Dining on St. Croix
The true beauty of a vacation in a house, villa, or condo is the full kitchen! Dining in is a great, inexpensive way to spend quality family time on vacation. Our kitchen is stocked with the amenities of home. Groceries are a bit more expensive on the island, but it's still more cost-effective than dining out. Our favorite grocery store on the island, and the first place we go out of the airport, is Plaza West (also called The Market STX). We usually find everything we need, plus some items unique to the Caribbean - like Alvin's hot sauce. It's mouth-puckering hot and we love it! We always have to get extra to bring back to the mainland. We try to keep our condo stocked with the basic condiments and cooking necessities. But, if there's something you need, a trip to the grocery store is quick and easy. There's no better way to feel like a local than a trip for groceries!
If getting groceries like a local isn't your thing, there's no need to worry. You won't have to go far to find good food. Dining out is comparable to dining out on the mainland US. Cost can be slightly higher or lower than what you're used to depending on what part of the US you're from. For those traveling from other countries, the average cost of a meal ranges from $15-30 US per person, depending on the restaurant.
St Croix is a great island for foodies! For the size of the island, there are so many good restaurants to choose from. Unfortunately, restaurants seem to come and go quite often, but there are a few that have remained for a good period of time. There are many we haven't visited yet (although we keep trying). Listed below are a few of our favorite places:
In Christiansted:
- Shupe's on the Boardwalk - if you're a fan of Five Guys in the continental US, this is your place!
- Brew STX - if you have leftovers, feed the fish that congregate by this restaurant. They eat anything, and we mean anything!
- Toast Diner - small, but we love the breakfast there.
- Savant - Good food and we love dining in the courtyard.
- The Bombay Club - Excellent restaurant and local favorite.
- Galangal - A wonderful restaurant with unique and excellent food.
Outside of Christiansted, there are many options as well. The Sunny Beach Shack at Gentle Winds serves great food and it's conveniently located right on our beach! No need to get fancy, just bring an appetite! It is independently owned, so you will need to check hours and days of operation if planning to eat there, as those are subject to change. Following are restaurants we have visited and would recommend outside of downtown Christiansted:
- Sunny Beach Shack at Gentle Winds
- Flyers (now located in Fredericksted)
- Off the Wall, North Shore Road
- The Landing Beach Bar at Cane Bay
- Louie & Nacho's Beach Bar, Fredericksted
- Rhythms at Rainbow Beach
- Duggan's Reef, East End
When we say there are plenty of places to eat on St. Croix, we aren't lying. We've listed only a handful of places. It's a good idea to check online and/or give each place a call to find out hours or if reservations are required. Some restaurants, like those by the beach, may only be open for lunch. And many, like Duggan's Reef, Bombay Club, and Savant, are popular and reservations are recommended or required.