The British Virgin Islands welcomed a record 1,202,008 visitors in 2025, surpassing the pre-Hurricane Irma peak for the first time (BVI Government, 2025). That tourism boom has sparked a wave of new restaurant openings across the territory — from Tortola to Jost Van Dyke to private islands. Hotels and restaurants now employ roughly 20% of the BVI’s labor force (BVI Government, 2026), and close to 40 restaurants participated in BVI Restaurant Week 2025 (BVI Government, 2025).
If you’re planning a BVI yacht charter or island vacation, the best restaurants in the BVI don’t look anything like they did five years ago. We’ve spent time at anchor off each of these islands and eaten at every spot on this list. Here are the five best new restaurants worth a stop on your next trip.
At a Glance: Best New BVI Restaurants Compared
| Restaurant | Island | Cuisine | Price | Rating | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saba Rock | Virgin Gorda | Seafood/International | $$$$ | 4.8 (OpenTable, 609 diners) | Oct 2021 |
| The Drake Steakhouse | Peter Island | Steakhouse/Caribbean | $$$$ | 5.0 (TripAdvisor) | Dec 2024 |
| Tipsy Shark | Jost Van Dyke | Caribbean Seafood | $$–$$$ | 4.9 (TripAdvisor, 87 reviews) | 2021 |
| Marche at Trellis | Beef Island | Sushi/Asian Fusion | $$–$$$ | 4.8 (TripAdvisor) | 2022 |
| Omar’s at Sandspit | Tortola | Caribbean-Indian Fusion | $$–$$$ | Building (new location) | Early 2025 |
1. Saba Rock Restaurant — Virgin Gorda (Reopened October 2021)
Saba Rock Restaurant reopened on October 15, 2021, after a complete rebuild from the ground up following Hurricane Irma’s $2.3 billion devastation of the BVI in 2017 (Travel Weekly, 2021). The tiny islet in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, had been reduced to rubble — and the new hurricane-resistant concrete structure is both a statement of resilience and a genuinely excellent place to eat.
The menu leans heavily on fresh seafood: grouper burgers, conch salads, lobster pizzas, and ceviche that you won’t find prepared better anywhere in the territory. Upstairs, the rooftop sunset bar offers panoramic views across North Sound that justify the seven-minute boat ride from Gun Creek. There’s also a shipwreck artifact museum and spa if you want to make an afternoon of it.
Saba Rock holds a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award with 790 reviews and an OpenTable rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 609 diners. It’s the most-reviewed new restaurant on this list by a wide margin — and the consistency across that many guests says a lot.
Details: Virgin Gorda, North Sound (boat access only) · $$$$ · Seafood/International · sabarock.com
2. The Drake Steakhouse — Peter Island (Opened December 2024)
Peter Island Resort reopened on December 1, 2024, after a seven-year, $100M+ renovation — one of the largest hospitality investments in BVI history (Robb Report, 2024). The Drake Steakhouse, the resort’s signature restaurant, is the first proper steakhouse in the British Virgin Islands. It pairs prime cuts with Caribbean-inflected sides and an ambitious cocktail program.
The resort itself is a 52-room property on a private 1,800-acre island, accessible by ferry. The enhanced yacht club can host superyachts up to 200 feet, which tells you exactly the clientele they’re targeting. If you’re island-hopping through the BVI by yacht, Peter Island is now a legitimate dinner stop rather than just a quick beach visit.
Early reviews are stellar: TripAdvisor shows a 5.0 out of 5 rating, and OpenTable has it at 4.8 with 23 diners rating their experience. The sample size is still small — the resort’s been open less than a year and a half — but the investment behind it and the early feedback suggest this one has legs.
Details: Peter Island (resort ferry from Road Town) · $$$$ · Steakhouse/Caribbean · peterisland.com
3. Tipsy Shark Bar & Cafe — Jost Van Dyke (Opened 2021)
Tipsy Shark holds a 4.9 out of 5 on TripAdvisor with 87 reviews — the highest-rated restaurant on this list by average score (TripAdvisor, 2026). That’s remarkable for a family-run operation that was built from scratch during COVID on an island with a population under 300.
Owner Renee (Oomadai Singh) worked in the BVI for 20 years before opening Tipsy Shark in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, in 2021 (Tipsy Shark, 2026). The kitchen is run by the Singh family, originally from Guyana, and the menu reflects that heritage: fresh-caught fish daily, curry fish, secret-sauce ribs, roti, and homemade key lime pie that charter guests won’t stop talking about.
Jost Van Dyke is famous for Soggy Dollar Bar and Foxy’s, but Tipsy Shark is where locals and repeat charterers actually eat. It’s entirely word-of-mouth driven — no Instagram campaigns, no resort marketing budget. Just good food and genuine hospitality.
Details: Jost Van Dyke, Great Harbour · $$ – $$$ · Caribbean Seafood · tipsysharkjvd.com
4. Marche at Trellis Bar & Grill — Beef Island (Opened 2022)
Marche at Trellis introduced the BVI’s first dedicated sushi restaurant when it opened in 2022 at Trellis Bay, Beef Island — literally steps from the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (BVI Traveller, 2022). It holds a 4.8 out of 5 on TripAdvisor with 13 reviews, making it the highest-rated restaurant in the Beef Island area.
The menu centers on 100% natural sushi alongside broader Asian-fusion seafood dishes. But the design is what makes Marche at Trellis memorable: the bar was crafted from reconditioned cypress salvaged from an Irma-damaged roof, and the dining tables are built from the same cypress with Sapele Mahogany inlay. It’s a tangible piece of the BVI’s recovery story you can eat dinner on.
Location is a genuine advantage here. If you’re arriving or departing the BVI by air, Marche at Trellis is a two-minute walk from the terminal. Charter guests who arrive a day early or have a late flight can have a proper sit-down meal without getting on another ferry or taxi. Pair it with the nearby BVI hotels near the charter base for a stress-free first night.
Details: Beef Island, Trellis Bay · $$ – $$$ · Sushi/Asian Fusion · marcheattrellis.com
5. Omar’s at Sandspit — Tortola (Opened 2025)
Omar’s at Sandspit opened in early 2025 as a relocation of the beloved Omar’s Fusion, which had been a fixture at Soper’s Hole, West End, Tortola, for years. The new location sits just before the bridge to Soper’s Hole, and the same kitchen team — executive chefs Raj and Das — kept the menu intact (Omar’s BVI, 2025).
The cuisine is Caribbean-Indian fusion: curries, rotis, jerk chicken, and seafood dishes that blend West Indian spice profiles with subcontinental technique. Omar’s Fusion had built a loyal following among charterers and locals alike at its previous location, and the move to Sandspit gave them a larger space and better access for boats anchoring in the West End.
If you’re picking up or dropping off a chartered yacht at Soper’s Hole — one of the BVI’s main embarkation points — Omar’s is now the obvious choice for your first or last dinner ashore.
Details: Tortola, West End (near Soper’s Hole) · $$ – $$$ · Caribbean-Indian Fusion · omars-bvi.com
How to Visit the Best Restaurants in the BVI by Yacht
Four of these five restaurants are accessible directly by boat — which makes a crewed yacht charter the ideal way to hit them all in a single trip. Here’s how they fit into a typical BVI charter itinerary:
- Day 1 (Beef Island): Arrive at the airport, walk to Marche at Trellis for sushi before boarding your yacht
- Day 2–3 (Virgin Gorda): Anchor in North Sound, dinghy to Saba Rock for sunset dinner
- Day 4 (Peter Island): Dock at the yacht club, book dinner at The Drake Steakhouse
- Day 5–6 (Jost Van Dyke): Anchor in Great Harbour, walk to Tipsy Shark for lunch
- Day 7 (Tortola, West End): Final night at Omar’s at Sandspit before disembarkation
Your crew chef will handle most meals onboard, but these five spots are worth going ashore for. If you’re not sure what to expect on a yacht charter, the flexibility to hop between islands and dine wherever you want is one of the biggest advantages over a resort vacation.
FAQ: Dining in the British Virgin Islands
What food is the BVI known for?
The BVI’s national dish is fish and fungi — okra and cornmeal boiled with butter and served alongside braised fish with Caribbean spices. Other staples include Anegada lobster (clawless, grilled beachside), conch fritters, roti stuffed with curried chicken or goat, johnnycakes, and pates (fried dough with salt fish or spiced chicken). The cuisine reflects Dutch, West African, American, and East Indian influences (AFAR Magazine, 2024).
Do I need reservations at BVI restaurants?
For The Drake Steakhouse and Saba Rock, yes — especially during high season (December through April). Tipsy Shark, Marche at Trellis, and Omar’s are more casual and usually don’t require reservations, though calling ahead on weekends is smart. If you’re arriving by yacht, your crew or charter broker can typically arrange reservations for you.
How much should I budget for dining out in the BVI?
Expect $30–$60 per person at mid-range restaurants like Tipsy Shark, Marche at Trellis, and Omar’s. The Drake Steakhouse and Saba Rock run $75–$150+ per person with drinks. Tipping is typically 15–20%, similar to the US. If you’re on a crewed charter with APA, restaurant meals ashore usually come out of your own pocket, not the provisioning allowance.
Can I reach these restaurants without a boat?
Three of the five are accessible by road or short taxi ride: Marche at Trellis (Beef Island), Omar’s (Tortola), and The Drake (Peter Island resort ferry from Road Town). Saba Rock requires a boat to North Sound. Tipsy Shark on Jost Van Dyke is reachable via the new Jost Lime & Dine ferry on weekends (Caribbean Journal, 2026) or regular ferry service from West End, Tortola.
Jason Acosta is the co-founder and principal broker of Vital Charters. He is an avid sailor and yacht charterer. Jason is also a Master Diver and certified ASA 104 sailor.
