Omar’s Beach Hut
This beachfront restaurant serves conch, lobster, and Caribbean dishes right on the beach.
Turks and Caicos Dining Guide
The Dining Scene
Turks and Caicos is an excellent vacation destination for foodies. This tropical archipelago is home to an entire spectrum of cuisines and flavors, from Caribbean cuisine and Turks and Caicos seafood to Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, and beyond.
Every island in the archipelago offers something different. The main island of Providenciales is the undeniable center of dining in the country, and boasts the largest number of restaurants and greatest variety of cuisines. On the other main islands and at the private island resorts, you'll find more intimate dining settings with fresh seafood, a laid-back ambiance, and great ocean views.
Best Turks & Caicos Restaurants
Turks & Caicos Cuisine
The cuisine of the Turks and Caicos has evolved over time through migration and trade with neighboring countries like the Bahamas and Jamaica. The giant sea snail conch forms the base of the country's most popular dishes, such as cracked conch, breaded and fried conch fritters, conch salad (ceviche), and conch chowder.
If you aren't keen on seafood, there's a range of other authentic dishes to try, from Caribbean BBQ ribs to slow-cooked jerk chicken and local grits. Flavorful peas and rice is the quintessential side.
Excellent Seafood
Regardless of the island you choose to visit, incredible seafood is almost a guarantee. The country is surrounded by a 340-mile-long barrier reef that supports a diverse fishery of queen conch, Caribbean spiny lobster, Nassau grouper, and snapper.
Mahi-mahi, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and yellowfin tuna can be found in the deeper waters offshore. Whether you want your seafood served at a casual beachfront eatery or a five-star fine dining restaurant, there's a range of ambiances to choose from.
Elegant Tastes
Gourmet Dining
Fine dining is one of the cuisines that Turks and Caicos does best. The main island of Providenciales and its tourism region of Grace Bay are where most of the country's fine dining restaurants are located.
Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to fusion cuisine that combines local flavors with French, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, and Thai cuisine (to name a few). Many gourmet restaurants are helmed by internationally recognized executive chefs.
You can also find upscale dining at the private island resorts and on the up-and-coming island destination of South Caicos. This island has the luxury Salterra Resort & Spa, which boats six dining options spanning a variety of cuisines.
Fine DiningPopular Restaurants
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner happens in a variety of settings here, from beachfront venues at the luxury resorts to candlelit tables in a coconut grove.
Browse these great Turks and Caicos restaurants to find the perfect spot to eat.
Casa Nonna
Great pasta dishes and fine Italian cuisine are the specialties of Casa Nonna in Grace Bay.
The Deck
The Deck is an ideal casual beachfront location for enjoying comfort food and watching the sunset.
The Marine Room
Boasting great cocktails and excellent seafood, this fine dining restaurant is among the country's best.
Lua Restaurant
Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine are the bread and butter of fine dining restaurant Lua.
BLT Steak
This American-style steakhouse is best-known for its excellent steak cuts, fine wines, and upscale setting.
Noori
If you want fresh sushi and tasty drinks in a beautiful lounge with a view of the ocean, give Noori a try.
Choosing an Ambiance
Beachfront dining is a must while visiting the Turks and Caicos, but there's a range of other restaurant atmospheres to explore while you're in these Beautiful by Nature islands. Romantic inland restaurants surrounded by palm trees and twinkling lights, casual bar and grills with live music, family friendly BBQs, and the weekly island fish fry on Providenciales are just a few of the scenes to explore. Our recommendation is to try them all.
If you’re looking to start with cocktails or drinks, the waterfront restaurants are an ideal and romantic place to watch the sunset. Many restaurants have their own mixologists on staff who make both classic drinks and bar specialties.
Beachfront Restaurants
Unique Dining Experiences
Chef's Table Experience
Terra Mar
This Grace Bay restaurant offers seven-course gastronomic dining experiences that weave together local and foreign flavors. Headed by Chef Clayton Julien, Terra Mar is the only dedicated gourmet chef's table restaurant in the Turks and Caicos.
It's rare to eat the same thing twice, as Chef Clayton changes the menu every three months. You can also add a wine pairing to your experience, designed from the restaurant's curated stock of international vintages.
Lua Restaurant
The food at Lua is top-tier and is served on the banks of a private ocean lagoon. This beachfront restaurant boasts a beautiful al fresco dining area, open-air cocktail lounge, and cozy fire tables overlooking the beach.
Mediterranean and Asian-inspired tastes dominate its diverse selection of dishes, from lamb tagine to dry aged ora king salmon. Lua is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Air-Conditioned Beachfront
Coralli
You can keep cool while dining beachfront at Coralli, whose air-conditioned interior looks out onto the spectacular turquoise waters of world-famous Grace Bay Beach. Coralli is open for breakfast and lunch, turning into the fine Italian Casa Nonna restaurant for dinner.
The menu blends together classic lunch fare with Mediterranean cuisine, offering everything from prawn ceviche to burgers.
Da Conch Shack
Named after its most popular dish, Da Conch Shack is one of the top places to try cracked conch, conch fritters, and conch salad, as well as other Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken and fried fish, against the beautiful backdrop of Blue Hills Beach.
This restaurant photographs well, with a pink-and-white color scheme that's reminiscent of a queen conch shell, tall coconut trees, and twinkling lights at dusk. On Wednesdays, it hosts a Bahamian-style junkanoo parade.
Cocktails, Spirits & Drinks
While the Turks and Caicos Islands never had the rum distilleries and large sugar cane plantations of other islands like Barbados, Jamaica, and Antigua, there's a nice selection of local spirits and drinks you can try on vacation.
Bambarra Rum, named after the historic Bambarra settlement on Middle Caicos, is the most popular Turks and Caicos rum brand. Refreshing rum punch can be found throughout the country's restaurants, bars, and on most boat charters and tours.
For a lighter local drink, try one of the craft beers at the Turk's Head Brewery (or tour its facility on Providenciales for the full experience).
Culinary Events
A range of culinary events are hosted throughout the year in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The weekly Fish Fry on Providenciales is one of the most popular events, featuring live entertainment and vendors serving traditional food.
Turks and Caicos is also home to the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival, which brings in top chefs from around the world to host dinners, tastings, and gourmet food tours.
Prices & Tipping
Dining out in the Turks and Caicos Islands can be expensive. It's fairly standard to pay 22% tax on your restaurant bill—all resort restaurants must charge a 12% hotel and tourism tax (7.5% at the Club Med and Beaches all-inclusive resorts) as well as a 10% service charge, as required by the government.
Some local restaurants that don't regularly serve tourists are exempt from charging these taxes. Visiting them is a great way to save on meal costs and enjoy an authentic local meal.
Tipping is customary and expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands (some businesses automatically include gratuity on bills). It's normal to tip 15–20% for good service.
Vacation Prices
Want not
All-Inclusive Dining
The Turks and Caicos is home to several all-inclusive resorts, and the dining they offer guests varies quite a bit by property. The family-friendly Beaches Turks and Caicos resort features more than 20 restaurants, with a simple guest policy that allows for unlimited dining and drinks.
The adults-only Club Med Turkoise, which has a similar unlimited food and drink policy, mostly offers buffets.
Exclusive Eats
Private Chefs
Want a tailored dining experience? Consider hiring your own private chef.
Vacation villas and many of the larger resort and condominium suites feature full kitchens that are great for having a professional chef prepare a special meal for your group at home. You can select the cuisine, the menu, and specify any special dietary restrictions or allergies you need your chef to accommodate.
Booking a Table
Reservations
Generally, it's best to make a reservation, especially at fine dining restaurants and at establishments on the other main islands.
Many restaurants aren't open for breakfast, and some are open for dinner only. On the family islands, reservations are recommended, especially for larger groups.
Some popular restaurants, such as Coco Bistro, may experience limited availability, so confirm well in advance of your arrival.
The availability of accommodations, excursions, and services in the Turks and Caicos varies according to the season. The winter and spring “high season” experiences the greatest number of tourist arrivals, in contrast to the late summer “low season”. Some restaurants close during the low season months of September and October.
Best Times to VisitFrequently Asked Questions
Are restaurants able to accommodate dietary restrictions?
Many restaurants can accommodate special requests and diets. It's best to inquire before your visit, so the kitchen can ensure the appropriate ingredients are available. On Providenciales, it's easy to find a restaurant with at least a few vegetarian options.
How expensive is it to eat out on Providenciales?
Eating out on Providenciales can cost as little as $60 per person per day, but can easily go upwards of $250 per person per day. The vast majority of food in the Turks and Caicos Islands is imported. Combined with government taxes, dining in Turks and Caicos is expensive.
What is the legal drinking age in Turks and Caicos?
The legal drinking age in Turks and Caicos is 18.
Is the food safe to eat in Turks and Caicos?
Foodborne illness is rare in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The food is generally safe to eat throughout the islands. Most food is flown in directly from the United States.
When is the best time to visit the Turks and Caicos?
The best time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands is during February, March, or April, which is when the weather is typically best and virtually all tourism businesses are open. Many restaurants close during the September and October slow season (locally known as silly season). Expect fewer dining options if you visit during this time.
Do Turks and Caicos restaurants require reservations?
Some Turks and Caicos restaurants require reservations, while others do not. The more casual beachfront restaurants and local cuisine places rarely require reservations. It's recommended to book your table in advance if you plan to dine at one of the fine dining establishments. Some restaurants, such as Casa Nonna, Caicos Café, and The Deck, can book up several days in advance.
What payment methods do Turks and Caicos restaurants accept?
The vast majority of restaurants in Turks and Caicos accept payment via major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) and via cash. It's best to travel with cash if you plan to visit the other islands, as ATMs are either nonexistent or in short supply. A few restaurants only accept credit cards and not cash (such as Shay Café in Grace Bay and Bugaloo's Conch Crawl), and some only accept cash as payment.
Do restaurants in Turks and Caicos separate the bill?
Sit-down restaurants in Turks and Caicos rarely accommodate separate bills. Some restaurants will allow you to split the bill evenly among members of your party.
Are there any hidden fees or taxes?
The Turks and Caicos Government charges a tourism tax of 12% on all tourist stays in the islands (except for a few properties, which charge 7.5%), which applies to resort restaurants. All hotels must also charge a 10% service fee.
Is tipping required at Turks and Caicos restaurants?
A 15% tip is standard and expected for service in the Turks and Caicos. Most restaurants charge a 10% service fee, which is split among the server, chefs, and service team. Tips are not required at the all-inclusive resorts.