TRAVEL GUIDE: GRAND CAYMAN
So excited to share about our magical few days in Grand Cayman! Two of my best friends and I decided to book this three weeks ago and had the best time truly exploring this gorgeous place. Turquoise waters, incredible food and lots of sun really do the body and soul good! Sharing all of my travel tips for your next trip to Grand Cayman!
WHERE TO STAY/HOW TO GET AROUND
South Bay Beach Club
When we decided to book our trip, we had a hard time finding a spot that wasn’t a crazy price so I was so happy when I saw Kendall‘s post recommending South Bay Beach Club. It was the PERFECT place for us three and we loved how much space we had (just posted a tour of our villa #25 on my IG stories/in my highlights!). Our condo had two big bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full size kitchen (we made breakfast here almost everyday!), living room and a great balcony that looked over the beach. It also had a washer and dryer which was so nice to use.
There isn’t a restaurant or room service on property but they still come clean your condo daily, have a manager on site to help organize grocery delivery and more and have full time security on the beach and in front of the condo at night. One of the things I specifically loved was I am allergic to blue dye so can only use clean detergents and they were able to wash all sheets and towels before I arrived with that request.
The condo also has a pool and great space on the beach with a ton of chairs and umbrellas. It’s located right next to the Marriott Hotel so you’re able to pop next door to use their restaurants and bars. Their beach was actually washed up due to recent hurricanes so we had the best beach space compared to most hotels nearby.
Transportation
There are no Uber’s but taxi’s come very quickly (we usually went next door to ask the hotel to call for us), but are pricier (make sure to have some cash!). We also walked along the main strip to other resorts and restaurants and felt very safe when walking the quick walks.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
Tillie’s
The meal I was most excited about was Tillie’s, which is located at the Palm Heights Hotel, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Palm Heights was a quick 15 minute walk from our condo and we ended up coming here a few times during our stay thanks to their various restaurants.
Tillie’s is located right on the beach (with some tables in the sand!) and features an extensive menu of seafood, steak and other local produce. Our favorite dish was the crab stuffed snapper, made table side, and their miso caramel ice cream sundae. The decor and design is stunning and was such a special spot for dinner.
We also came back for breakfast on our last day and it was such a great way to end the trip and get to see the hotel during the day! A must visit.
Paradise Pizza
Our other favorite located at Palm Heights was Paradise Pizza. Along with their wood fire pizza oven, they also serve shawarma sandwiches and platters that we had to try too. They have a ton of pizza options, including gluten free, which was important as my friend Katie is gluten free. It was so good that we ended up coming back twice! I also loved the space and branding and their great list of natural wines.
Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden
Located right behind our condo was the cutest lunch and dinner spot, Ms. Piper’s. The menu was mediterranean focused with fun cocktails and the decor was SO cute. Loved the live music they had every night as well!
Coccoloba Bar & Grill
One of our favorite meals was tacos on the beach at Coccoloba. This spot is located at the Kimpton Seafire Resort (about a 10 minute taxi ride from our place). We had an amazing Mexican dinner seated right on the beach (make sure to get the churros for dessert!).
Silver Palm at The Ritz-Carlton
One of our favorite cocktails of the week was from Silver Palm at The Ritz-Carlton. The hotel is stunning and was a great place to have a drink at the end of the night.
Vista Beach Bar
Another reason we loved our condo was the Marriott Hotel being located right next door. We loved being able to grab drinks and food from their beach bar. Not only was it conveniently located but all of the drinks and food were SO good (we loved the jungle bird drink and shrimp tacos!).
Coconut Joe’s
A local favorite Coconut Joe’s was located right across the street from us and another delicious lunch or dinner spot. Perfect for families, it has a huge outdoor porch and a favorite spot for the roosters and chickens walking around too!
Peppers Bar and Grill
Another local favorite across the street from us too was Peppers, which is known for their famous jerk chicken. We loved their BBQ ribs, jerk pork fries and of course, tropical drinks for our last lunch.
Water & The Elephant
Farther away from the main resort strip, this coffee spot was worth the taxi ride. We had an incredible breakfast here (make sure to get the sweet potato side!) and lots of caffeine to start our day.
Zippy
Located right across the street from Water & The Elephant is the local farmer’s market. Not many vendors were there when we went but our main reason to visit was Zippy’s juice and smoothie stand. They have so many incredible fresh fruits and produce and got the best green smoothie here.
Piccolino’s Cafe
If you’re looking for another coffee spot near the main resorts, this was an adorable spot. This coffee shop had lots of options (and matcha which was hard to find!).
WHAT TO DO
To be honest, we didn’t do much this trip except lay in the sun, swim and go to the different restaurants and bars! This trip was truly about relaxing for us and catching up. We did lots of reading (I read Spare and Jasmine Guillory‘s latest), floating in the water and sleeping (best sleep I’ve had in a while). We did take one yoga class nearby that was great and a quick walk from our place.
WHAT I WORE
