9 Best Restaurants in Northern Belize, Belize

This popular eatery in a stone building on the bay at the South End serves excellent wood-fired pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and ceviche, plus a few traditional Belizean dishes like rice and beans. By Corozal standards, prices are on the high side, but the atmosphere, bayside setting, and friendly staff make it well worth a visit.

This seafood restaurant is the go-to dining option for both visitors and locals in Sarteneja. Sitting across the street from the Caribbean Sea, Crabby's offers stunning views of the bay and the many fishing boats lining up the shore. Seating is mostly outdoor, with a rustic yet homey feel. Grilled lobster (when in season), shrimp and fish fillet accompany heaps of rice and beans for lunch. Lunch special changes daily and the restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, too. Come for the views and stay for the richly whipped desserts of frappes and homemade ice cream.  

Canadian-owned La Piccola Pizzeria serves some of the best pizza and BBQ with farm-fresh ingredients. Operating on a "farm-to-fork" approach, La Piccola's menu changes weekly. But the new dishes are always impressive takes on traditional Italian recipes. For dessert, expect made-from-scratch creamy ice cream and candied fruit. Located just outside of Corozal town on the road toward Consejo, La Piccola's atmosphere is a rustic charm with warm hospitality. Once a week, a poker night to benefit local charities is hosted. 

Orange Walk Town may be the last place you'd expect to find an upscale restaurant like this, with its Maya-inspired decor, well-prepared food, and extra-friendly servers. Nonetheless, it opened here, on a corner behind the Shell station, to rave reviews. Sit in the tropical gardens in the back and admire the jungle-esque foliage, or sit in air-conditioned comfort in the main dining room and enjoy a cold drink and a delicious shrimp or conch (in season) ceviche appetizer. For a main course try the curry ginger shrimp or one of the Yucatán-inspired dishes such as poc chuc, grilled pork sauteed with onion and sweet pepper and served with corn tortillas. 

Patty's Bistro (sometimes spelled Patti's) serves some of the best food in town, the service is sprightly and friendly, the atmosphere is no-frills, and prices are low. For a local treat, try the hearty conch soup (in season, usually October to late April).

The Deck has established itself as the go-to hangout spot offering locally influenced tapas and innovative cocktails ever since it opened in 2021 under new management. The alfresco dining makes it easy to admire the tranquil views of the New River. Sit on a wooden lounge chair while waiting for your smoked wings to arrive and admire the sunset views. While the food preparation may take a while, it'll be worth it once you dig into the generous portions of appetizers ranging from seasoned Spanish-style croquetas, spicy chipotle dip, and peel-and-eat shrimps.

A well-run option in Orange Walk Town, Maracas Bar and Grill has one of the town's most scenic settings overlooking the New River—you might even spot a crocodile. Sit in the covered riverside patio or in the air-conditioned dining room and start your meal with an appetizer of shrimp, conch, or lobster ceviche (lobster is available mid-June to mid-February and conch is usually October to late April). Indulge your comfort food cravings with pizza, fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, or a beef or fish burger. Escabeche is offered Sunday only. Occasionally local parties here get loud, but you'll probably be welcome to join the festivities.

The "house restaurant" for the Orchid Bay Resort, Tradewinds is run by David and Demaris, an American-Belizean couple. The menu features adequate American pub food such as burgers and wings, along with ceviche and other seafood and some traditional Belizean dishes such as rice and beans with stew chicken. Once a week there is a soup night, which attracts locals for an inexpensive night out and a chance to benefit the local community---one-half of the evening's proceeds go to support various good works in the community.