The waterfront dining experience at Grand Old House is the stuff that Cayman Islands memories are made of.
Take a fusion of more than 100 cultures and their most traditional flavours and ingredients from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. Add in a staggering variety of fresh, abundant seafood harvested on the doorstep. Cook and serve it with skill and panache in a spectacular setting. Then you can understand why the Cayman Islands is truly the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
Yes, the first-time visitor to the Cayman Islands looking to experience the very best of Caribbean fine dining faces an abundance of where, when and what to eat choices – from pop-up street food shacks selling cheap and cheerful snacks to five-star gilded restaurants where a reservation can be more difficult to obtain than a unicorn steak and you’d need a second mortgage to properly appreciate the wine list.
So, where to eat in the Cayman Islands? There is no right or wrong answer. But if you’re new to the best food in the Cayman Islands, have limited time and want a vacation experience to recall and savour for years to come, remember these two words: waterfront dining.
Without doubt, the combination of stellar food and service, gentle tropical breezes, the lap of waves on a white sand beach and a ringside seat to watch the sun set over the Caribbean Sea, is the memory that will linger the longest after a visit to the Cayman Islands.
Here at Grand Old House, the waterfront dining experience is both an art and a tradition. This former plantation house dates back to 1908 and since it opened as a restaurant in 1969 has developed a reputation for the unsurpassed quality of its food, its service and ambience.
The 5,000-square-foot panoramic waterfront terrace is a family-friendly waterfront dining experience that has something for everyone. With an extensive kids’ menu, a huge collection of fine wines, the most sumptuous private dining rooms in the cayman islands, live music – even a resident Cuban cigar maker – Grand Old House has been a local and international top pick for literally thousands of weddings, community events, family celebrations and romantic meals over the last 50 years.
Grand Old House offers a variety of mouth-watering international dishes with Caribbean flair, made from the freshest ingredients, embracing the farm-to-table trend that has become so popular in Cayman Islands fine dining. You can choose à la carte dining at the water’s edge or in air conditioned elegance. The selection ranges all the way from surf to turf, with something for every taste and requirement, including a gluten-free and vegetarian menu.
The daily Happy Hour (5pm – 7pm) offers special prices on drinks as well as discounts on Grand Old House’s delectable Tapas menu. Watch the sunset with a cocktail before you dine under the stars or on the water’s edge. Or, if you are not too hungry, the outdoor lounge is a great place to have a few glasses of wine and tantalize your taste buds with a great selection of nibbles and small plates created by award winning chefs.
With more than 300 restaurants in the Cayman Islands, and well over 200 of them situated on Grand Cayman, there is no shortage of good food on offer. But if you’re looking for the full package – fresh and innovative food, fine wines and spirits, a spectacular sea view and sunsets, live music, ambience, in a great setting with impeccable service – Grand Old House has it all.
Grand Old House is open weekdays (except public holidays) for lunch and every evening for dinner. Book in advance to avoid disappointment, particularly at weekends, as it is probably the most sought-after wedding venue in the Cayman Islands.
Hours: Lunch Monday-Friday 11.30-2.30pm, Dinner Nightly 5.30pm-10pm (closed for lunch on Public Holidays)