Exploring Placencia’s Bar & Restaurant Scene

**Extended Version** I wrote this article for Caribbean Culture & Lifestyle but I wanted to post the long version here. Even in this expanded post I still can’t hit on ALL of the peninsula’s offerings but if you’re new to the area (or looking to expand your typical stomping grounds) then this is a good place to start.

With miles of sandy beaches, the Placencia Peninsula is bordered by the beautiful expanse of Caribbean Sea on one side and hectares of biodiverse lagoon on the other. It is a fun and funky community with a hodge podge of accommodations ranging from backpackers’ hostels to luxury private homes and high-end resorts. Visitors are presented with an array of land and sea tours within close proximity, making the Peninsula a sort of Goldilocks destination offering a bit of something for everyone. Placencia’s Bar & Restaurant Scene maintains that thread: something for everyone. Gourmet, seaside dining with soft lighting and a romantic ambiance to boisterous live music venues slinging high octane rum punch and good times. Plus, everything in between! Let’s explore just some of the scene the Peninsula presents to visitors and locals alike in terms of food and nightlife entertainment.

Great Food with a Side of Fun

where to stay in Belize all inclusive Sirenian Bay

Inky’s 19th Hole Restaurant & Bar

Inky’s is the primary restaurant at Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The beautiful open-air, thatch-roof eatery is open to the public and surrounded by lush landscaping and an 18-hole mini golf course. Next door they have tennis and p[pickleball courts. It is a favorite among families and the young-at-heart.

Jaguar Lanes in Maya Beach

Jaguar Lanes is the only bowling alley in Belize. If that isn’t enough reason to check it out then perhaps their acclaimed pizza, wings, and fajitas will lure you into the air-conditioned, 4-lane bowling alley and bar. Between beers and bites you can shoot pool, throw darts, or knock down pins. This place is a wonderful reprieve if you’ve had too much sun and sea.

The Pelican Pub & Grill at Green Parrot Resort

Green Parrot hosts Bingo every Thursday night at their breezy beachfront bar and grille, The Pelican Pub. The local Rotary Club runs the weekly bingo games as a fundraiser for community initiatives while the restaurant serves up excellent cocktails and great snacks, sandwiches and entrees. Even if you don’t hit the big jackpot, a night at the Pelican Pub is a win-win.

The Flying Pig

Almost any night of the week fun can be found at The Flying Pig. Trivia nights, Shuffleboard and Darts leagues, Karaoke contests and whatever else Patrick, the bar’s proprietor, can think of. While Patrick cooks up the ideas for entertainment, the Flying Pig’s kitchen cooks up super satisfying plates of tacos, nachos, burritos, and quesadillas.

Most Romantic Restaurants

beachfront sustainable dining experience Itz'ana Belize

Limilia or Nadu at Itz’ana Resort & Residences

The superior service, sensuous style, and luxurious design of Itz’ana Resort & Residences set the mood for first-rate and romantic culinary experiences. The menus are carefully curated to spotlight the flavors of the Caribbean with seafood-forward and sustainable selections. The stunning settings of the restaurants combined with the delectable cuisine will awaken and alight all of your senses. Read more

Muna Rooftop Restaurant and Bar

Sleek and sexy in appearance, cool and comfortable in practice. The rooftop restaurant at The Ellysian Hotel is the perfect pick for a special date night dinner. Arrive early for a 360 degree, birds eye view of the surrounding sea, village, and lagoon while you enjoy a drink and watch the sun set behind the distant Maya Mountain Range. Stay for the delectable diners in the elegant dining room high above the beach below.

Rumfish y Vino

In the heart of Placencia village, the longstanding Rumfish y Vino restaurant is a favorite among both visitors and locals. Classic comfort foods with a Belizean twist and international fusion fare grace the inventive gourmet menu. White tablecloths, lilting music and candlelight pair as perfectly with your meal as the extensive wine list or handcrafted cocktails.

The Little Wine Bar

Super cute, eclectic, comfortable, and intimate. Little Wine Bar offers air conditioned seating inside or open air, sunset views from the balcony. Wonderful selection of wines by the glass or bottle as well as beers and ciders. Small plates of local meats and cheeses for noshing. Perfect for date night, girls night, or game night!

Music and More!

Cha Chi’s

Part New York style pizzeria, part live music venue, Cha Chi’s is full fun for everyone. The open air, 2-story restaurant features highly glossed dark wood, professional sound and lighting systems, and a menu mixed with light bites and decadent indulgences. The resulting atmosphere is trendy but in a uniquely approachable Caribbean style. Numerous notable artists have graced the stage at Cha Chi’s in the past and this is definitely the venue leading the revolution in the local music scene. Merge your evening meal with a musical performance for a memorable dining experience. Read more

Buba Wuba’s Grill & Smoke Shack

Fresh and tasty ceviche, salad, sandwiches, and pizzas can always be found at this dockside bar that tops my list of Placencia watering holes to strike up a conversation at. Add to the casual and friendly atmosphere their weekly rotation of live music and events such as Chicken Sh!t Bingo and you have one heck of a fun establishment. Read more

Tipsy Tuna and Barefoot Beach Bar

Belize’s beach bars offer relaxation and refreshment in open-air establishments that meld with the surrounding sand and sea and palm trees. Placencia’s two most notorious beach bars just happen to be situated on the same stretch of sand, making popping back and forth between them as easy as can be. Find simple and tasty food served fast alongside a stiff drink at either Tipsy Tuna or Barefoot Beach Bar and enjoy the revolving line-ups of local DJs, musicians, Garifuna Drummers, and Karaoke.

Hobbs Brew Barge

It’s a craft beer brewery… on a barge…in Belize! Rock the boat with a flight of Hobbs’ own craft beers brewed onsite. In addition to their menu of gastropub fare, The Brew Barge offers entertainment in the form of live performances, karaoke, and sports fields customers can use. Some variety of Hobbs beer is available in cans at select locations across the country, but the Brew Barge is the only place you’ll find a full selection of their brews on draft.