Caymans Best… Wine Bars

I won’t lie when I say that I am a fan of wine. Red, white, bubbly or orange I am willing to give them a try. You can get quality wines at hundreds of restaurants on island, but this list is dedicated to those who spots that place wine at the forefront. So if great wine is a priority and food comes at a close second, then this is a list for you.

Le Petit Wine Bar

As you approach West Bay you will find this quaint and cozy wine bar in the Jacques Scott Plaza. Caymanian owner Shalico Christian joined forces with talented sommelier Christian Esser to create this unique spot. They may be well known on island for being home of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) classes, where bartenders, sommeliers and even wine enthusiasts can learn and be certified at varying levels. You can also curate your own private event that can feature wine and spirit tastings, or you can even do a cocktail making class.

This petite bar may be home of the wine & spirit education, but it is so much more. Not only do they have enthusiastic staff, but they have an array of quality wines that they import on island. This sounds expensive, but you’ll be surprised to know that most glasses of wine are between CI$9-14! A curated menu by Chef Eliot Wilkie makes for the perfect pairing as well. I absolutely love their build-your-own meat & cheese board which is inexpensive per person (CI$14) but is made with such high-quality ingredients. Choose from 7 different items: nuts, meats, cheese, dip/jelly, olives, dried fruit & bread for your dream board. I will at least tell you to go for the jerk cranberry preserve as it brings a bit of the Caribbean flair into this European concept.

Tasting Room in Camana Bay

The Tasting Room has been located at Caribbean Plaza and has been a gem for wine enthusiasts. This original location is more of a wine store and event space for private dinners. They have expanded at the end of 2023 to Camana Bay (former West Indies Wine Co. location) and have created a wine store, bar and tapas restaurant. You can shop from over 400 curated wines to take home, or stay a while and choose to dine inside this decadent wine room or on their shaded outdoor couches. Don’t forget to browse their rotating tapas menu for a perfect pairing. I’m particularly fond of their complementary truffle popcorn and that they have a leg of serrano jamon to slice fresh.

Vines To Ocean (V2O)

Owners Cheryl Pokoradi and Pawan Negi have established their careers as sommeliers at some of Cayman’s best restaurants. Along with Elizabeth Flamini they have gone on to open V2O, a unique Seven Mile Beach wine bar. They import over 120+ wines from across the globe and have more than 25 wines by the glass available. Their space has both bar and table seating for up to 30 guests, making it quite intimate overall. They are known for hosting events regularly and these include 50% off wine bottles on Tuesdays, Sushi Saturdays where your sushi roll, sashimi or nigri comes with a glass of wine at CI$22 and lastly is their Wednes-date nights that pairs a a charcuterie board with a bottle of wine. I love that the menu includes European inspired charcuterie boards, but also has items like freshly shucked oysters, sushi and Cayman Style Beef Sliders.

Wine Bar at Grand Old House

If you’re looking for the next level of elegance and a piece of Caymanian history, Grand Old House is your spot. This former plantation house has been an established fine dining restaurant since 1969. You may know the main restaurant for their stunning seaside restaurant and bar, but if you head into the main building you’ll locate the Wine Bar. Some of my favourite features of this wine bar is that they offer flights, host weekly events that are fun or educational and they have a private wine room. Within the private wine room is the wine shop which has hundreds of bottles that are hand-picked and are available to drink in-house or to buy and take home. If you want to learn more about a region, varietal or style of wine, then you should consider either attending their wine events or rent it out privately to enjoy wine paired with small bites. Feel free to order food from the main Grand Old House menu or choose to order from their separate tapas menu instead.

Honourable Mention:

SWIRL at The Brasserie

Prepare to take your knowledge and taste buds to a whole new level when you attend a SWIRL at The Brasserie. Master Sommelier Simone Ragusa takes you on wine journeys across the world where each event focuses on a varietal, region or country. You will also be served with canapes while you enjoy plentiful glasses of wine. This is a monthly event that takes place on Thursdays from 5:30-7pm. Follow Brasserie’s social media pages to learn when the next one is coming up.