Restaurant Archives | Rum Therapy

July 16, 2020July 22, 2020

The View & More from Top of the Baths, Virgin Gorda

Perched up high and overlooking The Baths, a well known and very popular beach in Virgin Gorda, you’ll find a restaurant/bar and shopping area called Top of the Baths. The first time we visited Top of the Baths was during our very first BVI sail in 2006. We’d spent the entire day exploring the trail through the gigantic boulders of The Baths and lounging in the crystal clear water of Devil’s Bay. Thirsty and hungry, we climbed the path to Top of the Baths.

(This article is part of our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)

Top of the Baths is in a beautiful setting with panoramic views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel and many of the surrounding islands. Large bushes of Bougainvillea add a beautiful pop of color to the already stunning vistas.

The restaurant/bar at Top of the Baths, which originally opened in November of 1994, offers open air dining with that magnificent view.

They serve local specials, sushi and a variety of other signature dishes. See their menu here. Top of the Baths also features a new coffee bar which serves Caribbean coffee and a variety of tea drinks including the local Bush Tea.

Thirsty for something a bit stronger? They’ve definitely got that covered. The Top of the Baths signature drinks are the Rasta Man Punch and Boulder Roller. “However,” says owner Charlene, “Our Painkillers, Mango and Pina Colada’s, Bushwhackers and lots of other creations are equally as popular. Our bartenders are always creating something new for our customers to try.”

After getting your fill of delicious food and drink, you might want to do a little shopping at the shops right there including Caribbean Flavor Gift Shop, which features Cuban Cigars, souvenir items and a large selection of beautifully designed t- shirts for the entire family. It also has a nice selection of sandals and swim wear. Or Bamboula Boutique, which offers sterling silver Caribbean Hook Bracelets, Larimar sterling silver jewelry and Island Crystal sterling silver jewelry. Sterling necklaces and the island West Indian bracelets can also be found here. The store also has a large selection of men’s cotton and linen clothing and a complementary women’s clothing line. An interesting fact – the mother of the owner of Bamboula’s was the owner of the original Bamboula located on Main Street on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands in the 1950’s. The store on Virgin Gorda is named in her honor.

Although closed right now, they expect to re-open around October 31, 2020. Charlene says, “We all look forward to the time that they can completely reopen our borders. Our entire team at Top of The Baths will be awaiting the arrival of repeat guests that come to visit us while welcoming first time visitors to this magical place.”

For more information, check out their website, Facebook page and Instagram.

If you’d like to stay on Virgin Gorda, we’d highly recommend Mon Repos which is also owned by the owner of Top of the Baths. It’s a beautiful villa, just a short walk from Top of the Baths. We loved our stay at this stunning and unique accommodation and you can read more about it here.

Keep up to date on opening dates for the BVI here: https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/

Many locally owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!

BVI SNUBA, Virgin Gorda
Ocean Spa, BVI
Jost Van Dyke Scuba
Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hangout, Roatan

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

March 4, 2020March 4, 2020

Somewhere Café & Lounge, Providenciales, T&C

Several years ago during a week vacation on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, we arrived at our accommodations close to Grace Bay Beach. Upon check-in, we asked if there were any good restaurants or beach bars close by. The lady said, “You’re in luck. Somewhere is just around the corner!” Hmmm? Somewhere? Sensing our confusion, she went on to tell us that ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge was a popular restaurant and a beach bar and was just steps away from where we were staying.

We were grateful for her recommendation and ended up enjoying our time at ‘Somewhere’ so much that we visited three times that week!

*This post is sponsored by ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge, but any reviews and opinions expressed in this post are ours based on our experience there.

‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge is a beachfront two-story, open-air cafe and lounge in Providenciales that offers an oasis of casual sophistication. Although they specialize in Tex Mex cuisine, they also offer an assortment of BBQ dishes, salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and tasty drinks. Somewhere is located on beautiful Grace Bay Beach at the Coral Gardens Resort. The water here is a great for snorkeling, the beach is stunning and you are sure to catch an amazing sunsets. Find a map here.

The ‘Somewhere’ team is comprised of owner Luis Fabara, executive chef and director Amy Fabara and managing director Ted Bayley. The name for their beachfront establishment originated from an article Luis came across while traveling on beach bars of the world. At the end the article it stated that “you will always find a cool beach bar Somewhere…”. ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge opened on New Years Eve, 11 years ago.

‘Somewhere’ is perfect for drinks and apps at the bar in swimwear with a cover-up or to enjoy a lovely relaxed meal on the beach. Listen to live music on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 6:30-9:00pm, and on Sunday afternoon there is a DJ from 2:00-5:00p.m. Be sure to check the website for event updates.

So what makes ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge a place to visit and enjoy while in Providenciales? Here are a few of our favorite reasons!

View

Whether visiting during the day or in the evening, you are sure to be treated to an absolutely amazing view of the turquoise blue water, white sand beach and vibrant sunsets.

Food

From tacos to the fresh fish of the day, there is something delectable on the menu for everyone! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check out the lunch/dinner menu here.

Drink

Thirsty after a day on the beach? Try one of ‘Somewhere’s’ mouthwatering margaritas, or for rum lovers – a Bambarra Rum Punch or Mickey’s Banana Rum Punch. They also offer a variety of tequila’s and wine.

Ambiance

The casual beach front location is perfect for enjoying a relaxing meal with your friends & family while enjoying the stunning beauty of Turks & Caicos.

Wouldn’t you rather be ‘Somewhere’?!

Want to find out more about ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge? Check them out here:

‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge Website and
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

All photos provided by ‘Somewhere’ Café and Lounge.

February 7, 2017May 29, 2019

Dinner at The Longboard, Cruz Bay, St John

The Longboard, a Caribbean-inspired coastal cantina located in Cruz Bay opened its doors in May of 2015, but we had yet to experience it – that is, until our trip to St. John last month.

Passion Pitted
The Longboard is easy to find – from the ferry dock, walk straight past Strand Street in Cruz Bay to the next intersection (King Street), turn left and The Longboard is on the right.

Focusing on fresh, local and ﬂown-in ingredients, The Longboard continues to innovate their food concept and bring a new approach to dining on St. John with a healthy menu inspired by coastal ﬂavors around the world. We loved the extensive fish and seafood offerings on their new menu including local fresh catches such as rainbow runner, wahoo, conch and octopus as well as Pacific fish such as Hawaiian Opah (Moon Fish) and Hawaiian Ahi. Non-seafood entrees include Island Wings (spicy mango glazed wings) and Grilled Portabella, Chimichuri Marinated and Grilled Skirt Steak or Spicy Jerk Braised Pork Tacos & Bowls. Delicious new bar offerings and house-shaped cocktails include a Passion Fruit Frosé.

After being seated on the patio, we ordered a couple of rum drinks – a Rum Julep,

Rum Julep
and a new offering called Stoked, a tropical concoction of aged rhum, Plantation Overproof Rum, housemade orgeat, blackstrap bitters, housemade pineapple shrub and lime juice – impressively lit afire at our table!

Stoked
Our appetizer consisted of a trio of ceviche’s served with yucca chips and tostones. We then sat back in our chairs enjoying the food, drink, view and the warm St. John air from The Longboards open aired patio.

Mixto (trio of ceviche’s)
After polishing off our appetizer, we moved on to our entrées, ordering the Longboard Sliders made with a coconut crusted fresh catch-of-the-day,

The Longboard Sliders

and an Ahi Tuna Bowl.

Each dish had its own special Caribbean flair and incorporated local spices, locally-caught seafood and locally-sourced herbs, greens and fruits. Mmmm – delicious!

Our only regret? After our satisfying dinner, we had no room to sample one of their famous Frozen Painkillers. Can you imagine how that would taste after spending a day on one of St. John’ beautiful beaches?

Find out more about The Longboard by visiting their website, and following them on Facebook and Instagram.

Have you enjoyed dinner (or at least a Frozen Painkiller) at The Longboard yet? If so, tell us about it!

A special thanks to The Longboard and Rebecca for arranging our delicious dinner!

Find The Longboard on our St. John Map

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

July 28, 2016May 29, 2019

Mudjin Bar & Grill, Middle Caicos

Many years ago while staying on North Caicos, we drove over the causeway connecting North to Middle Caicos to explore. Our first Middle Caicos stop? The stunning Mudjin Harbour.

A few months ago we returned to Turks & Caicos and this time we stayed on Providenciales. Hearing that several beach bars that had been built on North Caicos (Barracuda Beach Bar) and Middle Caicos (Mudjin Bar & Grill) since our last visit, we decided to take the ferry over again to explore.

Although Middle Caicos takes a bit of planning and time to get to, Mudjin Harbour was just as beautiful as the time before and we enjoyed the addition of Mudjin Bar & Grill.

It’s situated in the Blue Horizon Resort with a fabulous view of Mudjin Harbour beach and Dragon Cay, a rock formation just offshore that resembles a dragon.

We enjoyed a rum punch on the deck while enjoying the warm breeze and the view before heading down for some time on the beach.

Watch the view from the deck at Mudjin Bar & Grill here:

To see more posts on Turks & Caicos and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 2, 2016May 29, 2019

Kalooki’s, Beach Restaurant & Bar

Kalooki’s, a beach restaurant & bar in Providenciales sits on a pretty stretch of beach in Blue Hills, on the north side of the island.

The location once was the site of a beach bar by the name of Horse-Eye Jacks, but was purchased by the current owners a few years ago.

A pretty location set among some lush foliage, Kalooki’s offers dishes with a Caribbean flare and from what we hear, a dash of Jamaican seasoning as one of the owners has Jamaican roots.

Although we didn’t dine there, we stopped by twice to enjoy a beverage on the deck with a beautiful view of the ocean.

On our first visit, we met a very friendly bartender named James. We asked him, of course, what rum drink we should order and he quickly said, “The Happy!”

We asked how the drink got its name and he told us a story. Wray & Nephew ran a contest to see who could come up with the best rum drink using their rum. James, who was originally from Jamaica created a mixture using peach, passion fruit, fresh lime juice , ginger beer and Wray & Nephew and won the contest! We asked him again why he named his drink “The Happy” and he said, “Just try it – you’ll see.”

Well, he was right. The cocktail was delicious, but powerful with the overproof rum and we were indeed happy.

The bar

Seating on the deck

View from the deck

View of the back

We enjoyed our time at Kalooki’s and would have enjoyed sampling a dinner of Jerk Chicken or Grilled Mahi Mahi or their Saturday night Beachside Barbeque, but we’re sure we’ll be back to Provo and will definitely return to Kalooki’s to “get happy”!

Have you been to Kalooki’s? Tell us about it!

Wanna find out more?
Check out their website and Facebook page!

Find Kalooki’s on our Turks and Caicos Map

To see more posts on Turks & Caicos and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

January 15, 2016June 6, 2019

The Longboard, a Coastal Cantina in Cruz Bay, St. John

How does a Conch and Shrimp Lettuce Wrap, an Ahi Tuna Tower or a Caribbean Spice Bowl (spicy jerk braised pork, sliced avocado, charred corn black bean salsa, shredded red cabbage, lime sour crème) washed down with a Rum Sangaree, a Heart and Sol or a Frozen Painkiller while sitting in a restaurant/bar with a cool coastal vibe in the heart of Cruz Bay, St. John sound?

These are just a few of the delicious food and drink offerings available at a new establishment recently opened on St. John called The Longboard.

The Longboard is the culmination of a long-time dream of owners Clint Gaskins and Tyler Beckstead who each bring years of restaurant and bar experience to their new venue. The Longboard opened in May of 2015 and has already garnered some very favorable reviews, an article in Coastal Living, and an upcoming spread in Islands Magazine!

The kitchen is headed up by Chef Anthony Fossani, whose resume includes Michelin Star New York restaurant Oceana as well as Country Clubs and the Mega Yacht Industry. Fossani brings serious talent and an expertise in creating a balanced fusion of cuisines to tantalize your taste buds. The teams combined expertise brings a unique and innovative new restaurant/bar option to Cruz Bay.

The Longboard serves fresh, healthy foods inspired by Southern California and the Caribbean. On their menu you will find a variety of delectable offerings, from small plates, tacos, quinoa/rice bowls and light, fresh fish based Caribbean dishes.

Ahi Tuna Tower
To keep the ingredients ultra-fresh, they source as much as they can locally. Customer favorites so far? Ahi Tuna Tower, Island Guacamole, Poke, and the variety of fresh gourmet tacos and quinoa/rice bowls. Gluten free options are also available.

Menu
The Longboard also offers an extensive drink menu with specialty cocktails.

Dark & Stormy

Their specialty cocktails, many of which use housemade sodas and syrups, highlight delicious Caribbean flavors. Even their traditional drinks like the Dark & Stormy, are created with their own spin and fresh take.

Heart and Sol

Current drink favorites include the Sunshower (said to taste like sunshine in your mouth by one reviewer), Heart and Sol, Passion Pitted, and of course, their famous Frozen Painkiller.

Drinks
Although the road to opening the restaurant of their dreams on St. John was not an easy one, Clint and Tyler were determined to find just the right location on the beautiful island that they love. Tyler lived on the island for a year in the 2000’s and Clint had traveled frequently to STJ over the last 10 years. They felt there was a unique opportunity in this unique location, so they went to work finding a space for The Longboard. They ended up with a building that needed some serious updating and TLC, but it had good bones and with the help of their great team, they were able to create their vision.

The Longboard is a “coastal cantina” celebrating the adventurous yet laid back ocean lifestyle of the islands. After an extensive remodel from the previous Joe’s Diner, The Longboard offers a bright, beachy and fun location with a focus on modern design and surf culture of which both Tyler and Clint were accustomed to, being surfers at one point in their lives (Tyler is still an avid surfer on his days off). The space has been expertly laid out to comfortably accommodate 60 guests with seating at the bar, bar tables and porch.

Bar 3 p.m. – Until…
Happy Hour is 3-6 p.m. daily
Bar Snacks 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Kitchen (full menu) 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Stop by and check them out on your next trip to St. John!

The Longboard
1 Prince Street
Cruz Bay, St. John

Find The Longboard on our St. John Map

Visit their website for more information: The Longboard
Follow them on Facebook for updates and specials.
Catch them on Instagram too!

Photos courtesy of The Longboard and www.photo.vi

This is a sponsored post. Although we were compensated by the company who sponsored it, the views are solely our own and we only recommend products or services we believe our readers will enjoy.

September 8, 2015May 29, 2019

Snappas Grill & Chill, Marsh Harbour, Abaco

From the outside it looks fairly unassuming, but on the inside it can be hopping. Snappas, a bar/restaurant that sits on the waters edge in Marsh Harbour was a fun place to hang out during our visit earlier this year to The Abacos, Bahamas.

Close to the dock where we left on our Abacos sail in March Harbour, we ventured over to Snappas on several occasions to enjoy a cold beverage, a warm meal and conversation with other boaters.

Conch Chowder with Cheese Crisps

Conch Fritters

Goombay Smash (recipe here!)

With live music on Friday & Saturday nights, cold drinks, warm food and friendly people, Snappas is a great place to chill while in Marsh Harbour. And don’t forget to look out back at sunset to see if you can catch a glimpse of one of their amazing sunset views…

Have you been to Snappas? Tell us about it!

Find Snappas Grill & Chill on our Bahamas Map

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

June 13, 2015May 29, 2019

Nippers Beach Bar & Grill, Great Guana Cay

We’d seen pics before. Many colorful, enticing pics that made us put Nippers on the “list” of beach bars we’d like to visit and were so excited to hear we were going to make a stop at Great Guana Cay during a recent sail through the Abacos. Believe us when we say, Nippers was as colorful and fun as the pics we’d seen and certainly didn’t disappoint. The weather, however, was a different story…

Great Guana Cay was one of the first stops on our itinerary. After all, with two great beach bars (Nippers & Grabbers) and some beautiful beaches, it had Rum Therapy written all over it. Unfortunately, we’d been hit by a bit of an unusual cold snap and although we were still excited to spend time on island, the temp was definitely less than the common tropical temps.

Regardless, as soon as we caught a mooring ball in Guana Harbour, we dinghied to shore and followed the sign down a dirt road to Nippers.

As colorful, if not more so, than the pictures we’d seen, the pool area was…well, pretty quiet due to the cool temps.

Unfazed by the lack of patrons, we made our way in to the main section of the bar.

There, huddled around the bar, was a lively group of die-hard Nippers fans, enjoying, among other things, the infamous frozen Nipper.

We ordered a couple of drinks and checked out the large outdoor bar area.

Then climbed to the top deck for a 360 degree view of the beach 55 ft below.

Nippers has been serving great food and strong drinks with a great view and friendly service for more than 15 years. Apparently, not to be missed is their popular Pig Roast served from 12:30 – 4 every Sunday.

Although it was a little nippy at Nippers that day, we had a good time and can just imagine how much fun it would be to laze in the pool, listen to some live music and enjoy a frozen Nippers…on a much warmer day!

Have you been to Nippers? Tell us about it!

Want to find out more about Nippers? Check out their website and Facebook page.

Find Nippers on our The Bahamas Map

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

May 22, 2015August 5, 2019

Coco Beach Bar & Grill, Treasure Cay

Close to the center of Treasure Cay Beach, the gorgeous stretch of sugar soft white sand and turquoise water found on North Abaco Island in the Bahamas, you may spot a colorful, but unassuming little beach bar/restaurant called Coco Beach Bar and Grill.

Coco Beach Bar and Grill is right on beautiful Treasure Cay Beach and in addition to offering some very refreshing Bahamian libations, it also serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The interior is a casual nautical theme with plenty of comfortable seating, and in addition, there are picnic tables on the deck. We opted for deck seating because, well, look at the view…

We ordered a wrap for lunch, which came with a ton of crispy fries, along with a Rum Punch and a Goombay Smash. Not quite the same as the Goombay Smash we had just enjoyed at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay a few days earlier, but everything tastes delicious after a morning of playing on the beach, doesn’t it?

Once you have finished your meal, you can rent a chair and/or palapa from Coco and spend the rest of the afternoon lazing away on one of the prettiest beaches we’ve seen.

From there, the bar is just steps away, so you can make sure you stay hydrated, or in our case “rum”drated.

Have you been to Coco Beach Bar & Grill? Tell us about it!

Find Coco Beach Bar & Grill on our Bahamas Map

You may also be interested in:

Treasure Cay Beach, Abaco

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

May 13, 2015June 6, 2019

Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar, Home of the Goombay Smash

Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay in The Abacos has been serving drinks to thirsty customers since the 60’s and we planned to visit during our Abacos sail. After all, Miss Emily is said to be the originator of the drink “Goombay Smash” and although we have enjoyed a Goombay Smash or two in the past, we wanted to try the original – the one who’s recipe has not been shared with anyone outside the family.

Green Turtle Cay is a small island, only 3 miles in length and easy to get around by golf cart. We rented a couple of carts, headed south to the settlement of New Plymouth and found the Blue Bee Bar on Victoria Street.

Our excitement soon turned to disappointment as we realized Miss Emily’s was closed on Sunday and of course it was Sunday… But, thanks to the generosity of Smitty, the son-in-law of Miss Emily, who was relaxing inside the bar on his day off, we were granted access and got to sample the original Goombay Smash while learning a little Blue Bee history.

Business cards from all over the world adorn the walls, and flags and well worn tee shirts hang from the ceiling in the small and colorful establishment which now also serves dinner from 5 – 9:30 everyday except Sunday. We hear they serve an excellent broiled grouper and a Goombay Grouper…

The Goombay Smash is poured from a gallon jug so there was no way to catch a glimpse of the ingredients and although we pried, Smitty wouldn’t divulge any secrets saying that his wife Violet (Miss Emily’s daughter) was in charge of mixing the sweet concoction.

He graciously poured us each a Goombay Smash at the bar with a picture of the lovely Miss Emily (who passed away in 1977) smiling down at us.

We ordered a second round, chatted with the affable man also known as Sergeant Smith of the Bahamas Police Force, then departed with a jug of Miss Emily’s Goombay Smash to enjoy later on the boat.

Although you can find the Goombay Smash in many bars in the Bahamas, if you want to try the authentic and original recipe, you’ll have to make your way to Green Turtle Cay and the Blue Bee for a cold Goombay Smash, a pleasant afternoon and some good conversation.

Be sure to take away a jug for later…

For one version of the Goombay Smash (not the original!), check out the recipe here:
Goombay Smash

Have you enjoyed a Goombay Smash at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar? Tell us about it!

Find Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on our Bahamas Map

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory