Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe
Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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I always enjoy trying to find small or quirky places to try local cuisine and when our ship stopped in St. John’s, Antigua I figured I’d have lots of restaurant options. Just outside the neat and somewhat expensive cluster of cruise shops was the rest of downtown, with lots of really interesting restaurants and local shops. I wandered up the steep and fairly narrow stairs to Hemingways Caribbean Cafe, which as the name implies has some direct connections to Papa Hemingway, who used to visit the place. Unfortunately, they were out of the conch fritters, which I really wanted to try, as well as one of the local beers, but the manager came out to suggest a couple other options, specifically the fresh pumpkin soup, and lobster eggrolls. Taking her advice, I tried both, and while the pumpkin soup was good, the lobster eggrolls, usually on their dinner menu, were unbelievable and delicious! Flavorful, perfectly cooked, and with an amazing taste and texture, if I hadn’t filled up on the soup, I would have gotten a second order. These were some of the best surprise appetizers I have ever had anywhere, so do try them out! if you like things, spicy, ask for a small side of their local chili, which is hotter than hell, 🔥 and quite delicious! The servers and manager were quite friendly, and filled me in on the details of their association with the building, which goes back over 100 years, back when it was a larger piece of property, including residential units. Resist the temptation to go to the very pretty, and frankly a little boring eateries, right where the ships dock, and walk an extra hundred yards to Hemingways: you will be glad you did.
Scott SweetowScott Sweetow
10
Nice little spot for a taste of the carribean. Definitely recommend pepper pot (I added chicken) - loved it- the flavours and spice were just what I was looking for! The drinks were really nice too. My sister had the pumpkin soup. She said it was nice but could have had a bit more spice flavours. The prawns were alright (maybe a little over priced though). The shape of the dish made it difficult to really enjoy the sauce with the prawns. In terms of sides, the white basmati was done really nicely (according to my sister), sweet potato fries were good and the salad dressing was a nice touch to the salad. My 8 year old nephew loved his chicken and chips, and ice cream sundae. The jerk chicken wrap was ok... the sauce was a little bit tangy and overpowering (wouldve been nice if I could taste the chicken and if it was a bit more spicy. Instead, it tasted like I was just eating the bbq jerk from the bottle at points (more ketchup-y) so I could only eat one half of my wrap at the time. Overall though, the staff were friendly and we enjoyed our visit.
Torema “TT” ThompsonTorema “TT” Thompson
00
This place 7 min walkable distance from the port. So it is place for the tourists. For Caribbean standards it is expensive place. We have many friends from Caribbean islands, we ate their food a lot. I have eaten in Barbados in high end restaurant and i paid the same as in this place. I ate in Dominica in local caffe and food was 5 times less expensive, the same presentation and much much tasty. You will wait long time to be served. If you need wi-fi they will give you 45 min one use password and internet connection will be so so poor. Also if you want to pay USA dollars BE PREPARED your money have to be spotless (no cuts whatsoever)otherwise the owner will not take it and you will know about only it is time TO PAY!!!! Also the prices in menu and in real will be a bit different (2 dollars who cares, I will not change whole menu because of this said to me owner). So double check with servant:) the owner was not pleased with me and was not friendly at all. why I came in this place? I missed conch and there are few other places which can serve this and I regret I did not go in other place. The conch curry was very spicy. Bread pudding which I tried in other islands as well for this price was mini one and dry one. Disappointed ☹️ I wonder who wrote all those positive reviews maybe they have no idea how must be Caribbean cuisine! But I know :)
Julia HellandJulia Helland
00
Do NOT go here unless you like to be yelled at by the owner & staff, and then overpay for their mistakes!!! We waited about 25 mins for drinks, 50 mins for our food, and was brought the wrong food. We started eating immediately since we were hungry and parched. Then, Carey (the owner) & our waitress yelled at us, scoffed & rolled their eyes at us eating the wrong food when we were starving after waiting for so long? Carey again yelled at us when we went to pay (for ALL meals, even though they messed it up) Brought a chicken pasta when we ordered a vegetarian plate, among other wrong things. Horrible service honestly. Great food. The drinks were horrible (& not what we ordered) and we had to yell across the restaurant for water after asking for it multiple times from multiple people. Couldn’t leave fast enough. Staff is so frazzled. Maybe because Carey kept yelling at them in the kitchen where guests could see and hear. Place was nowhere near full. Really disappointing experience. I REALLY hope Carey learns how to treat people (staff and customers) kindly, sometime soon.
Jenn SoosJenn Soos
10
Please do yourself a favor and not dine here, I am on the island visiting family and wanted a nice sit down dinner with my husband. I ordered oxtail and rice, with mash potatoes as my side ,let me tell you the oxtails tasted like ketchup mix with browning and they had zero seasoning and flavor it was undercooked and I could not eat it. The mash potatoes 100% came from a box and are not home made. The lemonade was sour however she did add some nectar afterwards that made it ok. The ginger beer had absolutely no ginger in it. My husband struggle through his lamb but liked the rice I must agree the rice was edible. Over all I was robbed of $120US for food that is not fit to feed a stray dog. I will never eat here again I wish I could give this place 0 stars
Karen Andrew DyettKaren Andrew Dyett
00
This restaurant is located at the pier where our cruise ship docked. The place was recommended by our tour guide. It’s across the street where he let us off. You have to walk up stairs to get to it. So it’s not suitable for handicap. By the entrance there were souvenir vendors. The place only had 4 other customers. We were seated on the patio. We had 2 different servers. Another couple came in after us and she took their order before us a gentleman came in way after us and got his food before us. The first server seemed annoyed and the second server was not that friendly. We order 2 daiquiris for $9.65 each and the Key west club for $17.40. We waited 20 minutes. The sandwich and fries were good. So were the cocktails. Just the service was lacking.
Sheila dupuisSheila dupuis
00
Nearby Attractions Of Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe
Heritage Quay Complex
VC Bird Monument
Museum Of Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua Cruise Port
Saint John's Cathedral

Heritage Quay Complex
4.3
(1.4K)Click for details

VC Bird Monument
4.2
(282)Click for details

Museum Of Antigua & Barbuda
4.2
(237)Click for details

Antigua Cruise Port
4.4
(237)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe
Big Banana
Roti King
Papa Zouk
Cutie's
Enzo's Restaurant
Signature Smokes Hookah & Cigar Lounge

Big Banana
4.0
(539)$$
Click for details

Roti King
4.4
(331)$
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Papa Zouk
4.5
(282)$$
Click for details

Cutie's
4.3
(309)$$
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Basic Info
Address
45C4+93R, St Mary's St, St John's, Antigua & Barbuda
Map
Phone
+1 268-462-2763
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Website
hemingwayantigua.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.1
(324 reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
attractions: Heritage Quay Complex, VC Bird Monument, Museum Of Antigua & Barbuda, Antigua Cruise Port, Saint John's Cathedral, restaurants: Big Banana, Roti King, Papa Zouk, Cutie's, Enzo's Restaurant, Signature Smokes Hookah & Cigar Lounge

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