Kingston, Jamaica — a city where street corners pulsate to an innate beat, as the smoky aromas of pimento and thyme fill the air. Chicken sizzles on grill-pans, cups are refilled with rum, and friends new and old labrish and suss about their day.
Meanwhile, 17 miles away and 3,500 feet above, in the lush Blue Mountains, a serene breeze provides the perfect companion to an afternoon cup of coffee sweetened with condensed milk, and a slice of dense sweet potato pudding served with a scoop of Devon House vanilla ice cream on the side.
Jamaica has long been defined by picturesque white sand beaches, turquoise water, rum punches and jerk chicken. And while it does deliver on these expectations, it is so much more. Vibrant street food; redefined Caribbean gourmet; distinct dishes from the diverse ethnicities of the island; clean, vegetable-forward flavors from the Rastafarian community, and fresh seafood eaten with sand between your toes.
Kingston is a microcosm that embodies all this and more, and sways to a rhythm all its own. And while visitors tend to stick to the coast for the quintessential “sun and sand,” it is Kingston where you’ll find an unfiltered, unapologetic culinary journey.
Price Key
Prices per person, excluding alcohol
$ = Less than $1,000 (Less than US$7)
$$ = $1,000 to $5,000 (US$7 to US$35)
$$$ = $5,000 to $10,000 (US$35 to US$70)
$$$$ = $10,000+ (US$70 +)
Note: The inclusion of restaurants offering dine-in service should not be taken as an endorsement for dining inside. Studies indicate a lower exposure risk to COVID-19 outdoors, but the level of risk is contingent on social distancing and other safety guidelines. Check with each restaurant for up-to-date information on dining offerings. Please check the CDC for updated information on coronavirus cases in the area.
Leisha Wong is a lifestyle writer who has lived in Kingston, Jamaica for the past 15 years, who has turned her passion for food into curating food events, including Jamaica’s first food market event, Kingston Kitchen.
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