• Havana Blue (Morning Star Beach Club at the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef): You would be forgiven if you thought the food would be relegated to a secondary role at this beachside restaurant, given the bombshell bar staff, sexy blue lighting, and thumping soundtrack. But someone very talented is in the kitchen. Yes, miso-glazed fish has been done since the dawn of time, but Havana Blue’s iteration (with sea bass and lemongrass) is melt-in-the-mouth perfection. 
  • Gladys’ Cafe (Charlotte Amalie): Smack dab in the middle of tourist central, this local treasure is hidden away in plain sight in the maze of cobblestoned alleyways of Royal Dane Mall. Inside 18th-century walls of native stone, you’ll dine on refined versions of Caribbean specialties (conch fritters, jerk fish, peas and rice) and surefire winners like avocado stuffed with lobster salad. Plus, Gladys makes her own hot sauce and even breaks into robust song whenever she feels like it. 
  • Mafolie Restaurant (Mafolie Hotel): High up in the hills above Charlotte Amalie, with soul-stirring views of the twinkling lights of the harbor and beyond, this restaurant is a real find. Chef Manny Thompson is a masterful cook, and the owners are committed to the island’s burgeoning farm-to-table movement. And those views!
  • Sunset Grille (Secret Harbour Resort): Serving some of the most flavorful and innovative dishes on the island, the Sunset Grille offers upscale dining in a quintessentially romantic Caribbean setting: overlooking the sandy beach and gentle waters of Secret Harbour.

    On nearby St. John (just a short ferry ride away):

  • ZoZo’s (Caneel Bay Resort, St. John): This marriage of superstars in late 2013 installed St. John’s best Italian restaurant in one of the island’s most thrilling locations: atop the ruins of an 18th-century sugar mill at Caneel Bay resort. It’s a real mashup, where colonial Caribbean meets Frank Lloyd Wright and pumps out a sizzling sixties-era James Bond vibe. 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.