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Discover the best traditional food in Grenada with our guide to the top Grenadian cuisine everyone should try!

This in-depth guide offers an introduction to Grenada local food. It features the best dishes, desserts and drinks to try on the beautiful “Spice of the Caribbean.”

They’re musts to try whether you’re on a cruise ship shore excursion or staying at one of the island’s beautiful beach resorts.

Grenadian Cuisine is Unique 

Located at the southern tip of the Windward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, Grenada (and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique) are best known for their 40 beaches, lush landscapes and turquoise blue waters.

But its other big attraction is its culinary scene. 

Grenadian food is so rich and rewarding, it was one of the top reasons I wrote  12 Reasons I’m Tempted to Drop Everything and Move to Grenada after my very first visit.

Grenada’s culinary roots are a fascinating mix of African, Arawak, Indian and British influences. Grenada’s volcanic soil is fertile ground for plants such as mauby, sour sop and chadon beni, a pungent leafy herb somewhat similar to cilantro.

All do their part to contribute to the unique flavours of Grenadian cuisine. 

Since that first visit, I’ve returned to Grenada many times, writing travel stories for Virgin Atlantic, the Globe and Mail, Hola Latinos and many other magazines.

Each time I return there’s more great food and culture to discover. 

So, fasten your seatbelts and pack your stretchy pants! You’re going to want to try ALL this Grenadian cuisine. 

We’ve lined up some of the best places to eat (and drink) in Grenada from street food to celebrity-chef restaurants to beach bars. 

1. Oil Down – Grenada’s National Dish 

One of the first Grenada foods you need to try is oil down, Grenada’s national dish.

Spend any time in Grenada and you’ll soon notice locals walking to beaches, toting gigantic steel pots.

Cooking this one-pot stew packed chock full of plantain, breadfruit, salted meat, chicken or fish, spices and coconut milk is an all-day community affair. 

Once the ingredients are layered in a large pot, it’s set over a burner to simmer for the day.  It’s a dish to be enjoyed with friends and family during a “beach lime” a Grenadian beach party.

While enjoying your oil down, you’ll likely discover tender dumplings hidden within the smoky broth.

Steamed dumplings might seem more suited to Tyrolean ski slope than a beach cookout but the filling stew is somehow a perfect complement to the cooling trade winds.

Surprising and satisfying–much like the island of Grenada itself.

Where to Try It: As Oil down is made in large batches, it’s not often seen on restaurant menus. Unless you happen to be on the island on Grenada’s Independence Day. 

BUT the good news is that you can often find oil down at one of the events sponsored by the Grenada Hash House Harriers.  This running group that meets regularly at a preset location to run (or walk) a route through the bush.

At the end of the run, they enjoy oil down, grilled chicken and cold beer. Everyone is welcome to join in this food and fitness fun, Grenadian-style. 

Another popular place to find oil down is at a Grenadian theme night at the island’s resorts and hotels.

The Royalton Grenada offers an especially good selection of local dishes at their weekly Grenadian night at their Gourmet Marche restaurant.  

2. Saltfish Souse – Traditional Grenadian Breakfast 

Saltfish for breakfast might be unexpected for those used to typical bacon and egg-style American and British breakfasts. But salt cod is a popular ingredient throughout the Caribbean! 

Salt cod is especially popular in Grenada, Martinique and Jamaica where the national dish is prepared with ackee and salted cod fish.    

The popularity of salt cod hails back to when fish was preserved in salt in order to make it survive the long ocean voyages across the Atlantic during the colonial era.

So, it’s possible to find salt cod or bacalao in Portugal and Spain where it appears in tapas fritters, in the famous Basque stew bacalao a la vizcaina and in Catalan salt cod salad.  

In order to prepare Grenadian saltfish, the dried fish is rehydrated in fresh water, during several cycles replenished repeatedly. Then it’s flaked and mixed with chopped tomato, onion, pepper and parsley.

It’s usually served warm alongside or tucked inside a bake, a pouch-shaped bun similar to a pita.  

Where to Try It: At Patrick’s Local Homestyle Restaurant across from Port Louis Marina (Google Map). You can also find saltifsh souse at Grenada’s Market Square on Saturdays.

Saltfish Souse is often served at breakfast buffets across Grenada. You’ll find it at the Radisson Grenada (one of our top choices for a budget hotel on Grand Anse Beach) as well as the Royalton Grenada.

🌟 Pro Tip: Check out these globally-inspired salt cod recipes to make at home! 

3. Fry Bakes 

In Grenada, a typical breakfast features fry bakes, salt fish souse, smoked herring, a hard boiled egg and coffee or cocoa. What is a bake? These round pockets of lightly fried, slightly sweet bread are absolutely delicious.

Look for them served warm off the griddle when they’re puffy and slightly crisp. Stuff them with saltfish souse or slather them with jam or soft cheese. This tasty side goes with everything! 

If you’ve spent time in the Caribbean and enjoyed the festivals bread of Jamaica or johnny cake of Anguilla, you’ll love Grenadian fry bakes.

4. Pigeon Peas Soup 

One of the best things to do in Grenada on a Saturday is to head to one of the local restaurants for a steaming bowl of one of the traditional soups. One of the most popular Grenadian soups is pigeon peas soup, a hearty bowl of meats (often pigtail) and provisions.

In the  West Indies provisions are vegetables grown in the ground such as sweet potatoes (yams), cassava ( yuca)  as well as plantain, pumpkin and breadfruit.

One of the unique additions to Grenadian soups are dumplings, which are different than the fluffy ones you’ll find in North America, but are satisfyingly firm, rather long, strips of dough that are incredibly delicious and filling. 

Where to Try It:  One of the best places to try Grenadian soups is on Saturdays at Cayenne (473-439-1800), a local restaurant located on Montessori Road beside the Grand Anse Shopping Centre. Prices are very reasonable.

A bowl of delicious Grenadian soup will set you back just 10 EC or $3.50 USD.  Andy’s Soup House (Google Map), open for breakfast and lunch, is also a popular place for a traditional Grenadian breakfasts of smoked herring, saltfish and bake as well as soups.  

5. Doubles and Roti – Grenada Street Food and Snacks 

Although they originated in Trinidad and Tobago, a Grenadian double is its own unique handful of deliciousness.

This traditional snack is made of two pieces of bara, a flat fried bread made of flour, baking powder and turmeric, stuffed with slightly spicy curried chickpeas. Topped with sweet mango and hot pepper to your liking, they’re often enjoyed for breakfast or snacks. 

Those with more of an appetite should opt for the slightly larger roti, a wrap folded around a stewed protein such as goat, lambie (conch), chicken or even shrimp.

This popular street food is enjoyed throughout the day and is available from food trucks and vendors as well as roti shops. 

Where to Try It: In Grand Anse, you can often find vendors selling roti, doubles and other snacks and street food near the round-about across from the Spiceland Mall. 

Or, you can head to the roti shop Chadon Beni in Le Marquis Complex (Google Map). Get a double to go and dine at one of the outdoor tables.

It’s located near Siesta Hotel, one of our favourite cheap hotels near Grand Anse Beach.  Further afield in Grenville are several other roti shops, my favourite of which is simply called My Place Roti and Doubles.

For an upscale goat curry roti, try Spice Island Resort. Their version of this traditional Grenadian food comes with several tasty sauces and is especially delicious. 

6. Macaroni Pie, Coleslaw and Grenadian Side Dishes 

An entire article could be devoted to the side dishes of Grenadian cuisine.

I could enjoy a whole meal of just side dishes such as stewed callaloo, macaroni pie, coleslaw, scalloped potatoes, rice and peas, lentils and more.

The options truly seem endless! 

For lunch specials, these tasty sides usually accompany a piece of grilled fish, creole fish, curry goat or other meat.

But the catch that sides are only available until they run out. Plan to eat lunch early for the best selection of sides.     

7. Grenadian Chicken Pelau 

This popular one-pot Grenadian dish features aromatic chicken and rice in what’s almost a Caribbean version of Spanish paella.

It’s made by browning the chicken in caramelized brown sugar and then adding white rice, thyme, peas, vegetables and coconut milk.

The mixture is then simmered until the rice is cooked and the flavours merge in magical perfection.   

Where to Try It: Pelau (sometimes spelled peleau) is a traditional Grenadian dish for a mid-week meal.

Pelau rice can usually be found on one of the buffet hot tables in the historic capital of St. George’s such as Deyna’s Tasty Foods on Melville Street.

I’ve also discovered delicious pelau take out at the IGA at Spiceland Mall. 

8. Goat Dairy Artisanal Cheese

Another must-try food in Grenada is the goat cheese made by the Grenada Goat Dairy, a project born from the devastation of Hurricane Ivan. This not-for-profit organization partnered with Belmont Estate, a fully functioning 17th century plantation located an hour from the capital city of St. George.

Proceeds from the sale of organic Grenada Goat Dairy cheese support education and training on husbandry, production and marketing within the community.

Within the barns a herd of dairy goats–a mix of local, pure bred Alpine and floppy-eared Nubian–happily chow down on organic “goat greens” that look much like a mesclun salad you might find on a resort buffet.

Inside the modern facility, the goat milk is filtered, refrigerated and pasteurized to the highest international food safety standards. 

The cheese’s delightfully smooth texture offers just a touch of milky tartness. 

Where to Try it: The Calabash Hotel’s esteemed Rhodes restaurant (Google Map), headed by London celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, often features Goat Dairy’s chèvre on the farm-to-table menu.

Grenadian goat cheese is especially delicious within a ruby-toned beetroot tart, a dish that showcases its velvety texture. 

9. Grenada Crabback 

While walking to Grand Anse beach from the Siesta Hotel each day, I’d often see dozens of large land crabs scurrying into holes by the side of the road. I wondered why local people didn’t eat them.

As it turns out many people do!

Crab Back is one of the most popular traditional Grenadian dishes.  It’s made with fresh crabmeat from land crabs mixed with herbs and cheese sauce baked inside a crab shell.  

It’s often served as an appetizer. 

10. Grenada Spiny Lobster 

Spiny lobster is a popular food in Anguilla and other regions of the Caribbean. Lobster season in Grenada runs from September 1st to April 30th. However that doesn’t mean you’ll always find it on menus.

Where to Try it: In Grenada, spiny lobster lives among the reefs and in the mangroves of the Grenadine islands. Call a restaurant such as Aquarium, Sails or Coconut Beach in advance to see if they have any available. 

If you’re a guest at Sandals Grenada All-inclusive Resort (one of our top choices for the best luxury resorts in Grenada) enjoy it as part of the Surf & Turf dinner at Butch’s Chophouse. No extra charge or supplement.  

🌟 Pro Tip: Make a day of it and take the ferry to the island of Carriacou for lobster Mondays.  

11. Grenadian Chocolate

One food you don’t want to miss in Grenada is chocolate! There are many places to sample chocolate but one of the best is the Grenada Chocolate Company, a solar-powered, tree-to-bar cooperative at the edge of the Mt Hope rainforest.

Surrounded by lofty Madre de Cacao, a tangerine-blossomed tree that provides protective shade for the cacao trees, red and yellow cocoa pods grow in wild abandon.

You can crack open a pod and scoop out the beans to sample the citrusy, white pulp.

The Grenada Chocolate Company cultivates almost exclusively Trinitario cocoa bean, a variety prized for its intense and complex flavour.

Within the processing area, the cacao beans are hand harvested, fermented and sun-dried naturally.

The beans are then polished traditionally by workers who “dance the cocoa” by turning the beans with their feet in a giant copper bowl or in drying trays.

After drying, the cocoa beans are roasted, winnowed, churned, tempered and pressed into chocolate of exceptionally intense flavour.

🌟 Insider Tip: Chocolate lovers won’t want to miss the Grenada Chocolate Festival, a delicious celebration of chocolate from bean to bar, that takes place each spring. 

Check prices and availability of a Full Day Tour of Grenada including Concord Waterfall, Jouvay Chocolate, River Antoine Rum Distillery and Grand Etang lake on Viator.com.  

12. Callaloo Soup 

It’s a good thing callaloo is good for you — the leafy greens are packed with iron — because it’s so delicious you might find yourself eating your weight in it each day!

Originally brought from West Africa in the 17th century the mineral-rich vegetable has become a staple of Caribbean cuisine. It thrives in Grenada’s fertile soil with leaves the size of yoga mats growing freely by the side of the road.

One thing you need to know is that no matter how tempting it might be to do so, you can’t just grab a handful of callaloo from a ditch and chow down.

Its prickles can scratch your stomach if you eat it raw. Instead, you’ve got to remove the stems, chop the leaves fine and cook it for a long time. 

Where to Try It: Sample callaloo tucked inside tender cannelloni at beachfront Aquarium restaurant, pureed in soup at Patrick’s Local Homestyle Restaurant, and sprinkled on top of thin crust wood-fired pizza at Le Phare Bleu Marina & Resort.

At True Blue Bay, callaloo is sauteed with thyme and onions and stuffed inside a chicken breast.

It’s then grilled and topped with a heavenly sauce of coconut milk, cream, white wine and fresh-grated nutmeg.

13. Pigtail Souse 

Grenadian pigtail souse is a traditional Caribbean dish featuring stewed pigtail simmered in a broth of herbs such as chadon beni (culantro), onion and garlic, chives, peppers, and lime juice. 

Also popular in Trinidad and St. Vincent, pigtail souse is often served with provisions or fry bake as a hearty and satisfying meal.

14. Brown Down 

Grenadian cuisine really shines when it comes to one-pot meals. Grenadian brown down is a savory stew that typically features meat such as goat, turkey, chicken or beef.

It’s slow-cooked in a flavorful blend of spices, herbs, and coconut milk, creating a rich and aromatic dish.

This traditional Grenadian dish is known for its depth of flavor and is often served with rice for a hearty and satisfying meal.

15. Provisions

In Caribbean cuisine, the term “provisions” or “provision” refers to starchy root vegetables and other staple crops that are commonly used as a substantial part of meals.

The origin of ground provisions dates back to when plantation owners allocated small tracts of poor quality land to enslaved people. They supplemented their meagre rations by growing their own food for survival.

Provisions include yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, dasheen (a type of taro), green banana, pumpkin  and plantains. They’re often boiled, steamed, or fried. 

Often seen as part of a buffet or takeout menu, provisions are a filling and satisfying accompaniment to various dishes in Grenadian food.  Try it as a side dish at Deyna’s Tasty Foods on Melville Street in St. Georges. 

🌟 Insider Tip: You’ll find provisions served by vendors at the Street Food Party held Wednesday evenings at Dodgy Dock, True Blue Bay Resort. 

16. Coo Coo or Cou Cou 

Cou cou (sometimes also spelled coo coo) is another stellar Grenadian side dish.  To make it, cornmeal and vegetables are simmered slowly to create a velvety, firm mixture.

Somehwat similar to funchi, the popular traditional dish of Aruba, this Caribbean polenta dish is usually served with stewed callaloo, okra or fish. 

17. Lambi or Conch  

Grenadian lambi (conch) is a popular seafood delicacy in Grenadian cuisine. This mild white meat of this mollusk is most often marinated with a blend of local spices, herbs and seasonings to tenderize it. But it can also be simmered.

Lambi waters is a soup made of the broth produced from boiling the conch meat. 

Once tenderized, the sweet conch meat is typically grilled or stewed. It’s also often added to a seafood version of oil down, the national dish. 

Another popular variation of this popular seafood dish is lambi fritters, served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. 

18. Nutmeg Syrup 

Although it’s estimated that Grenada lost 80% of their nutmeg trees during Hurricane Ivan, nutmeg production is still thriving on the island. It also figures strongly in Grenadian food.

You’ll find fragrant nutmeg grated on top of rum punches, within sweet nutmeg syrup and in many dishes such as oil down to desserts like nutmeg ice-cream. 

A great place to learn about nutmeg and Grenada’s wealth of spices is at Laura’s Herb & Spice Garden. This educational botanical project located at the southern tip of the island. 

19. Rum Punch

While most Caribbean islands have one version or another of rum punch cocktail, a Grenadian rum punch is a memorable work of art.

This cocktail is often made in large batches with white or dark rum. It also comes in various degrees of alcohol concentration.

The most potent rum punch is served at Rocky’s Bar on Morne Rouge Beach. His ‘secret’ recipe for rum punch is: 

“One of sour (one cup of lime juice), two of sweet (two cups of simple syrup);
Three of strong (three cups rum) and four of weak (four cups of pineapple and orange juice).”

He topped off the mixture with Angostura bitters and a liberal grating of fresh nutmeg.  Grenadian rum punch is always served with a maraschino cherry but sometimes comes with an extra fruit garnish.  

Where to Try It: You can sample a Grenadian rum punch almost everywhere in Grenada!

Unlike the swanky beach bars in Curaçao or resto-bars of Anguilla, here they’re more casual hangouts. Perfect places for making new friends and hopping in and out of the water for a swim.  

Some of my favourite beach bars in Grenada include Rocky’s Bar at Morne Rouge, Esther’s Bar at the Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market (Google Map) and the Cummin’ Up food shack on Grand Anse Beach.

Nearby, Umbrellas Beach Bar features a daily Happy Hour cocktails including a rum punch.  

🌟 Pro Tip: At Grenada’s roadside rum shops, you generally won’t find rum punch. Instead, it’s served neat so you sip the rum straight up!  

20. Grenada Rum Agricole

Take a step back in time at River Antoine Estate & Rum Distillery, established in 1785 and located near Lake Antoine, a deep teardrop-shaped lake formed by the crater of an extinct volcano.

The sprawling estate is home to the oldest functioning water-powered rum distillery in the Caribbean. It feels like a place locked in time. Workers harvest the sugar cane by hand and the rum-making process is powered by nature. 

 Much like the plantation’s terrain, Rivers Rum, produced in strengths up to 150-proof, is not for the faint of heart. But this rawness is part of its appeal.

It’s also highly flammable! So even if you’re tempted (and you will be) don’t try to take the 150 proof stuff on the plane.

🌟 Where to Try it: Another rum distillery to tour is the Westerhall Estate Distillery, the third oldest distillery in Grenada. 

Take a walk through distilling history, explore the fields of sugar cane being reintroduced to Grenada and sample several Westerhall rums.  

Chocolate lovers can combine tutored tastings at Grenada’s Chocolate Museum with visits to Clarkes Court Distillery and Laura’s Spice Garden on a half-day Spice, Rum and Chocolate Tour.    

21. Grenada Craft Beer

For me, no Caribbean trip is complete without sampling the local beer.

One of the best additions to Grenada’s culinary scene is the West Indies Beer Co., the eastern Caribbean’s first microbrewery.

West Indies beer was founded by Master Brewer Mark Heath who hails from Ringwood Brewery in the UK.

Holding the first brewery license granted on the island in 50 years and hawking their hops to beer fans from a brewpub in the community of L’anse Aux Epines near the Calabash Hotel on a southern peninsula of the island, they specialize in natural beer brewed using traditional ingredients.

 Ingredients include malted barley, Irish Moss seaweed and spring water sourced from Grenada’s rainforest-draped volcanic mountains.

Beers to try include Old Mongoose Porter, a traditional bitter (watch for it infused with organic cacao at the Chocolate Festival) and their flagship brew Windward IPA.

This fruity golden ale is as refreshing as the island’s trade winds.

🌟 Pro Tip: Get a growler to go or join the crowd in the beer garden, where office workers from the nearby US Embassy mingle with locals during special events such as pig roasts and tapas nights.

22. Blue Tea at Tower Estate Afternoon Tea 

An unexpected experience in Grenada is the opportunity to enjoy an elegant afternoon tea at Tower Estate.

This stately great house was built in 1913 and has been owned by the Slinger family since 1945.

The estate’s sprawling gardens are bursting with flowering shrubs, heliconias, lilies,  bromeliads and heritage plants as well as a wealth of produce. 

Visitors can sample this farm to fork fare during the afternoon tea served on the terrace.

One of the highlights of the traditional English afternoon tea is the opportunity to sample their delicious blue tea.

It’s crafted from blue butterfly pea flowers grown in the estate gardens.

Combo tours that feature a garden tour and Afternoon Tea are also available.

Cost for Afternoon Tea alone is $65 EC but it’s well worth taking the 30-minute Garden Tour as well for an extra cost.  

Make reservations in advance at Tower Estate.

🌟 Insider Tip: Chef Belinda of Flavours of Grenada also offers a traditional 3-course Grenadian Sunday Brunch at the Tower Estate. 

23. Cocoa Tea 

Spend time in Grenada and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying delicious cocoa tea for breakfast instead of your usual morning coffee.

Made with cocoa balls and boiling water (rather than milk), this traditional Grenadian drink is also excellent as an afternoon beverage. 

Where to Try it: You can order a mug of cocoa tea at the Chocolate Museum in the historic capital city of St. George’s. It’s easy walking distance from the cruise ship terminal and Market Square.

While at the museum you can learn about the cultivation of cacao in Grenada and sample various types of chocolate produced on the island.     

24. Sweet Potato Pudding 

Almost everyone you meet in Grenada will have their favourite family recipe for this traditional dessert.

Even our local guide who drove us through the backroads of the island had his own secret recipe for his sweet potato pudding. It was so popular he made it in big batches and sold it to neighbours. 

But no matter who makes it, Grenadian sweet potato pudding features grated sweet potato, grated coconut, milk, fresh spices such as nutmeg,  cinnamon and ginger.

The pudding is then glazed with sugar and placed in the oven. There it cooks slowly for an hour or more until it reaches gooey, sticky perfection. It’s usually served topped with ice-cream.    

25. Nutmeg Ice-Cream

Whether you pick up some nutmeg ice-cream at the IGA supermarket or order it for dessert at one of the local restaurants, this cool treat is an unforgettable highlight of a day in Grenada.

There’s nothing quite as fragrant or with such a depth of flavour as fresh grated nutmeg. 

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Originally published in 2016 and substantially updated and expanded after onsite research in December 2023.

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