Tranquilseas Resort — Restaurant in Roatán

COMFORT|Staying in the “Octopus” unit allowed our family (2 adults and 2 teens over 6 feet tall) to have our own comfy space. The boys got their own room, their own beds, and their own bathroom/AC unit/door (and we had the same plus a bathtub!). Having 2 showers and 2 toilets goes a long way towards making sure everyone gets to meals and activities at the same time! My boys like to sleep colder than my husband and I do, and everyone was able to set their own temp. There was a shared hallway inside the locked door, so we could go back and forth to each other’s sleeping spaces as needed without going out into a public area. The mattresses were firm and the towels were soft. We were RIGHT next to the bar and restaurant (which were moderately busy) but somehow there was no noise in our room from that. We all slept well. We also appreciated that the rooms each had their own water purifier (providing water at 3 different temperatures!) and it tasted great. We drink a LOT of water in our family, and have never seen this in a room—it was a bit plus for me! The décor is beautiful as well—it was recently renovated.|NOTE: People with hip/knee mobility issues may want to look for a different room. There are 2 large steps/rise points in this room to get to and from the bathroom. (There were some stubbed toes.)||FOOD|After some debate about exploring the local cuisine versus staying at Tranquil Seas’ for meals, we decided to go for the ‘All Inclusive’ option. We enjoyed every single meal SO much. Their chef is a genius, the bartenders are great, and all of the waitstaff is wonderful. Their red snapper dishes—all 3 of them (“Sunken fish sandwich”—fried filet sandwich, the whole grilled or fried fish, and filet with jasmine rice and Tuscan sauce)—are worth going for all by themselves. My son insists that the Mozzarella mushroom bacon cheeseburger is one of the best burgers he has ever eaten. The Baba ganoush meal was the best baba ganoush I’ve ever had. There are several vegetarian and vegan options, and we were impressed by the ones we tried as well. The bartender was kind enough to make us half-soda-half- fresh-pressed-juice spritzers with each meal (watermelon, pineapple, lemonade) as part of our meal plan—3 local beers are part of this too. Over the course of our stay we tried at least 15-16 different dishes for lunch or dinner, 8-10 different breakfasts, 6-8 of their signature cocktails and all 5 of their desserts. We were not able to get all the way through their menu during our 3-4 day stay, but would have tried to if we had stayed longer. ||DIVING/SNORKELING|They have a small but well-appointed dive shop that is as flexible and accommodating as it could be. We took one trip out as a family of 4 with 2 snorkelers and 2 divers. I took one trip out as a solo diver with just the divemaster. Then we took one trip out with a group of 5 divers (other hotel guests) and the divemaster. The divemaster and captain were great about managing different skills levels and helping everyone in and out of the water. The island is surrounded by what looked like (from the maps we saw) hundreds of recognized & named dive sites. Everything was so close that for surface intervals it made sense to go back to the hotel for 20min or so instead of bobbing around in the boat, which was great for seasick-prone folks. There is also great snorkeling just off the dock as well as at the reef that is a 10 min swim out from the dock. For a fit swimmer, swimming out to the reef and snorkeling around for 10-20min, and then swimming back works out fine for a 40minute swim. But on our last day we took the owners’ suggestion and paddled one of the hotel’s kayaks out to the reef, tied up to a buoy, and then spent more time snorkeling at the edge of the shallows. The visibility was 30-40 feet—glorious. The reef there has an impressive diversity of corals, sponges, algae, anemone, and colorful fish. ||GETTING AROUND|Tranquil seas set up our transportation to and from the resort-- $58 and 30 min each way—and that was quite helpful. Our whole trip had to be short due to responsibilities back home, so we only went off-site twice—once to walk 10min down to Anthony’s Key for the “Dolphin experience” and once to go on a combo tour (visit to the Manawakie ecopark, Zipline park, and a little shopping around the West end of the island). Those activities were all super touristy, but we knew that was going to be the case going in. The ziplining was pretty fun, and interacting with sloths and monkeys was too, but my husband voiced concerns about becoming “Patient zero” of the next outbreak.||Overall we felt this was one of the best family vacations we have ever had. The special touch of the place being small was the best thing about the trip. We learned the names of many of the staff, and they learned ours. We had nice conversations with them when they had time and really appreciated their perspectives and recommendations. We were lucky w/the weather—late January and it was high 70s-low 80s every day with a cloudless sky and water was 80s as well. GO! You will not be...

Best. Trip. Ever.|Honestly, part of me wants to keep this place a secret because it feels like our own little hidden paradise—but the world deserves to know about Tranquilseas and the phenomenal team that makes it so special.||From the moment we arrived, Jan welcomed us with warmth and genuine hospitality. He gave us a great tour of the property and the dive center, and then helped us plan out a few activities so we could just kick back and truly relax without worrying about a thing. He made everything feel easy and stress-free—exactly what a vacation should be. In fact, every single person we encountered brought warmth and genuine care to Tranquilseas. All members of the staff didn’t just make our stay enjoyable—they made it unforgettable.||We stayed in the Scarlet Macaw room and it was just perfect. ||The team at the Sunken Fish restaurant was nothing short of extraordinary. The servers greeted us by name with the kind of warmth that made us feel like old friends returning home. They paid attention to preferences, our favorite drinks, even how we took our coffee. We do not drink alcohol so we had fun enjoying many types of mocktails during our stay. Every meal felt like it had been prepared just for us, with heart and intention. Their professionalism was balanced perfectly with a casual charm. Osman, Samir, Cesia, Denry, Junior, Franklin, and Harry—thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We looked forward to seeing you as much as we did the food. You are already missed.||Speaking of the food—wow.|This wasn’t just vacation dining. This was fine dining in paradise. Every dish that came out of that kitchen was a work of art, both in flavor and presentation. From melt-in-your-mouth protein offerings, to velvety purées, handmade sauces, and vibrant tropical garnishes—every plate was bursting with color, balance, and creative flair. And at the center of it all: the executive chef. I wish I could remember his name because he deserves to be shouted out far and wide. He’s not just a chef—he’s an artist with a deep understanding of ingredients and how to let them shine. His dishes were inventive without being fussy, adventurous without losing comfort, and always tailored to the highest standard of quality and safety. For someone like me, who deals with food allergies and MCAS, eating out can be difficult. But here, I was protected from cross-contamination of nuts. That’s more than a culinary feat—that’s trust. And this chef earned it. He found a way to make each meal feel like a special event. There were unexpected flavor pairings, sauces that deepened every bite, and textures that were thoughtfully composed and satisfying. His work was consistently stunning. If you happen to come to Tranquilseas on a Saturday, be sure to participate in the BBQ. ||To the amazing housekeeping crew—you brought just as much joy as the rest of the team. Your bright smiles every morning and your help with my Spanish were highlights of each day. You kept everything immaculate and infused the space with warmth and positivity. We truly appreciated you. ||The dive shop was great. We loved the freedom of taking a kayak out for snorkeling adventures right from the property, while my husband had a blast scuba diving with the team. Everything was easy, accessible, and relaxed. Huge thank-you to Ruby—you truly live up to your name. Patient, kind, and always helpful, you made our water adventures extra memorable.||And then there’s that sun-soaked dock. We fell in love with it so much that we ended up canceling some of our off-site plans just to stay and soak in the tranquility. It was the perfect place to read, nap, sip something cold, or just do nothing.||So yes—this was, without a doubt, the best trip. It’s rare to feel so looked after, so welcomed, and so at home. We’re already dreaming of the day we can come back. While a piece of me wants to keep it a secret, places and people this extraordinary deserve to be celebrated. ||(Pane Smítale, prosím, určitě cti šéfkuchaře, ať...

I cannot say enough good things about our experience at Tranquilseas. Let me start with, if this looks at all like your kind of place - book it. You will not regret it! I will attempt to describe it in categories: location, grounds, staff, rooms, amenities, and restaurant.

The location is in Sandy Bay, which is on the West-central side of the Island. It is a fairly simple approximately 20-25 min drive from Coxen Hole, the main city with ports and airports. Sandy Bay is right next to a nice area called West End, which is full of restaurants, shops, beach access, and has a very chill vibe. It is also right next to the Marine Institute, where they offer dolphin encounters. Needless to say, this location is excellent.

The grounds are the perfect blend of rustic luxury. You feel at once that it is a welcoming yet intimate place, with 7 cabanas, each with a private entrance. The wooden frames and steps are well cared for, and there are gorgeous trees all around and even incorporated into the property. You walk through the signature blue doors, encounter the rooms and yoga sky deck, continue toward the ocean (which is already visible), pass the restaurant and pool, and end at the deck with the fantastic view of ocean for miles and miles. The sun will be shining on the glittering water and you will see the reef beckoning you to come explore. Take the stairs down to the pool, the Dive Shop, and walk out onto the beach with a private dock, complete with wooden swings. In short, the photos online do not do the property justice. It is gorgeous, relaxing, and captures the island vibes.

The staff were welcoming from the start. If your Spanish isn't up to par, don't worry, every one speaks English. We were greeted with reusable water bottles and a welcome drink from the bar. The office, hospitality, and main office staff learned our names and knew which Cabana we were staying in. We were greeted by name throughout our stay. They made sure we didn't want for anything.

The rooms are just perfect. The photos online make them look a bit small- they are actually quite spacious. The colors and decor unique to each named Cabana (Tree Frog, Tortuga, etc.) really made you feel relaxed and fully immersed in island living. Our room was very clean, the bed and pillows comfortable, the bathroom spacious with a gorgeous walk-in rock walled shower, with a convenient kitchenette area with sink, coffee station, fridge (no way of heating food). We spent a good amount of time on our balcony - in the hammock or lounging in the deck chairs. The hospitality staff greeted us on the property each morning and asked whether we wanted cleaning. (It is an eco Lodge so they prefer not to wash linens every day, but remember, in Central America it is customary to place your toilet paper in the trash, so we frequently requested the trash emptied). Oh yes, and let's not forget the A/C unit that quickly cools down the room and is easy to use by remote. There is a lock box on the outside of your room where you can keep your room key, preventing you from having to keep track of your key while you adventure about. There is no TV.... You don't need it... But there is WiFi if you'd like to watch downloads or stream from Netflix, etc.

The amenities are lovely. The pool is so relaxing and pleasant. There are wooden swings with views of the pool and ocean. The yoga room is to die for as fsr as views. It is open any time so you can go and practice yourself or join a class. We passed several evenings on the private dock, swinging gently on the wooden swings, watching the fish jump. We borrowed the paddle boards and strolled through the shallow to mildly deep water that extends many yards from the property. You can snorkel here as well. We took advantage of the snorkel and dive tours given through the dive shop. The guides were enthusiatsic and reassuring for new snorkelers like us, to experienced divers that went out on the...