St John Restaurants: My Favorite St John Dining Spots

St. John, US Virgin Islands, is known for its stunning sunsets, beautiful beaches, and vibrant dining scene. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, a sunset chaser, or both, St. John’s culinary delights will leave an everlasting imprint on your heart – and your taste buds.

St. John’s dining scene combines local ingredients and international influences. From upscale dining to laid-back beach eateries, there is something for everyone. On the island, we gravitate to outdoor restaurants known for great food, excellent drinks, a stunning view- or all three. Here are a few of my personal favorite St John restaurants…

Longboard – A Family Favorite

We are guaranteed to eat at Longboard at least two times every trip. Right in the heart of Cruz Bay, Longboard is always busy, so it is a good idea to go online or swing by to put your name on the waitlist during the dinner rush. While Longboard falls short on views, it makes up for it with delicious, fresh cuisine. My go-to meal is the Tuna Poke bowl. It’s yummy!

But let’s talk about the Longboard cocktails. You can never go wrong with their signature frozen Painkiller- a delightful concoction of rum, pineapple, orange juice, cream of coconut, and freshly grated nutmeg. However, my favorite cocktail, the one I talk about to our friends back home (and my number one drink of all time)- yes, you heard that right is Heart & Sol. Made with grilled pineapple & jalapeño reposado tequila and finished with a smoked sea salt rim- if you like drinks with a bit of spice put this on your list!

Longboard is very popular and almost always busy. While you can’t make reservations, you can put your name down on the waiting list online or stop by when you’re in town and add your name to the list, order a drink to go, shop, and then before you know it your table will be ready. Trust me, Longboard is a St John restaurant that is worth the wait.

LimeOut – Floating Taco Bar

Picture this. The sun is shining, and the Caribbean breeze is blowing. You lounge on a float in the ocean- a cold drink in one hand and the best taco you’ve ever tasted in the other. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Trust me when I say you do not want to miss lunch at LimeOut when you’re in St. John. This floating taco bar is a family favorite!

For my personal recommendations, I love the Caribbean Spiced Tuna Taco and the Surf + Turf Taco. My cocktail of choice at LimeOut is the Coco Colada- a refreshing concoction of pineapple rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and fresh lime juice. It is absolutely refreshing!

You’ll want to arrange how you’ll get to LimeOut in advance. You cannot swim or kayak out, so you must arrive by boat. LimeOut has now conveniently partnered with Salt Deck to offer the LimeOut Express shuttle. You can find out more and make plans for a visit at LimeOut.

Lovango Rum Bar – Dinner with a View

Perched on a hillside in downtown Cruz Bay, you will find Lovango Rum Bar. However, what you’ll find at Lovango Rum Bar is so much more than rum. You will discover some of the best wood-fired pizzas on the island. The food, coupled with hand-crafted cocktails and a view to die for, puts Lovango Rum Bar at the top of our list.

Windmill Bar – Cocktails & Sunsets

Hands down, there is no better place to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset on St. John than Windmill Bar. A few miles from town, Windmill Bar overlooks Hawksnest Bay and has a bustling sunset scene. Guests begin arriving well before sunset to snag the best tables, so plan accordingly. Windmill Bar offers a full menu and live music nightly. Put this one on your list for sunset viewing!

Morgan’s Mango – Fine Dining in Cruz Bay

There are so many options for fine dining in Cruz Bay, but one of our preferred restaurants is Morgan’s Mango. Reservations are a must, so plan accordingly. This open-air restaurant has several tables that offer stunning views of Cruz Bay, so be sure to request one when making your reservation (call or email to make reservations). When lobster is in season, Morgan’s Mango is known for “lobster night.” We’ve never been able to get our timing down to enjoy the lobster night, but everything on the menu is fantastic, and they have an extensive wine list as well. Morgan’s Mango is a beautiful restaurant to enjoy a special night in St. John.

Rum Hut – Best Appetizer

I would be remiss if I did not mention one of my favorite places to grab a quick snack or pop in for happy hour: Rum Hut. What can I say, those blackened mahi bites keep us coming back. In all seriousness, Rum Hut is the perfect place to enjoy a Painkiller and a bite to eat right by the water! Don’t believe me? Try the blackened mahi bites when you visit St. John, and let me know what you think. I bet you won’t be disappointed!

NorthShore Deli, – Perfect for Picnics

One of our favorite lunch options in St. John is NorthShore Deli. More days than not, we’ll swing by and pick up items to enjoy a picnic lunch on our favorite beach. My go-to sandwich is the Smoked Turkey & Bacon. It is delicious! So, if you’re like us and want to enjoy a beach picnic, put NorthShore Deli on your list.

St John Restaurants – Final Thoughts

As I mentioned, there are so many dining options in St. John. There are some really popular restaurants that are known for fine dining that we’ve never tried or in the case of one (who I won’t name) we just didn’t love the stuffy atmosphere. The restaurants mentioned above keep us coming back- and are our family’s personal favorites that we seem to frequent over and over again.

Before making dining plans, it is always a good idea to check recent reviews, verify hours/ days of operation, and make reservations- as popularity and quality can change over time. Make your way to this tropical paradise and let the irresistible flavors of St. John sweep you away on an unforgettable adventure! Happy dining!

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