Soufriere has some of the best restaurants on the island of Saint Lucia. Offering some absolutely unique experiences, and views of the Piton that are mesmerizing! Most of their food is made from local ingredients and takes on the flavors of the island which we really admired.
St Lucia’s style of cuisine in Creole. Their national dish is green figs and saltfish. You can definitely expect to find plantains or green bananas on the side of most dishes as well. Along with rice and beans.
We personally just loved how each place had a breathtaking view of either one Piton or both Petit Piton and Gros Piton which simply took our breath away. And no two restaurants were the same or offered quite the same menu.
Note: We planned most of our dinners earlier in the night so we could experience drinks and/or dinner during sunset. Which I think really adds that extra special touch. Otherwise, if you go after sunset, you will miss some of these purely magical views.
Rabot At Hotel Chocolat:
Rabot was our first fancy dinner experience in Soufriere, and boy did the view absolutely blow us away. Oh, and everything on the menu has chocolate in it!! Does it get any better than that?!
Rabot is a restaurant by Hotel Chocolat, a working cacao plantation. They offer unique tours of their property where visitors see the whole process, and even get to make their own chocolate bar.
We got to Rabot around sunset and enjoyed a delicious chocolate cocktail overlooking Petit Piton. We knew it was going to be a good night after just one sip of our specialty cocktails while being mesmerized by views of the most majestic peak in St. Lucia.
The appetizer we ordered was the pulled pork piton, which was shaped like Petit Piton. We loved this added feature for making the food immersive. All the entrees we got were delicious as well. Our favorite was the Ahi Tuna. Last, but not least, we ended with a Chocolate Lava Cake and wow, trust us, just get it!
Along with the meal, they did add a few bonus treats. To start, they came out with 3 different spreads that included cocoa in each one to go with toasted bread. For an additional app, they brought out sweet potato soup that had cacao nibs. And during dessert, they brought us a chocolate truffle and 65% milk chocolate fondue that you could just eat with a spoon.
All were very tasty and it really added that luxury feel to the meal. Because this place definitely is more on the fine dining side, but also very well-plated and presented. So having a couple delicious freebies included was a nice touch. Entrees run between $32-$50USD per plate. Specialty cocktails run $15+ USD per drink.
Do note, it is encouraged to make a reservation. They generally only do 2 seatings per night, one at 6pm and another around 8pm.
Treetop Restaurant:
You must go to Treetop Restaurant! Absolutely one of the coolest experiences we had in St. Lucia and by far one of the best restaurants in Soufriere. You do need a reservation, and we did have a hard time getting in touch. But try to plan in advance and email them beforehand or call them during business hours.
They serve delicious Indian-Fusion cuisine, so don’t be expecting traditional Creole/St. Lucian food. However, they do a great job of incorporating local ingredients in the food and drinks.
But seriously as I write this, my mouth is still watering from the outstanding food we ate. And their bartender Hamilton was so friendly and passionate that he really put this experience on another level. (I hope he is still working up there if you go!) He has a special craft for finding the flavors you like in a drink and making a magical concoction from local fruits, flowers, liquors, etc. It truly enhanced the overall experience.
When you arrive, you will be escorted up through the treehouse where you will notice a beautiful waterfall flowing through the restaurant. Then, you ascend up to the top of the treehouse and are presented with a couple complimentary drinks, to kick off an amazing evening. The views from up here will absolutely take your breath away. And like mentioned above, the drink we had was so fresh and delicious!
After enjoying the view, we were shown to our table with, of course, breathtaking views of the Pitons. Here, Hamilton asked us a few questions about the drinks we typically enjoy, and flavors we like. And bam, he came back with 2 different drinks that were some of the best drinks we have ever had!
How they do the menu at Treetop Restaurant is a bit different than most restaurants. There is only 1 set menu in the form of a 3-course meal and you get to try it all. This costs $60USD per person and they do accept credit cards. Cocktails ran about $10USD each.
The appetizers are brought out on individual plates for each person. The portions are small, but we found them the perfect size for the main entrees coming. The seafood soup was by far the most amazing flavor I’ve ever had! I wish I could remake this to have every night before dinner.
Then, entrees are served “family-style”, where we got to try 2 different meats (lamb & butter chicken), with rice, corn, and some sweet Indian Bread. But from my understanding, the menu changes often. Just trust them, and I’m sure whatever comes out to your table will thoroughly impress you!
Last, but not least, dessert! Which was a cheesecake with chocolate mousse.
We also got to enjoy live entertainment while we ate. From the amazing views, succulent drinks, amazing food, and friendly service, the whole experience just felt so magical.
Do note, the road up to the Treetop Restaurant is a fun task in itself. High-clearance is advised, but you can probably do it in a 2wd if you take it slow. Or many people just get a taxi. Treetop Restaurant is located in Crystals Villa Hotel and there is no signage along the road, so you really need to know where you are going. Turn on Colombette Drive and follow the road until the end, where you will eventually run into the restaurant.
The Green Fig:
If you are staying somewhere in Soufriere, then you can’t miss The Green Fig. The views alone are worth the visit, but an added bonus is they allow you to use their pool if you buy lunch or dinner. We were staying just down the street at an Airbnb that didn’t have a pool. So when we emailed them to see what their daily rate to use their pool was, they just said come for dinner or lunch and you can enjoy the pool for free!
It is quite the climb up the hill, but if you rented a car, they do have guest parking. But don’t worry, they have a shower to rinse off the sweat before jumping in their pool. Plus, they have delicious rum punch for $7, so you might not want to drive down the hill, rather just walk or take a taxi so you can enjoy a couple of cocktails.
If you do walk up from the town of Soufriere, we suggest using the service road. Just keep following the stairs up and eventually after a 10 minute climb, you should reach the resort. The first time we went, we honestly had the pool all to ourselves, which was really just the cherry on top. We got to enjoy the lounge chairs overlooking a stunning view of the Petit Piton.
Okay enough, about the pool and more about The Green Fig Restaurant. Our review of the food is that it’s reasonably priced compared to some of the other best restaurants in Soufriere. I enjoyed the fish tacos which were actually quite delicious. Jake enjoyed the jerk chicken meal which was really tasty, but very SPICY!!! Entrees run between $15-$45USD.
A couple friends we went with got the wings appetizer. The appetizer was a bit small and you only got 5 wings. So the price value to taste and quantity just wasn’t quite met on that one. They also got the creole chicken dish which was good, but it wasn’t their favorite compared to similar dishes they got elsewhere. You can also try the famous national Saint Lucian dish of Green Fig & Saltfish here.
The main attraction to The Green Fig is definitely the view! And if you don’t have a pool where you are staying, you should absolutely take full advantage of the free pool in exchange for lunch or dinner. But maybe just double-check that they still offer it. We are not sure if it was just a “slow season” exception.
They also serve breakfast. I would imagine it is the busiest time for their resort because breakfast is included for the guests. But lunch and dinner is not always included for their guests unless they pay for the all-inclusive package.
Island Chef:
If you are looking for local cuisine right on the beach, Island Chef is your spot. Sadly, this place was closed the night we tried going there, but it truly seems like the Chef Speedo does a great job with his culinary skills.
Island Chef offers an authentic farm and sea-to-table culinary experience. There offer 2 options for the menu, fish/meat or vegan. All the ingredients are locally sourced from the market and fresh fish is caught daily.
You are getting a more local creole cuisine with rice, plantains, beans, side salad, etc. And of course, enjoying the waves of the ocean and the view of Petit Piton.
The Beacon:
The Beacon might honestly have the best view of all the best restaurants in Soufriere. You get an amazing, unobstructed view of both the Pitons. The price is $20USD for buffet style, all-you-can-eat. Personally, I’m just not a huge buffet person and typically a small eater. But the couple we went with, definitely got their $20 worth! You can get as much food as you could possibly want! But overall, $20 is a pretty good deal for what you get from the buffet.
The best feature in my opinion is the fresh passion fruit juice. They offer a soup of the day, salad, pasta salads, pasta dishes, beans, and a few different meats & fish.
So you will definitely find some foods you will enjoy nonetheless. Plus it is creole cuisine, so you are getting a full authentic experience with one of the most beautiful views.
They do also offer dessert, which was a strawberry cheesecake with an Oreo crust and ice cream. The restaurant was quite large, so there was definitely plenty of space for many people. We did dine amongst many locals, so it was nice to see it was a hopping spot for everyone.
Orlando’s:
Honestly, we were really underwhelmed with our visit to Orlando’s. Not sure why it went so poorly with all the raving reviews online, but we had an awkward experience. And it was the most expensive meal we had on the island and it didn’t really blow us away. It costs $65USD for a 5-course meal.
Sadly, this was initially the restaurant we were both most excited to visit in Soufriere. First, reservations are required, so one day when we were walking by during lunch, we noticed the door was cracked open. So we peeked inside to see if we could make a reservation.
The lady told us Orlando was out of town, so we couldn’t make a reservation. But we told her we would be here for quite a while, so if Orlando was going to be back soon, we’d love to make a reservation for the future? She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote us down for a reservation in about a week.
The day finally came, we got all dressed up and ready to have a fantastic meal. But as we walked up to the door, it was locked. So we knocked and luckily got greeted. But the lady wasn’t dressed in her uniform, so she was getting dressed as we walked up to the table. It was as if they didn’t know we were coming.
The lights weren’t on, there was debris all over the table and napkins, and it was awkwardly silent. About 10 minutes later, the waitress started some jazz music on her phone and placed it near us (yet texts and calls were coming in throughout the night). A few minutes later, she brought us a cold towel, fresh orange juice, and light hor’derve.
Next, she brought out a soup, which was probably the best thing we had. It was made of green bananas, pumpkin, and some good spices. Personally, we feel soups are somewhat easy to make taste delicious, so we weren’t super impressed. We were still not asked if we wanted any drinks yet minus a bottle of water (which we later found out wasn’t included and cost $4USD).
Overall, the rest of the courses came out slowly, and we just didn’t feel like the service was luxury or 5-star. Which is what you would expect for paying $65USD per person.
When we were finally offered drinks, no menu was presented, so we just kept it basic and ordered two glasses of Cab Sauv. The red wine came out refrigerated, which is obviously a fine-dining faux paux. But in the hot tropical climate, I guess I prefer that to room temperature.
I will say the courses had decent flavor and local ingredients, but none of them blew us away like some of the other best restaurants in Soufriere. I can tell that Orlando has a passion for taking local St. Lucian ingredients and classic dishes and re-imagining them in a fine-dining setting. And I think some of the courses delivered on that idea.
I don’t want to completely steer you away from Orlando’s because it truly seems like some other reviewers have had exceptional experiences. I can see how this place has the makings of an excellent experience, but everything besides the food fell short of our expectations. So I would maybe ask if Orlando will be the chef when you make your reservation. Because it sounds like it might make all the difference?
Honorable Mention Best Restaurants In Soufriere:
These are a few other options to try if you have already visited all the best restaurants in Soufriere. Or you are looking for some restaurants with maybe a lower price point.
Seashell:
The Seashell has some amazing views of Petit Piton down along the beachfront of Soufriere. We didn’t visit here mainly because of all the other best restaurants in Soufriere made the list before this place.
They serve Creole Cuisine at an average price for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It seems as though their service is a bit hit or miss. But they do have one amazing view of Petit Piton on the beach front.
Fedo’s:
If you are looking for affordable local cuisine, Fedo’s is probably your best option. They offer a few different items at a very reasonable price. They offer creole cuisine and local juices that you must try. The one downfall, is the location not having a view of the Pitons, but is very centrally located in downtown Soufriere.
Because of the lack of views, and more modest cuisine, it doesn’t quite make it on the list of the best restaurants in Soufriere.
The Mango Tree:
The Mango Tree was potentially on our list of best restaurants in Soufriere, but after reading many reviews, it seems like their restaurant could use a few extra employees. It is located in the Stonefield Resort which was undergoing renovation while we were there, so we decided to skip this one.
They do offer a farm-to-table experience, only using local organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Their menu is often tweaked to accommodate what is in season, and what they have sourced for the day.
So I think if you were looking for another restaurant that had amazing views of Petit Piton and fresh local ingredients, the Mango Tree could offer a great experience. It just seems like it’s best to not be in a rush here as service is not their strong suit.
Takeaway | Best Restaurants In Soufriere St. Lucia
Overall, Soufriere has some amazing restaurants to choose from. Most restaurants are using local ingredients and putting their own twist on the unique flavors. While we were highly impressed with some of the best restaurants in Soufriere, we were also underwhelmed by some (which we decided not to include). And of course, we were only there for 10 days, so there are still some restaurants to still be desired.
Treetop Restaurant was by far our favorite restaurant experience. The vibe as you walk in is very welcoming, the views are simply breathtaking, and the quality and flavor of their menu blew us away. So we think this is a must-do when you visit Soufriere.
Our best advice for finding the best restaurants in Soufriere is to read recent reviews on Google or Trip Advisor. Obviously, it can be hard for a restaurant to keep up its reputation year after year with new employees or chef’s. But contrary to that, some of the restaurants that didn’t make the list, might have improved in some of the areas they might have slacked in. There were also a few restaurants that were closed due to covid, and have not opened (as of October 2022).
Also, do note, Google does not always have the right times or days of operation. So it’s best to call or make a reservation before showing up to a restaurant.
We hope this guide helps you find some of the best restaurants in Soufriere to visit, and you enjoy them as well!
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