Come To Anguilla

We’re here! We arrived this afternoon and have been busy getting all the final details lined up for the weekend. We can’t wait to see you here! 

Here are some last minute reminders you might final helpful:

Travel Tips

Ferry Instructions

Weekend Itinerary

If we don’t see you sooner, we’ll meet you down at Elvis’ Beach Bar on Sandy Ground around 7pm on Thursday to properly welcome you to the island with a cold beverage.

Don’t hesitate to reach us via email or at 264-582-0165 if you need anything at all. Or you can call Malliouhana Hotel, room 20.

Safe travels!

Thursday Night Dinner Change of Plans

Slight change of plans for dinner on Thursday night…

We had hoped to dine at Sand Bar but that’s not going to work. Instead we’ll plan to walk down to The Pump House after the happy hour at Elvis’ and grab dinner there. The menu is pub food with an island twist, plus lots of specials every night. It’s a casual place and live music by The Musical Brothers starts around 10pm. Good news is that it’s the place to be on a Thursday night on the island!

If you are interested in fine dining instead, you can walk to either Barrel Stay or Dolce Vita, both just down the beach from Elvis’ place. If you stayed through Sunday evening during our wedding, Barrel Stay is where we had everyone meet up for dinner. Dolce Vita has amazing Italian food. Sand Bar is also just down the beach and specializes in small plates. All are fantastic options if you are looking to try some of the fantastic cuisine on the island.

Favorite Places - Off the Beaten Path

These spots are about 30 minutes to an hour taxi ride from your hotel, but we promise they are worth it! You could also rent a car and make a day of it.

Out exploring the island.

DaVida – This restaurant is more central island. They have a beachside grill that’s good for lunch, especially on Sundays when Omari Banks and his entire band play from around 1-4pm. There is also an open-air dining room overlooking the water for dinner. The beach is a bit rocky here but it’s a beautiful spot.

Little Bay – One of our favorite days is to have lunch at daVida and then take a short boat ride to Little Bay. If you want to feel like you’re on a deserted island paradise, plan to go here. It’s a bit off the radar because you have to climb down a rope to get there or take a short boat ride with Calvin (you’ll see signs near daVida) to get there. It’s a totally secluded beach with great snorkeling, cliff jumping, etc.

Nat’s Palm Grove – If you want an adventure to see the other parts of the island, definitely go to Nat's, a "restaurant" on a secluded beach called Junks Hole / Savannah Bay. Nat’s is a literal beach shack that serves lobster, crayfish, fish, chicken, ribs, etc. It’s awesome for lunch if you head out that way. If you want to explore for the day, we’d recommend Nat’s for lunch with a stop at Shoal Bay East before or after. You’ll probably have the entire beach by his place all to yourself. Order when you get there, set-up on the beach and Nat will let you know when your lunch is ready. Just to be safe, call ahead to make sure he’s open. Nat might be the sweetest guy on the island.

Shoal Bay East – Many say it’s the best beach on the island. (We like the beach at Cap Juluca, Meads Bay, and Rendezvous best.) But Shoal Bay is great – different as they have all kinds of beach shack restaurants, a couple resorts and villas, and just amazing beachfront.

Gwen’s – This is a legendary spot that is now in a new location closer to Shoal Bay East. Stop by for lunch (ribs, chicken, seafood) or a rum punch. You’ll find a big beach party there on Sunday with live music.

Sandy Island – If you want to experience a private island, kind of like we did for the wedding on the banana boat trip, head down to Sandy Ground and catch the free 10-minute boat ride to Sandy Island. You can make it a beach day and eat lunch at the little beach shack where you must order the crayfish. Also try JoJo’s rum punch.

The Valley Food Trucks and Roadside Eats – For a real local flavor make a stop in the Valley on the way to the east end of the island. The Valley is the island’s central business district and there are lots of local food trucks and roadside vendors serving food. Hungry’s is one of our favorites.  

Favorite Places - On Meads Bay

These spots are just a short walk down the beach from your hotel.

Malliouhana Hotel – This classic hotel just reopened in November and has been totally redesigned. It’s luxurious and fresh. The restaurant is a beautiful spot for any meal and the Sunset Bar is also perfect for cocktails and a smaller menu. This is a bit more laid back scene but just as picturesque as Viceroy’s sunset view.

The view from the Sunset Bar at Malliouhana.

Jacala – The French chef and host that used to be at Malliouhana opened this restaurant. It’s a really good menu, right on Meads Bay. Lunch is good because they have beach chairs and you can hang out. It’s an easy walk down the beach from the hotels. It’s also open for dinner.

Straw Hat - At Frangipani Hotel, this is a good spot for lunch or dinner and also right on Meads Bay. The Straw Hat fries are worth the trip, and the big eye tuna flat bread is a favorite. We are planning dinner there on Sunday.

Blanchard’s – This is the most famous restaurant on Anguilla, run by an ex-pat couple that has written books and cookbooks and all kinds of stuff.  It’s “fine dining” as far as that goes, food is outstanding, but pricey even by Anguilla standards.

Blanchard's Beach Shack - A must do right on Meads Bay and a short walk from the hotels. Tacos, salads, and sandwiches that you eat on picnic tables or right on the beach chairs out front. We are planning to meet there for lunch on Friday and for the float party on Sunday.

B&D’s BBQ – This place isn’t technically on Meads Bay, but it’s just a across the street from Malliouhana and Carimar. It’s a local BBQ spot with folding tables and chairs on what appear to be somebody’s front lawn. But it’s supposed to be some of the best BBQ on the island. Disclaimer: We have not eaten there yet, because after a week on the island even a Texas girl gets a little tired of BBQ.

Favorite Places – On the West End

All these spots are a short taxi ride from your hotel.

Smokey’s – The site of our wedding! They have live music almost everyday of the week, but Saturday is the day to go for an afternoon beach party from 1-4pm with live music from the Musical Brothers. The food is really good – ribs, jerk chicken. Try the onion rings. The beach is also beautiful so bring a towel and ask for a chair with an umbrella.

The view from inside Smokey's.

Dune Preserve (Bankie Banx’s) – Bankie is a legendary reggae musician who has had his bar on the beach for years, having rebuilt after numerous hurricanes.  It’s next to Cuisinart Hotel on Rendezvous Bay – if you want to find out when Bankie is playing (Wednesdays and Fridays maybe), they do a thing where they include dinner and “admission” for like $30 or so per person. We’re also hoping to hit this spot for an after party on Friday.

Picante – The Mexican menu features the freshest produce and tortillas, a wide variety of margaritas and a friendly, laid-back atmosphere. It is awesome and the food is really good Mexican for anywhere, not just Anguilla. D.J. always gets the ground beef tacos (so good), but the seafood enchiladas, Picante taco, and street corn appetizer are delicious. We’re planning dinner here on Saturday night.

Geraud’s Patisserie– If you want to grab a quick (for island time!) sandwich or breakfast, we recommend Geraud’s. It’s on the main road going east from the hotels. They have delicious breakfast sandwiches, just get there before 11am on the weekend because they close early.

Mango’s – This is a beautiful, fine dining spot right on the Barnes Bay beach for a special dinner. They are also open for lunch and offer beach chairs to guests.

Favorite Places – On Sandy Ground

Sandy Ground is a 15-20 minute taxi ride from your hotel.

Elvis’ Beach Bar – We’re hosting a welcome happy hour on Thursday at this laid back spot. Grab a seat at the boat in the sand with benches around it. All the locals and tourists end up there late night. You can also go for a nice sunset around 5pm.

Clearly enjoying some drinks at Elvis' Beach Bar.

The Pumphouse – This is the place to go for live music, especially on Thursdays, which is what we’re planning to do. Hit Pumphouse and Elvis’s the same night since they are basically right across the street from each other. There is always good soca, reggae or similar music, and a nice mix of tourists and locals.

Veya – Dinner restaurant close to Sandy Ground. It’s a cool setting in the trees with outdoor seating as opposed to right on the beach.  Like a teak treehouse in the jungle. It’s a somewhat nicer place for a special dinner. Their johnny cakes are delicious.

Dolce Vita – I know, Italian in the Caribbean sounds strange, but this place is amazing. The chef and owners are from Italy so it’s the real deal. Right on Sandy Ground so a good dinner spot before heading to the Pumphouse or Elvis'. Get the gnocchi appetizer.

Sand Bar – We’re planning dinner here on Thursday night. It’s a casual tapas restaurant right on the beach. We love it for a lighter, more casual meal with a larger group. The tuna poke and fries are outstanding and you know we’re French fry connoisseurs.

Barrel Stay – If you stayed through Sunday evening during our wedding, this is where we had everyone meet up for dinner. Owners Graham (the chef) and Jill (the hostess) are lovely folks. This is where we eat Thanksgiving dinner every year. Ask Jill for her favorite menu recommendations. She won’t steer you wrong.

Travel Tips

1. DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORTS!

2. Cash and Credit Cards - Anguilla's currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is pegged to USD at EC$2.70 per dollar, but everyone typically uses US dollars down there.

Before you leave, you will want to hit an ATM or pick up some travelers checks though. There are a number of ATMs around Anguilla, including a few you'll see along the side of the road as you are driving around, but they tend to run out of cash on weekends. The ATMs in town (The Valley, center of the island and east of where we're all staying) at the main bank offices seem to be the most reliable, and we've used an ATM in Sandy Ground along with a few at banks alongside the main road. In terms of having cash on you, every hotel room has a safe.

Believe me, though, this isn't something to stress about. Most of the restaurants, bars, and shops take credit cards, though typically Visa/MC.  The hotels take AmEx but not the restaurants and bars. Mainly, you'll need cash for taxis.

One more thing you will need cash for… When you leave Anguilla from Blowing Point ferry terminal, you'll need US$25 cash per person for departure tax and small bills to tip the porters that move your bags on and off the boat.

3. Getting Around - Generally there isn't a need to rent a car in Anguilla. We've done it for a day here and there, just to drive around and explore a bit. Cabs are plentiful but can get expensive, though having more people in the cab defrays the cost per person. If you do want to rent a car or Jeep, let us know and we can connect you with Sid. He can arrange to have the car waiting for you at the ferry terminal or your hotel. Car rental per day is around $60. And don’t forget to drive on the left side of the road!

4. Tips - When you go to a restaurant, they will typically include an 18% service charge on the check, so just be sure to check before you add an additional tip. Otherwise, it's the customary amount (10-15% if you're cheap, more if you have a conscience).

5. Wifi and Cell Phone Service - This is one major area of upgrade on the island since our wedding, now most places offer free wifi. The best thing to do is to turn off your cell service when you get on the island and log in to the available wifi wherever you might be. Texting on wifi is likely the best way to communicate while on island. If you need to reach us call our local cell number 264-582-0165. If you have AT&T your cell will work on international roaming but Verizon tends not to work.

6. Grocery Store – There’s a brand new, large grocery store on the main road right by Meads Bay called Best Buy. They really have everything you could possibly need, certainly moreso than regular NYC grocery stores. Unless the entire island happens to be out of hot dog buns or Diet Coke (both actually happened to us). It’s walking distance from Anacaona and you can check out a bike at Malliouhana for a short ride. They have beer and booze as well, though I don’t think the beer is cold. There are a bunch of other roadside bodega-type stores as well. Foods 95 is west of the hotels and Mingz and Romcan are east. Oddly, Mingz is one of a number of Chinese groceries on the island. There’s an ATM at Romcan.