or that tropical favorite, the rum-laced Painkiller. House-made waffle cones are not to miss.

There's an unusual assortment of dishes at this charming alfresco restaurant, which you'll find tucked into a courtyard in the upper reaches of the Mongoose Junction shopping center. The Jamaican jerk chicken salad and the black-bean quesadilla are good choices. Kudos to the white pizza with artichoke hearts, roasted garlic, mozzarella cheese, and capers.

More than a dozen house-brewed beers on tap, including the signature Tropical Mango Pale Ale, make dining at St. John Brewers' tap room special. The rich wood decor is the perfect place for a soft Bavarian-style pretzel, burgers, and build-your-own-pizzas.

Juicy ribs and tasty chicken legs dripping with house barbecue sauce make for one of St. John's best dining deals. An ear of corn, rice, and a generous scoop of macaroni salad, potato salad, or coleslaw round out the plate. This casual spot crowds the edge of a busy sidewalk in the heart of Cruz Bay. Even though there are a few open-air tables for "dining in," the ambience is more than a tad on the pedestrian side, so takeout is a better bet.