5 Best Restaurants in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

A visit to this alfresco eatery requires you to climb a long flight of stairs, but the food is well worth the effort. Although fish is the specialty—try the voodoo snapper topped with a fruity salsa—the chef also creates a vegetarian platter with black beans, fried plantains, and a mound of sweet potatoes.

This second-floor restaurant in the heart of Cruz Bay is the place for traditional Italian cuisine, so don't let the underwhelming ambience turn you away. The lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and seafood manicotti are all delicious, as are the small pizza—they're available at your table, but larger ones are for takeout or at the bar. This casual place can get crowded in winter, so show up early. 

This casual spot right at Cruz Bay Beach serves everything from hamburgers and mahimahi sandwiches to surf and turf and Caribbean lobster. At happy hour, order a Painkiller and watch the sunset over the bay. Or, if you're here for breakfast, order the chicken and waffles or eggs Benedict. The kids' menu includes favorites like chicken tenders and grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Sitting seaside at remote Friis Bay, Miss Lucy's dishes up Caribbean food with a contemporary flair, like tender conch fritters, spicy callaloo stew, fried local fish, and a generous paella with seafood, sausage, and chicken. Sunday brunches are legendary, and if you're around at the time, stop by for the monthly full-moon parties. The handful of small tables near the water are nicest, but if they're taken or the mosquitoes are swarming, the indoor tables do nicely.

Pacific Rim meets Caribbean cooking in the cozy dining room of this open-air eatery, with bamboo furnishings and local flora providing a tropical backdrop. Thai crab cakes, Cuban mojo pork, and sesame-encrusted Szechuan tuna are excellent choices. If you feel in the mood to share, order finger-food-style pupu platters with choices like duck potstickers, coconut rice balls, and spicy peanut chicken skewers.