Bermuda

Bermuda Restaurant Reviews

What’s incredible about the Bermuda restaurant scene isn’t so much the number or high quality of restaurants, but the sheer variety of ingredients and cuisines represented on the menus, especially considering that Bermuda is such a tiny, secluded place. The island is host to a medley of global cuisines—British, French, Italian, Portuguese, American, Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai—palatable reminders of Bermuda’s history as a colony. Many superior, well-funded independent and resort restaurants attract a constant and steady stream of internationally acclaimed chefs, assuring that the latest techniques and trends are menu regulars. At the same time, virtually all restaurant menus list traditional Bermudian dishes and drinks, so you have the opportunity to taste local specialties at almost any meal.

As you might expect, methods are not all that’s imported. Roughly 80% of Bermuda’s food is flown or shipped in, most of it from the United States. This explains why restaurant prices are often higher here than on the mainland. Nevertheless, there are a number of delicious local ingredients that you should look for. At the top of the list is extraordinary seafood, like lobster (September through March), crab, oysters, mussels, clams, red snapper, rockfish, tuna, and wahoo. Additionally, many chefs work with local growers to serve fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, leeks, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, and Bermuda onions (one of the island’s earliest exports); and in the dessert department, strawberries, cherries, bananas, and loquats (small yellow fruit used for preserves). Imports notwithstanding, Bermudian cuisine really begins and ends with local ingredients and traditional preparations, and therein lies the island’s culinary identity.

Bermuda Nightlife

Bermudians love to drink. That’s the title of a popular local song, and it hits the nail right on the head. Yes, the island that gave the world the Dark ‘n Stormy and the rum swizzle might not have the largest selection of hot spots in which to party the night away, but what Bermuda lacks in venues it makes up for in attitude. Tourists, expats, and locals all mix together to create a melting-pot social scene, especially on Friday nights—the unofficial party day for just about everyone living on the Rock. The vibe is civilized but still fun and friendly, and if you’re not sure where you want to go, just ask around; people will be more than happy to give you their thoughts—they might even buy you a drink!

If you prefer your nightlife to have more culture than rum concoctions, there’s still plenty to do. Hubie’s Bar is host to the island’s finest jazz artists, and City Hall provides a venue for visiting artists on an ad hoc basis. Dramatic productions take place across a variety of venues—anywhere from a hotel auditorium to the back of a Front Street pub.

For a rundown of what’s hot and happening in Bermuda, pick up the Bermuda Calendar of Events brochure at any Visitor Information Centre. The free monthly Preview Bermuda magazine also lists upcoming island events and can be accessed online at www.previewbermuda.com. The Bermudian ($5), a monthly magazine, has a calendar of events, as does RG magazine, which is included free in the Royal Gazette newspaper on the first Thursday of the month. This Week in Bermuda, another free magazine, describes arts and nightlife venues. The Bermuda Sun newspaper has a “Scene” section on Friday, which includes an events calendar. It’s also a good idea to check www.boxoffice.bm for upcoming show information.

Some hotels carry a TV station that broadcasts information about the island’s cultural events and nightlife. Radio VSB, FM 1450, gives a lineup of events daily at 11:15 AM. You can also dial 974 for recorded information. Because the arts scene in Bermuda is so casual, many events and performers operate on a seasonal or part-time basis. Bulletin boards are also good places to check for upcoming events.
Nightlife

Hamilton is the island’s central nightlife hub, with a smattering of decent bars and clubs, featuring live music and drink promotions. Outside of the city there’s a thriving nightlife scene within the hotels. In summer, weekly cruises and beach bashes add to the party scene.

Don’t overlook the work of local musicians: Bermuda has a long tradition of producing superb jazz artists and hosts an annual jazz festival in fall. One of the best places to catch a jam session is at Hubie’s Bar on Friday night; it’s a typical jazz bar that caters to the forty-plus crowd. Everyone knows where Hubie’s is, so a cab can easily get you there—and it’s the kind of place where your neighbor at the bar could be a mail carrier or a member of Parliament.

As a general rule, both men and women tend to dress smart-casual for clubs. This means you may not want to wear T-shirts, ratty jeans, or running shoes. Pubs and clubs begin to fill up around 9:30 or 10.
The Arts

Bermuda’s arts scene is concentrated in a number of art galleries—Masterworks in the Botanical Gardens, City Hall in Hamilton, and the Arts Centre in Dockyard are the best known—a handful of performance venues, and a few gathering spots, like Rock Island Coffee Café on Reid Street. For dramatic and musical performances, the City Hall Theatre and the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium host the country’s best, including Bermuda Festival events. It’s also home to the annual Bermuda Idol competition based on the popular American show.

Bermuda Shopping

If you’re accustomed to shopping in Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman, the prices in Bermuda’s elegant shops won’t come as a surprise. Designer clothing and accessories, from MaxMara to Louis Vuitton, tend to be sold at prices comparable to those in the United States, but without the sales tax. Crystal, china, watches, and jewelry are often less expensive here and sometimes even on par with American outlet-store prices. Perfume and cosmetics are often sold at discount prices, and there are bargains to be had on woolens and cashmeres in early spring, when stores’ winter stocks must go. The island’s unforgiving humidity and lack of storage space means sales are frequent and really meant to sweep stock off the shelves.

Art galleries in Bermuda attract serious shoppers and collectors. The island’s thriving population of artists and artisans—many of whom are internationally recognized—produces well-reputed work, from paintings, photographs, and sculpture to miniature furniture, hand-blown glass, and dolls. During your gallery visits, look for Bruce Stuart’s abstract paintings, Graeme Outerbridge’s vivid photographs of Bermudian architecture and scenery, and Chelsey Trott’s slim wood and bronze sculptures.

Bermuda-made specialty comestibles include rum and rum-based liqueurs, and delicious local honey, which you can find in most grocery stores. Condiments from Outerbridge Peppers Ltd. add zip to soups, stews, drinks, and chowders. The original line has expanded to include Bloody Mary mix, pepper jellies, and barbecue sauce.

The duty-free shop at the airport sells liquor, perfume, cigarettes, rum cakes, and other items. You can also order duty-free spirits at some of the liquor stores in town, and the management will make arrangements to deliver your purchase to your hotel or cruise ship. If you choose to shop in town rather than at the airport, it’s best to buy liquor at least 24 hours before your departure, or by 9:30 on the day of an afternoon departure, in order to allow enough time for delivery. With liquor, it pays to shop around, because prices vary. Grocery stores usually charge more than liquor stores. U.S. citizens age 21 and older who have been out of the country for 48 hours are allowed to bring home 1 liter of duty-free liquor.

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