20 July 2026

Happy 60th Birthday to Barbados + The World’s Most Beautiful Places Includes Spain, Canada, France, and Japan

Barbados is celebrating its 60th anniversary as an independent nation.

I first visited in 2009 or so, and have been at least four or five times since. It’s one of my fave places in the world; beautiful and safe and relaxed, but with many elegant places to stay. This list is mostly about food and drinks, so here’s a link to a story I wrote after a great food tour of the island a few years ago.

Barbados Food & Rum Festival – One of the Caribbean’s premier culinary festivals brings together renowned local and international chefs each year.

Meet Award-Winning Bajan Chefs – A new generation of chefs is earning global recognition while keeping local ingredients at the heart of their menus.

Rum Cocktails Beyond the Punch – Barbados’ bartenders are reinventing classic rum cocktails with contemporary flair.

Dine Where History Was Made – From plantation houses to waterfront restaurants, many of Barbados’ best dining rooms come with fascinating stories.

Dine with a Bajan – Through community dining experiences and local hosts, visitors can gather around a family table to enjoy authentic home cooking while hearing the stories, traditions and hospitality that make Bajan culture so special.

Friday Night at Oistins Fish Fry – Equal parts dinner, street party and cultural experience, Oistins is one of the Caribbean’s most iconic food gatherings. (It’s fabulous!)

Take a Bajan Cooking Class – Learn the spice blends, techniques and traditions passed down through generations.

Tour a Local Farm – Meet the growers behind the island’s fresh produce movement.

Walk Through Sugar Cane Fields – These landscapes tell the story of the crop that shaped Barbados’ economy and cuisine.

Chef’s Tasting Menus – Barbados’ culinary scene continues to evolve as chefs reinterpret classic Bajan flavours through modern techniques.

Farm-to-Table Dining – Restaurants are increasingly sourcing from local farmers, reducing food miles while celebrating seasonal produce.

Sea-to-Table Experiences – Visitors can watch fishermen unload the day’s catch before enjoying it just hours later.

Plantation Dining – Historic estates have transformed into elegant restaurants where history and gastronomy meet.

A fine pavlova dessert at Oro restaurant at the O2 Beach Club and Spa in Barbados. Jim Byers Photo

Oceanfront Fine Dining – Barbados offers one of the Caribbean’s highest concentrations of world-class restaurants overlooking the sea.

Sunset Seafood Dinners – Golden hour and freshly caught seafood make for one of the island’s signature experiences.

Visit a Fish Market at Sunrise – Early mornings offer a behind-the-scenes look at Barbados’ thriving fishing culture.

A Friday Night Lime – Join locals as food, music and conversation spill into the streets each weekend.

Learn to Make Cou Cou – Cooking classes introduce visitors to one of Barbados’ most iconic recipes.

Flying Fish & Cou Cou – Barbados’ national dish pairs lightly seasoned flying fish with creamy cornmeal and okra cou cou, offering a taste of the island’s heritage on every plate.

Pudding & Souse – Traditionally enjoyed on Saturdays, this beloved combination of pickled pork and sweet potato pudding is one of Barbados’ most enduring weekend traditions.

Fish Cakes – Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, these salt cod fritters are a staple snack found everywhere from rum shops to upscale restaurants.

Cutter Sandwiches – A simple salt bread sandwich stuffed with everything from flying fish to ham proves that Barbados has perfected casual comfort food. (Cutter’s is a great spot. Ditto for Cuzz Cafe near the Hilton, south of Bridgetown.)

Cuzz’s food stand in Barbados. Jim Byers Photo

Pepperpot – Rich, slow-cooked and packed with local spices, this hearty stew reflects the island’s African culinary influences.

Macaroni Pie – Barbados’ baked version of macaroni and cheese is a must-order side dish and a source of fierce local debate over whose recipe reigns supreme.

Bajan Chicken Curry – Unlike Indian curries, the Bajan version features a distinctive island spice blend that has evolved over generations.

Roasted Breadfruit – Introduced to the Caribbean centuries ago, breadfruit remains one of Barbados’ most versatile ingredients.

Breadfruit Chips – A local alternative to potato chips, these crispy snacks showcase how Bajans transform traditional ingredients into everyday favourites.

Fish Broth – Fresh local seafood takes centre stage in this comforting soup that’s especially popular after a day on the water.

Conkies – Made with cornmeal, pumpkin, coconut and spices before being steamed in banana leaves, these treats appear each Independence season.

Sweet Bread – Loaded with coconut and raisins, this dense loaf is a holiday staple found in homes across the island.

Cassava Pone – This baked cassava dessert has remained largely unchanged for generations, connecting modern Barbados to its earliest food traditions.

Tamarind Balls – Sweet, tangy and rolled in sugar, they’re one of the island’s most iconic homemade treats.

Coconut Turnovers – Buttery pastry wrapped around sweet coconut filling makes these a favourite bakery stop.

Guava Cheese – Despite its name, this fruity confection contains no dairy and is a nostalgic taste of Barbados.

Black Cake – Rich with rum-soaked fruit, Barbados’ version of this Caribbean classic is a holiday masterpiece.

Jug Jug – Traditionally served during Independence celebrations, this savoury dish tells the story of Barbados’ Scottish influences.

A tasty flying fish sandwich and the award-winning rum punch at Cutters. JIM BYERS PHOTO

Bread and Two – Ordering this classic local lunch is a rite of passage for first-time visitors wanting to eat like a Bajan.

Pepper Sauce – Every household has its own recipe, and no meal feels complete without a splash of this fiery local condiment.

Fresh Grilled Flying Fish – Nothing compares to enjoying the island’s signature seafood just steps from the ocean where it was caught.

Seasonal Caribbean Lobster – During lobster season, menus across Barbados showcase this local delicacy with creative island flavours.

Sea Eggs – Available only during a short season, these prized sea urchin roe are considered one of Barbados’ most sought-after delicacies.

Fresh Mahi-Mahi – Known locally as dolphin fish, mahi-mahi is one of the island’s most sustainable and popular catches.

Fish Rotis – Caribbean and Indian influences meet in this flavour-packed handheld meal.

Bajan Hot Sauce – Made with Scotch bonnet peppers and mustard, Barbados’ signature condiment packs unforgettable heat.

Fresh Sugar Cane Juice – A refreshing reminder of the crop that helped shape Barbados’ history.

Sugar Cakes – Colourful coconut candies continue to be handmade using traditional methods.

Local Coconut Water – Served straight from the shell, it’s the island’s original sports drink.

Old City Bar is a classic Barbados rum bar in downtown Bridgetown. Jim Byers Photo

Birthplace of Rum – Barbados has been producing rum since the 1700s, making it the undisputed birthplace of the world’s favourite cane spirit.

Mount Gay Rum Distillery Tour – Visit the world’s oldest continuously operating rum distillery and learn how centuries of craftsmanship continue today.

Rum & Food Pairings – Local chefs are elevating rum beyond cocktails by incorporating it into tasting menus and gourmet experiences.

Historic Rum Shops – More than neighbourhood bars, rum shops remain gathering places where stories, cricket and community come together.

Traditional Bajan Breakfast – Saltfish, bakes and local favourites provide a hearty start to the day.

Artisan Chocolate – Local chocolatiers are transforming Caribbean cocoa into premium bean-to-bar creations.

Tropical Ice Cream Flavours – Soursop, tamarind and golden apple prove vanilla isn’t the only option.

Passion Fruit Juice – Freshly squeezed tropical fruit is a daily ritual for many Bajans.

The Crane Resort sits on a beautiful bluff in southeast Barbados. Photo courtesy The Crane Resort.

Golden Apple Juice – Sweet, tart and unmistakably Caribbean, this refreshing drink is a local favourite.

Sorrel – Traditionally served during the holidays, this hibiscus-based drink is deeply rooted in Caribbean celebrations.

Tamarind Juice – Equal parts sweet and tangy, it’s one of the island’s most refreshing beverages.

Local Chutneys & Preserves – Small-batch producers continue to preserve traditional recipes using local fruit.

Of course, there’s far more than food and food-related activities to check out in Barbados. Hunte’s Gardens is one of my fave spots, with wildly colourful gardens in an old quarry. Located on the rugged, east side of the island, Bathsheba has a cool, relaxed vibe and pretty good surfing. One of my fave resorts in the Caribbean is The Crane, situated above a fine beach in the southeast corner of the island.

WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS: NO GREEK ISLANDS?

MSN has a pretty good list out on 27 (why not 30, I don’t know) of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s a nice mix of cities and country spots and a nice geographical mix. But I don’t see the Greek islands on the list, nor do I see the fjords of Norway (or New Zealand). Also missing: the Big Sur coastline in California and Bora Bora (or, come to think of it, any place in the South Pacific). Those are serious omissions. But there are some cool spots on the list, so without further ado here’s their compilation (not necessarily in order of beauty).

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Paris (definitely a beauty)

Amazon Rainforest

Lapland (Finland

Torres del Paine, Chile (I hear amazing things)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan

Banff National Park, Canada (definitely deserving of a top 10 listing)

The Alhambra, Spain

Dominica (stunning island in the Caribbean)

Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

Great Barrier Reef, Australia (spectacular)

Petra, Jordan

Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Shetland Islands, Scotland

Jaipur, India (a very striking city, for sure)

Grindelwald, Switzerland

Zhangjiajie National Forest, China

Machu Picchu, Peru

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Grand Canyon, USA (truly spectacular)

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (such a cool spot)

Tokyo (interesting, but I wouldn’t say beautiful enough for this list)

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Lake Como, Italy (I’d argue for the Dolomite Mountains instead)

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Cappadocia, Turkiye

Chichen Itza, Mexico