White Bay

It is, indeed, hard to hold onto your worries at Ivan’s Stress Free Bar (White Bay, 284/495-9358, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Fri.–Wed., 11 a.m.–late Thurs., $10–14) on the beach at White Bay [1]. The bar is open all day—if no one is there to serve you, just serve yourself and leave the money. Lunch includes sandwiches and burgers, nearly all for under $10. Seating is under a huge tamarind tree in the yard, or on a beach chair in the sand. On Thursday nights, proprietor Ivan Chinnery goes all out with his popular barbecue buffet.

The number of eateries on the western end of White Bay has grown in recent years, but the most popular remains the Soggy Dollar Bar (White Bay, 284/495-9888, 9 a.m.–3:15 p.m. daily, $8–18), named after the damp bills handed over by sailors who wade ashore from visiting yachts. The Soggy Dollar claims to be the birthplace of the Painkiller, a delicious concoction of rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut. If you want food to go with your rum, try cinnamon rum French toast at breakfast or the flying fish sandwich for lunch.

At night, the Soggy Dollar undergoes a Cinderella-type metamorphosis to become the Sandcastle (284/495-9888, $40), which serves candlelight four-course gourmet meals by reservation only. When you reserve your table you’ll be asked to choose your entrée from the night’s selections, which usually include meat, poultry, or seafood. Reservations are required by 4 p.m.

Farther down the beach, Gertrude’s Beach Bar (284/495-9104, 9 a.m.–late daily, $10–22) serves omelets, eggs, and sandwiches for breakfast. Try garlic shrimp, chicken roti, ribs, or grilled mahimahi for lunch or dinner.

Also on White Bay you will find Jewel’s Snack Shack (284/495-9286, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, $4–8), which is exactly what it sounds like—a stand selling burgers, hot dogs, fries, and cold drinks. One Love (284/495-9829) sells cold beer and tropical drinks.