The Finest In Luxury Anguilla Restaurants

 
 

Since our first Anguilla dining experiences in 2002, we have seen many luxury Anguilla restaurants come and go. We have also developed our list of personal five-star favorites...

What makes a high-end restaurant succeed? A combination of an excellent and unique experience and of course, superb food.

And on those scores, this Anguilla luxury restaurant is an important addition to the island.

It is the most impressive five-star restaurant we have experienced. As we shall see, it's actually much more than just a restaurant...

Welcome to da'Vida

Da'Vida is an Anguillian Experience

To put da'Vida into context, imagine the most upscale restaurant in St. Barts (ex. Nikki Beach)...

... a lofty, open-air, wooden building, with charm and class, plush cushions and fine fixtures. Instead of being on a crowded beach in St. Barts, you are on the soothing, secluded Crocus Bay in Anguilla.

No beach on St. Barts comes close to competing with this natural beauty...

da'Vida's Crocus Bay Beach

Da'Vida is the only structure on the whole stretch of sand. The restaurant is Anguillian owned, built on family land. It was once leased to the English pub, Roy's Place but today, the Lloyds (from Lloyd's Guest House) have realized their dreams.

The late David and Vida Lloyd started Anguilla's first hotel, the Guest House, in 1959. Fifty years later, their son and daughter, David and Vida opened da'Vida (David-Vida). Their passion and purpose have turned this into one of the most exquisite restaurants Anguilla has to offer, set, picture-perfect on one of the most serene bays.

da'Vida From Above

Construction began in 2008 and moved quickly! I remember docking on the shores of Crocus Bay during a sail, wondering what this building would become. It wasn't built to be a hotel. It seemed too large for a restaurant. Maybe a villa?

Now we know that this 17 000 square foot structure is more than a restaurant. It is a place that allows us to enjoy Crocus Bay from a beach chair in the late morning, float and swim in Crocus' calm waters in the afternoon, and enjoy lunch, tapas or dinner come sunset.

Click here to read more about da'Vida's tasty tapas that are getting high Anguilla restaurants ratings.

Dinner Menu

We first tried da'Vida for dinner.

Our very best friends from Montreal were visiting us for the first time in our new home. They were only in town for a few days, but it was a special trip and we wanted it to come to a close on a spectacular note!

Make A Reservation at da'Vida

From the moment our car made its way down the steep, picturesque road to Crocus Bay, we were mightily impressed. We were greeted by a luxurious entrance and valet parking.

Chimes hung from da'Vida's strong, wooden, beams, tingling in the tropical trades, the smell of rich wood faintly lingered and soothing music came from inside. Da'Vida's kind valet driver, Stewart, greeted us warmly and invited us in. He even snapped a photo...

da'Vida's Dining Room

In the picture we are standing in front of an impressive stone water wall. Water trickles down each stone, into the pond below.

There was a light murmur of voices under the live music, something was roasting, too. And, there was a magical orange glow, casting shimmers and sparkles on the furniture inside...

We followed our senses, along the stone water fall wall, making our way to the hostess. This was certainly a luxury Anguilla restaurant, so far, without any pretentious undertones, and only the warmest hospitality!

When you enter the restaurant's dining area, you will discover a massive, yet intimate space, open to the outside, Crocus' waves gently lap. There are two areas: on the left is da'Vida's bar and lounge space, on the right is the dining room.

The Kitchen

Da'Vida had specially arranged our table that night. Our kind and vibrant waiter set up space for six against the water (something they do not normally do!). We sat cozy in our comfortable chairs, at our large white cloth tables and scanned the menu.

Seaside Dining

I wish I had room in my stomach that night to try both an appetizer and an entrée, but the snapper with Basmati rice would console me! :-)

Appetizers include: Ahi tuna tartar, lobster spring rolls, crab cakes and a wonton soup.

Entrées include: Pan seared snapper, grouper, Katouche crayfish tails, charbroiled angus beef tenderlion and truffle mushroom risotto.

Order placed, we sipped on our drinks and munched on warm breads straight from the oven. Crocus' calm waters lapped at the shore, a gentle breeze floated through the cool building... this would be a memorable evening.

In good time, appetizers were served. Our friends loved the crab cake, and my Dad wouldn't even give me a little bite of his lobster spring roll. Hmmph!

THE Lobster Spring Roll

This is THE best lobster spring roll in Anguilla. Large chunks of lobster are wrapped up in crispy spring roll skin. It is all served in a basil cream sauce. Simply, the best.

Soon enough our waiter was bringing out the entrées. Everyone tried something different...

Oriental Snapper with Basmati Rice

This is one of the most visually impressive dishes we have seen yet. Snapper is seared to perfection in a soya jus. It is served atop Basmati rice and a mushroom and leek ragout.

Last but not least? A steak that goes down as one of the very best, island-wide...

Charbroiled Angus Beef with Crushed Potatoes

"The best steak on the island," my Dad proclaimed! Steak is cooked to your liking and served in a teriyaki beef jus. The dish comes with crushed new potatoes, carrots and asparagus.

No one had any complaints, only cries of joy. My Dad's friend Bob has owned high end restaurants. He is not easy to please. Even he fell in love with da'Vida, noting that the food is outstanding, the experience to die for.

The night came to an end over coffee, lava cake and warm apple tart.

My Dad looks like Popeye in that picture, but he is thoroughly enjoying his dessert!

The lava cake was equally successful!

It was a magnificent meal, and a very special end to a very special trip! We couldn't have wished for a happier ending.

Lava Cake

It is perhaps one of the most high-value fine dining experiences in Anguilla. It is worth every penny.

Da'Vida serves dinner from 6:00-9:30.

Dinner Alternative: Tasty Tapas

A tasty alternative to dinner?

da'Vida serves a full tapas menu from 5:00-9:00.

My Mom and Dad were the first to try da'Vida tapas menu. They sampled the spring rolls, cod fritters and chicken satay. They both said this is a wonderful way to eat reasonably inexpensively, enjoying the sunset and the surroundings if you're not in the mood for a full dinner.

We have returned for da'Vida's tasty tapas several times.

da'Vida Tapas

They have expanded their menu, and now offer several excellent Caribbean-Asian fusion mini-dishes.

From the delightfully delicious tapas, to the cool drinks, to the jazz music coming through the speakers, to the luxurious-relaxing atmosphere... the da'Vida tapas experience is not to be missed!

More on da'Vida's tasty tapas.

Lunch at da'Vida's Bayside Grill

Dining at da'Vida doesn't end at tapas and dinner!

Just next-door to their luxurious and lofty main restaurant lies da'Vida's Bayside Grill.

The Bayside Grill's specialty?

Delivering a five-star, luxurious beach day at a very reasonable cost.

da'Vida's Bayside Grill has perfected the recipe to provide the ultimate beach day.

First, you just can't beat their sandy beach front location.

You can even eat on picnic tables, right on the beach, toes in the sand!

da'Vida Bayside Grill

Second, their lunch menu is the tastiest, prepared with the freshest ingredients.

They offer a variety of beach classics, including salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and large entrees including BBQ chicken, ribs, grilled fish, steak and crayfish or lobster.

Yuki's favorite?

The Grilled Chicken Wrap

Finishing off the last sips of your rum punch is best enjoyed sea-side, from one of da'Vida's comfy beach chairs, their wide umbrellas shielding you from the strong, warm Caribbean sun.

da'Vida Crocus Bay

The beach also has a pristine dock that is fun to sun on and jump off of!

If a lazy beach day isn't for you, if you prefer a more active day at the beach, da'Vida has you covered. Renting a sea kayak, and paddling to quiet and protected nearby Little Bay is a fun voyage. Don't forget to bring a water bottle! We forgot to bring one, and Dad was parched by the time we arrived back at da'Vida.

da'Vida's Bayside Grill is a special spot, our favorite place for a luxurious, yet laid back beach day. It really can't be beat. Sundays are especially nice at da'Vida, with live music...

For more on da'Vida's Bayside Grill, click here.

With such beautiful facilities, it is no surprise that da'Vida has been booked for several weddings and various affairs. An Anguilla wedding here, in da'Vida's tranquil luxury setting, must be pure magic.

Da'Vida is an Anguilla favorite, so be sure to make reservations for dinner.

Da'Vida is truly the finest luxury Anguilla restaurant. We have never returned to a five-star restaurant three times in the space of a couple of weeks, but excellence is the exception!

In this case, that is da'Vida.

Do not miss this luxury Anguilla restaurant on your next visit.

Directions, Hours & Contact

da'Vida's Hours: Wednesday-Saturday

• Tapas & Dinner: 6:00-9:00 pm

da'Vida's Phone Number: 1-264-498-5433

Directions: Da'Vida is located on Crocus Bay, just 2 minutes from The Valley.