Colorful boats bob in the water next to our table along the harbor at the casual and friendly Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown, Barbados, as I order (yet again) the gazpacho to start my meal.
Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown, Barbados, draws both tourists and locals.
Every time I dine at Barbados’ Waterfront Cafe – they serve both lunch and dinner – I have a fabulous meal and a fabulous time. It’s so often the “perfect place” to go. In the past week alone I’ve been three times, each time because it fit the bill:
… it was the perfect place to take visiting friends late one night to listen to jazz;
… it was the perfect place for Greg and me to meet two other couples for lunch last Saturday;
… it was the perfect place to go with my friend Sharon after some serious shopping at the funky outlet store (you might prefer the duty-free shops, of which there are many in Bridgetown).
Colorful boats line the harbor in front of Waterfront Cafe
It’s also lots of fun to be there at noon and 4 in the afternoon when the catch comes in.
Waterfront Cafe has that casual/friendly vibe and so often those places offer good and basic fare. Waterfront is different; it’s casual and yet the food is a cut above — and often exquisite.
I’ve had most things on the menu but I usually start with the gazpacho (it’s cool, tomato-y, and spicy with a lovely balance of garlic and onion and it’s not too smooth and not too lumpy) and I’m especially fond of the salmon as a main course — not that bland farm-raised salmon, but plump and tasty salmon from the wild, covered in Cajun spices and served atop a bed of perfectly seasoned lightly-cooked spinach.
The pepper pot here is also amazingly spiced; it’s my favorite pepper pot on the island.
Of course, you can’t not have flying fish if you’re in Barbados – and Waterfront does this Barbadian specialty well: the fish is boned, washed in lime juice, rolled in spices, and lightly fried.
Across the harbor from Waterfront Cafe you see Barbados' flag flying proud on top of the 350-year-old Parliament building.
At night, Waterfront is even more alive, with different types of live jazz playing on different nights. Like to dance? Here’s your chance! The atmosphere is tons of fun, with waitresses swinging through the crowds serving up food as Waterfront Cafe owner Sue Walcott stops at tables to welcome her guests.
Waterfront Cafe is alive at night with jazz and dancing and people having a great time.
Live jazz is playing most nights.
Waterfront Cafe, Bridgetown, Barbados
At the careenage (the boat harbor)
For reservations, call 246-427-0093