Around the World in Reality: Barbados

Since my best friend and I both turned 40 this year, we knew it was the perfect excuse for a girls’ trip! We started comparing destinations back in January and ultimately chose Barbados over the Cayman Islands.

Barbados had always intrigued me. It first caught my attention when Rihanna hit the airwaves, and ever since, I’ve heard nothing but great things about the island. That made choosing Barbados an easy decision.

Day 1 – Friday, June 6

HIGHLIGHTS: Allure Barbados and Oistens Friday Night Fish Fry

We arrived in Barbados and made our way through the airport. I decided to try the PickUp Caribbean app, which worked well and allowed us to use credit cards.

Our Airbnb at Allure Barbados was impressive. The building is less than six months old and sits perfectly positioned on the oceanfront. Our condo on the fourth floor was stunning and offered some incredible views.

After settling in, we got ready for Oistin’s Friday Night Fish Fry. It’s a popular activity for locals that also draws many visitors. Our original plan was to eat at Pat’s, but the line stretched far too long. Instead, we found a spot at Chillin and Grillin, one of many bustling vendors serving up fresh-cooked plates.

Each meal came with one meat, two sides, and three salads. We decided to order two plates and share. The first featured snapper with rice and peas, macaroni salad, and the standard salads. The snapper was incredible. It was perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful. The rice and peas were unlike any I had tried before, rich and absolutely delicious. The macaroni salad had a surprising twist, almost like a cross between macaroni and sweet potato.

The second plate offered marlin with fried plantains and fried breadfruit. The marlin had a flavor reminiscent of a pork chop, which was unexpected but tasty. The plantains were perfectly caramelized, and the fried breadfruit had a potato-like texture with a slight sweetness.

After dinner, we wandered through the vendor area and ended the night watching two performers dance to classic Michael Jackson hits. It was fun to watch and sing along to the classics.

Day 2 – Saturday, June 7

HIGHLIGHTS: Original Bajan Walking Food Tour, Stade’s Rum Tasting and Beach Experience and La Cabane

For our first activity of the day, we headed downtown for the Original Bajan Walking Food Tour. Our guide began by sharing fascinating details about Bajan history and culture. Barbados, once a British colony, gained independence in 1966 and was formerly known as “Little England.” Bridgetown was the first port in the transatlantic slave trade, and today about 95% of the population is of West African descent.

Our first stop was at Crumbz Bakery, a well-known local spot with several locations around town. All the sweets looked tempting, and since this was our first stop, we were able to taste our treats and take the rest with us. I tried a lentil patty, a currant slice, and a heavy fruit cake.

At National Heroes Square, we learned about the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Barbados has eleven national heroes, with Rihanna being the most recent addition.

Our second food stop was at Tim’s Restaurant. What I loved most about Tim’s was that I never would have discovered it on my own. Tucked away upstairs, it was clearly a spot favored by locals. My plate included fish, pickled cucumber, coleslaw, macaroni pie, plantains and cassava, and everything was tasty.

Our third stop was for street food, and it came as no surprise that it was fish cakes. You simply cannot visit Barbados without trying them. This vendor is said to always have a line, and now I understand why. They were absolutely delicious. At the end of the same street, we cooled off with Bajan cherry juice and sorrel juice, both refreshing and tasty.

At our fourth stop, we visited Courtyard Café, another unsuspecting spot, where I ordered the Banging Mary fish with rice and peas. I was already stuffed by this point, so I took my meal to go. But once I finally ate it, let’s just say the plate was spotless!

Our final stop was the Agapey Chocolate Factory. While waiting, we sampled various fruits our guide picked up along the way. I always enjoy trying new things, and these had some unique textures. I didn’t make note of their names this time, though I wish I had.

For my ice cream of choice, which I’m never too full for, I had the banana and coconut flavors. Surprisingly, they paired really well together. It was the perfect way to end the tour.

We decided to try public transit and rode the ZR bus back to our Airbnb. It was an interesting but fun way to travel. We flagged down the bus, asked if it was going our way, and got on. At first, I wasn’t sure if we were headed in the right direction, but eventually, we made it to our part of town. I checked where to get off, and sure enough, we arrived at the right spot.

Next, we headed to Stade’s West Indies Rum Tasting and Beach Experience. We were greeted with a welcome drink that, of course, included rum. The good vibes were instant, and the staff was very friendly.

We made our way to the beach, where we joined two other ladies from the States. We sampled four different types of rum while enjoying the beautiful backdrop. It was a great time all around.

After the tasting, we weren’t in a hurry, so we sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks. The best part was connecting with the staff to learn more about Barbados and its culture.

For dinner, we went to La Cabane, a beautiful restaurant right on the beach. As the sun set and darkness fell, we appreciated the relaxed ambiance. I had ceviche, grilled mahi mahi, and bread pudding. Everything was delicious except the bread pudding, which unfortunately tasted like it had a few shots of rum too many in the sauce.

Day 3 – Sunday, June 8

HIGHLIGHTS: Swimming Horses at the Carlisle Bay and the Garrison, Island Tour and Champers

Our day began early with a visit to Carlisle Bay to see the Swimming Horses. It was a great experience watching incoming, current, and retired racehorses exercise in the ocean. Visitors are allowed to ride and take photos with the horses, but we were happy just admiring from a distance. From what I understand, the colts and retired racehorses can interact with people, while the current racers are only there for exercise.

After watching the horses for a while, we headed to the Garrison, where the horse races take place. The area is rich in history. Unfortunately, it was an off weekend, so we didn’t get to see a race, which I would have loved.

To continue the day, our guide kindly added an island tour after we saw the horses. It began on the famous Rihanna Drive. We couldn’t leave Barbados without visiting the area where she grew up.

We made our way to the east side of the island to visit Bathsheba. From there, we climbed up to a vantage point that offered a stunning view of the coastline.

We then headed down to the seaside. This side of the island has rougher water, making it less ideal for swimming. However, there were some natural wading pools to explore. The beach also had some sargassum, which is common during this season.

Next, we headed up to Cherry Hill Reserve, one of the top lookout points in Barbados. Though the view was a bit hazy, it was still beautiful.

It was almost 11 a.m., so we made our way down to Barbados Wildlife Reserve just in time for feeding. It was a sight to see the green monkeys scramble for grapes and other fruits. We also spotted a few other animals in the reserve, and I got a chance to practice my photography.

From there, we headed to the Animal Flower Cave and Thunder Bay. Although we chose not to enter the cave, we enjoyed the stunning views from the lookout above. It was fascinating to see how the coastline changed as we drove around the island.

We had lunch at the Animal Flower Cave Café, where I tried their fish cakes and breadfruit tacos with fish. The fish cakes were good, but they didn’t compare to those from the street vendor. I really enjoyed the sauce that came with them, though. The breadfruit tacos were okay.

After our tour, I came back and lounged on the balcony. I had the pleasure of watching a gentleman create sand art. He was there for a couple of hours, and he did an amazing job!

For dinner, we went to Champers and were seated at an oceanside table with a lovely view. I started the evening with a Lady Lust cocktail. For my meal, I had the delicious seared tuna. No meal is complete without dessert, so I finished with bread pudding. This time, the sauce was perfect. To top it all off, the staff kindly recognized our birthdays when we shared that we were on a girls’ trip celebrating our 40th!

Day 4 – Monday, June 9

HIGHLIGHTS: Silvermoon Luxury Lunch Cruise and The Tides Restaurant

For our last full day, I wanted to end on a relaxing note. The day began with an hour-long cruise on the Silver Moon 3, a 52-foot catamaran. It was a beautiful boat. Along the way, we enjoyed appetizers, the sea breeze, and, of course, rum punch.

Once we arrived, we snorkeled with sea turtles and colorful fish. This is always one of my favorite activities because I absolutely love the water. I have to say, my iPhone did pretty well capturing photos inside its waterproof pouch.

After snorkeling and another quick swim, we enjoyed a traditional Bajan lunch featuring fish, rice and peas, macaroni pie, corn salad, and garlic bread. It was quite the spread and absolutely delicious! I rarely have high expectations for food on a boat, but this meal far exceeded anything I imagined for lunch.

We then returned to the condo and spent the afternoon swimming in the ocean and relaxing by the pool. The day was perfect, and it felt great to unwind and enjoy some peaceful downtime.

Our last dinner was at Tides, a stunning waterfront restaurant. The sunset here was breathtaking and unforgettable.

I chose the prix fixe dinner menu, starting with chili fried calamari as an appetizer. For the main course, I had the medley of fish & seafood, which included pan-seared fish, mussels, shrimp in bouillabaisse, crushed potatoes, sautéed greens, and lemon aioli. For dessert, I enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce, brandy snap tuile, and vanilla ice cream. Everything was amazing!

Travel Day – Tuesday, June 10

On our last morning, I continued my daily ritual and spent some quiet time on the balcony. There’s something about the ocean that brings incredible peace, and when I’m near it, I have to savor every moment. This moment was the perfect way to end my time in Barbados with my best friend.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Barbados and everything it had to offer. Its naturally beautiful scenery and distinct Caribbean culture truly make it a gem. The people were kind and welcoming, and it’s definitely an island I see myself returning to. If I had to choose favorites, snorkeling and the lunch cruise would top my list. It was an elevated experience with great food and good company. As for restaurants, it’s a tough call, but the prix fixe meal at Tides would take first place. Champers would be a close second.