If you are anything like me, a good day starts with coffee and ends with wine. These two drinks are staples in my home and are something that I enjoy on a regular basis. Vacation is most definitely no exception. Beyond my obsession for both drinks above, I expect my coffee and wine to be excellent (yes I am a snob that way haha). So I am here to tell you that you should not worry, both of these wonderful vices can be soothed on our island of Caye Caulker.
Where do we get good coffee?
I want to start by admitting one thing about my adopted home. Belize is not well known for great (in my opinion not even good) coffee. The reason is simple, to grow great coffee you need mountains and Belize is a little short on mountains.
For that reason, I prefer the places on the island that sell and serve coffee from Guatemala.
I would NOT recommend buying any coffee from a local grocer on the island. Most of the choices are not great and will not hit your sweet spot. However, there is a small coffee shop called Ice & Beans on Front Street.
This coffee shop is attached to the Remax building and by far the best on the island.
They offer french press, ice coffee and frappes. While you are there, I recommend one of their Rum Balls. Or, if you want something cooler later, grab some shaved ice! They also sell Guatemalan coffee by the pound, in case you need to take some back to your room for later.
If you are planning a long-term stay, you could always have coffee shipped to you. We have their coffee shipped to them from Placencia. It was a Guatemalan brand and was exactly what the Ice & Beans store used. The company that makes the coffee is Above Ground Coffee, and they ordered their house blend.
Are we ready for wine yet?
Now that you have had your coffee fix let's talk about wine. If you have done any research on the Carribean, you have probably read that wine is not a forte here. I am here to tell you that you are in luck! There are a couple of places on the island that you can get good (even great) wine.
The first place we are going to talk about is the Dreaded Grape. They are a wine bar towards Back Street and have fresh cheeses, olives, meats, spreads and other snacks to enjoy during your tasting.
This is a favorite in my family, especially if you want a pre-dinner snack and drink. They do not have a website, but you can find them on Facebook:
If you want an excellent meal with wine on the side, there is one restaurant on the island that far beats them all: II Pellicano Cucina Italiana. They are an Italian restaurant that opened on Back Street a couple of years ago, and have the best wine (and food)! Great food, excellent atmosphere, and fabulous service. Check out the beautiful ambiance at their website.
Looking for a nightcap?
Maybe you are interested in some late night music and drinks? Il Baretto is a small bar on Back Street towards the airport. Owned by Luciana (who also rents apartments), this is a great place for good conversation, snacks and wine with friends. Plus, Luciana has live music on a regular basis. There is no website for this place either, but here is some information on Facebook:
Let's wrap this up.
Now, if you are looking for good coffee on the island, there is a great option. Ice and Beans not only serves great coffee but has some good desserts if you have a sweet tooth. If you are staying long term, you can also have coffee delivered to you from Above Ground Coffee in Placencia. If you are looking for wine, there are even more options on the island. If you want an afternoon tasting, I will go to the Dreaded Grape for wine and great artisan cheeses and meats. For great Italian food and wine, I would hit up Il Pellicano on Back Street. There is great ambiance here and wine to boot. Lastly, there is wonderful wine at Il Baretto on Back street. It is owned by Luciana and she often has live music at her bar. Now you can rest easy knowing that you can still enjoy your love for coffee and wine on the island. Enjoy your stay in paradise!