10 Best Restaurants in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Craving the spicy sensations of Jerk Chicken? The buttery and flakey crust of the iconic Jamaican patty? Or want to taste the award-winning culinary creations of our island’s best chefs? We’ve compiled a list of the best restaurants in Ocho Rios that will have everyone saying, “Mi soon come back!”

Food is one of the best ways Jamaica shows its diverse cultural influences. From local staples to international cuisines, dining is one of the true pleasures of visiting Ochi. And for those staying in Villa Paradiso, you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your villa to taste the best food on the island!

It’s time to eat, or as we say here, “time fi nyam” so let’s dig in!

Get Your Own Private Chef at Villa Paradiso

Imagine having a five-star dining experience right in the comfort of your own home. Guests staying in Villa Paradiso can enjoy a life of luxury with their very own private chef on hand to prepare meals from morning to evening. Wake up to the smell of chef-prepared Johnny Cakes and fresh seasonal Jamaican fruits to start your day.

Snack on Jamaican patties and ackee soufflé after sunbathing on your private beach for a few hours. And end the day with Jamaican food entrees cooked to order for your entire group. Dine on your outdoor patio overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Upgrade your stay to “all-inclusive” with our private chef on staff ready to bring a smile to your face every day of your stay. The villa features a full kitchen for preparing your favorite meals. Your housekeeper can even do grocery shopping at a local supermarket, so there’s always something to eat while relaxing in paradise.

Check out our food services add-on to learn more about the culinary specialties we love to prepare for our guests! It’s one of the many reasons why you’ll love staying at Villa Paradiso.

1. Margaritaville

• Island Village Complex, Ocho Rios, St. Ann
• margaritavillecaribbean.com
• $$$
• Combines food and fun
• Reservations not required

Dining and entertainment go hand-in-hand at Margaritaville Ocho Rios. Located in the popular Island Village Jamaica shopping center, it’s one of the best restaurants in Ocho Rios, attracting everyone from villa vacationers to day-trippers docked at the nearby cruise port. Experience all the fun and excitement this place is known for—and you can always count on it for a delicious meal.

Find the true taste of the Caribbean with the Chef’s Specials, or enjoy American comfort food dishes like burgers and sandwiches. Don’t get too full because diners at this restaurant can also enjoy the venue’s water park featuring a swim-up bar, 60-foot water slide, water trampoline, and family-friendly beach.

2. Evita’s Italian Restaurant

• Eden Bower Rd, Ocho Rios
• evitas.dijamaicanexperience.com
• $$$
• Fine Italian food
• Reservations are available, but walk-ins are accepted.

Take a break from the local eats and opt for fine dining at Evita’s Italian Restaurant. This upscale restaurant is established in a 19th-century Gingerbread House perched high above Ocho Rios, offering an amazing view of the water while you eat.

The pasta entrees blend Italian and Jamaican flavors for a creation it calls “Jam-Italian.” Pair chicken, seafood, or vegetarian pasta dishes with select wine to make your night extra special. Many people come here to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

3. Scotchies Drax Hall

• Drax Hall, St. Ann, Ocho Rios
• instagram.com/scotchiesjamaica
• $
• Best jerk chicken
• Reservations not required

Originating in Montego Bay, Scotchies’ reputation for the best jerk chicken in Jamaica has expanded its operations to Ocho Rios. Hope you like spicy because these flavorful dishes come with a kick!

Scotchies prepares this signature Jamaican dish in a traditional style: laid on top of pimento branches and cooked over hot coals. Turn up the heat with the special hot sauce made with fiery scotch-bonnet peppers. Get Jamaican jerk chicken or pork served by the pound to split with your group. Save room for dessert because the sweet potato pudding is a must-try.

If you can’t take the heat from the kitchen, the open-air dining room will surely keep you cool with a refreshing island breeze.

4. Miss T’s Kitchen

• 65 Main Street, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
• misstskitchen.com
• $$
• Authentic Jamaican food
• Call to make reservations at +1 (876) 795-0099

Miss T is a name known by all the locals and visitors to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Her claim to fame? Her unforgettable Jamaican cuisine will have you talking about her long after your stay. Dine in the colorful restaurant and wait as she prepares her signature dishes. She’s even earned a stamp of approval by USA Today as the “Best in the Caribbean.”

Get your Jamaican fix all under one roof. Anna-Kay Tomlinson is a self-taught chef who has mastered the recipes for ackee, salt fish, oxtail stew, curry goat, and other local dishes. Wash it down with a refreshing Red Stripe. The best part is giving your compliments directly to the chef because she loves to meet the many people who come to try her food.

5. Juici Patties

• 8 Rivers Town Center Plaza
• juicipatties.com
• $
• Best local beef patties
• Reservations not required

You can find the iconic patty at countless shops and bakeries around town. However, none do it quite like Juici Patties! It’s one of the best restaurants in Ocho Rios for this local delicacy.

Juici Patties is the largest restaurant chain in Jamaica, with more than 60 locations around the island. These handheld treats are great for eating on the go en route to Dunn River Falls and other tourist activities in Ocho Rios. Load up your takeout order with beef, chicken, and shrimp patties. They also have plant-based and vegetarian patties available.

6. Lobster Dave Seafood Restaurant

• facebook.com/lobsterdaveseafoodreataurant
• Shop #20 Ocho Rios Fishing Village Ocho Rios
• $$
• Excellent seafood
• Reservations not required

Before the cruise ships, the docks in Ocho Rios were lined with fishing boats, supporting its leading economy. Located in Fisherman’s Point, Lobster Dave Seafood Restaurant is an ode to the fishing tradition by providing visitors with a fresh taste of what’s floating offshore of the island. The airy dining room is perfect for groups and sits right over the water for views of the Ocho Rios Cruise Port.

Order your seafood dish of choice, including lobster, king crab, and shrimp specials. There’s always something new when ordering the catch of the day, and take advantage of seasonal specials like conch.

7. Passage to India

• Shop #2, Fisherman’s Point Resort
• passagetoindiajm.com
• $$$
• Traditional Indian dishes
• Reservations are available for lunch and dinner

Send your taste buds on a flavorful adventure at the Passage to India. The culinary traditions from North India have made their way to the Caribbean. It’s all thanks to the restaurant owners who wanted to bring dishes from their home in India to enjoy here in Jamaica.

This award-winning restaurant focuses on quality ingredients to achieve a rich taste. From traditional Indian spices to quality meats and other ingredients, you’ll get a full flavor sensation in every dish. You can’t go wrong with any of its top dishes, such as the Bombay shrimp, Yellow Dal, Shahi Panner, and Aloo Gobi.

8. Reggae Hill

• White River Exchange, Ocho Rios
• reggaehill.com
• $$
• Romantic dinner on the river
• Reservations not required

The soothing sounds of reggae music and flowing water will be your soundtrack during dinner at Reggae Hill. It’s one of Jamaica’s unique dining experiences set right on the banks of the White River. Make it a romantic evening with a multi-course meal enjoyed beneath a luxury riverfront cabana.

Diners are in for a treat at this outdoor restaurant. Chefs prepare everything from Caribbean cuisine to seafood, accompanied by tasty cocktails. Come for the food and stay for the live entertainment as you see drummers and dancers reveling in reggae bliss.

Insider tip: Reggae Hill is an activity attraction that charges an admission fee for lunch. However, admission is free for dinner starting at 5:30 pm.

9. Almond Tree Restaurant

• 83-85 Main St, Ocho Rios
• hibiscusjamaica.com/eat-drink/almond-tree-restaurant
• $$
• Eat with a panoramic view of the water
• Reservations recommended at +1 (876) 974-2676

You’ll know precisely where Almond Tree Restaurant gets its name from the moment you arrive. A giant almond tree is the centerpiece of the restaurant, providing shade while dining on the outdoor patio with panoramic views of Mallards Bay.

You can tailor your meal just how you like from the a la carte menu. The menu offers international cuisine options like seafood, steak, pasta, wings, and desserts. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

10. Mongoose Restaurant

• 52 Main St, Ocho Rios
• instagram.com/mongoose_restaurant
• Island cuisine
• $$
• Reservations not required

Mongoose Restaurant turns dining out into an experience. And the later it gets, the more lively the ambiance will be! Immerse yourself in warm Caribbean hospitality, with friendly servers ensuring this will be your favorite meal away from your villa. Start with drinks and order your choice of Jamaican, American, seafood, and other cuisines. Try signature dishes like the Mongoose Famous Oxtail, Mongoose Country-style fried chicken, or coconut chicken.

Heads up: this venue turns into a nightlife spot with a lively bar and live music in the evening. So, stick around to jam Jamaican style!

Stay in Ocho Rios

Book your stay in Villa Paradiso for the best dining experience in Ocho Rios. Treat you and your group to the culinary expertise of our private chef during your stay. Your private driver is always happy to take you around town to the best dining options for an authentic taste of the island.