The Best Bermuda Food To Try On Your Next Cruise

Nestled in the Northern Atlantic about 600 miles southeast of North Carolina lies one of the oldest remaining bastions of British colonial rule: Charming and picturesque Bermuda. You'll be lured by the crystalline waters, breathtaking blush-pink sandy beaches and Bermuda recipes that evoke its colonial past.Despite driving on the left-hand side and belting out "God Save the Queen" at official functions, this group of islands is self-governing (they're officially a British Overseas Territory). With it being said that you are never more than a mile from the beach when visiting the Bermuda islands, it is no wonder the archipelago’s most famous dishes are seafood-focused. Let’s find out which Bermuda food makes for unforgettable culinary experiences when cruising the North Atlantic Ocean.

Key Takeaways

● Bermuda food is a vibrant fusion of British, Caribbean, Portuguese and African influences, featuring fresh seafood, tropical ingredients and bold island spices shaped by the island’s maritime and multicultural heritage.

● Bermuda fish chowder, a national dish, is traditionally served with a side of crusty bread and is considered a must-try for visitors seeking authentic Bermudian cuisine.

● Bermuda’s island cuisine blends British influences like steak and shepherd’s pie with Caribbean flavors, featuring dishes such as Hoppin’ John — a comforting black-eyed peas and rice meal often enhanced with Portuguese-style chorizo.

● Beyond traditional Bermuda cuisine (fish chowder), enjoy other classics like spiny lobster, cassava pie and rum cake, complemented by signature drinks such as Dark ‘n Stormies and rum swizzles.

What Is Bermuda Food?

The best food in Bermuda is a flavorful fusion of British, Caribbean, Portuguese and African culinary influences, shaped by the island’s maritime heritage and colonial history. Traditional Bermudian cuisine often highlights fresh local seafood, hearty Bermuda fish stew dishes, tropical fruits and signature island spices.

This type of cuisine reflects the island’s multicultural identity and reliance on the sea for sustenance. You’ll find dishes that are both comforting and colorful, often served with a side of island hospitality.

British Influences In Island Cuisine

If you'd like to take a break from the pescatarian side of the menu, you have the British to thank for the ample steak and shepherd's pie options on the island. There's a Caribbean aspect to many local dishes, and you’ll find jerk meats fairly easily across many Bermuda islands.

For a traditional side dish, visitors should opt for the Hoppin' John, a dish of British origin. It features black-eyed peas and rice, flavored with thyme, onions and often chorizo/chourico sausage for some Portuguese flair.

This dish is found at any establishment serving traditional comfort food. You can cook up this spicy dish at home, boiling black-eyed peas with thyme and then adding them to bacon, onion, garlic and chorizo as well as some rice. Some recipes get really creative, like Bermuda meat cake, so you’ll have plenty of inspiration for your own culinary twists back home.

Bermuda Foods To Try When You Cruise The Northern Atlantic

1. Cod and Vegetable Dishes: Cooked Bermuda Style

In visiting Bermuda, an island paradise surrounded by water, it may come as little surprise that fish (including tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi, rockfish and lobster) play a major role in the Bermudian diet. Thanks to its varied colonial past, cuisine in Bermuda is influenced by a unique blend of Caribbean, British, West African and Portuguese cooking styles.

Take, for instance, cod and potatoes, a Sunday morning breakfast staple that tips its hat to classic Portuguese flavors. Featuring steamed salt cod and boiled potatoes, the locals add a Caribbean twist via the addition of sliced bananas, avocado and onions. Onions are so ingrained into the core of Bermudian life that the islands were known as the Onion Patch, thanks to the early success of sweet Bermudian onions in markets around the world.

If you're looking for a prime venue to indulge in this iconic breakfast, look no further than Paraquet Cafe near Elbow Beach, a restaurant that garnered the "Best of Bermuda" award for a cod and vegetable dish. Once you're fully satiated, you can walk it off on one of the many hiking trails on the island, squeeze in a few holes of golf or soak in a few rays on the splendid beaches.

Once home, you can give your tastebuds a reminder of your great vacation by cooking up the very same recipe, soaking the boneless salted cod overnight and then boiling it with potatoes. Finish by adding some fried onions and stewed tomatoes.

2. Bermudian Fish Chowder: A Special Kind of Gumbo

If you had to ask “what food is Bermuda known for”, Bermuda fish chowder would be a resounding frontrunner. When visiting this region, this dish is part of your mandatory eating experience in Bermuda. The Bermudian fish chowder is a kind of gumbo made with a variety of fish, potatoes, tomatoes, sherry peppers and Black Seal Rum for some added oomph.

Sherry peppers are themselves an interesting British Bermudian specialty and harken back to the days of sailor's rations in the 17th century. Peppers would be added to casks of rum, and the resulting "seasoning" would help mask the less savory flavors of the food. Happily, today, sherry peppers are flavor enhancers, and the Outerbridge brand has been the market leader for almost 60 years.

You can experience the chowder all over the island; the Lobster Pot And Boat House bar in the island capital of Hamilton is a particular favorite for many visitors.

3. Fried Fish Sandwich: Not Your Average Sub

When looking for something a little more casual, you might want to munch on the beach as you watch the waves roll in. Let us introduce you to the fried fish sandwich, a Bermudian classic and a sandwich like no other. Yes, it features fillets of battered and golden-fried fish (mahi mahi, wahoo or snapper, for example) as well as tartar sauce.

Where this Bermudian sandwich version comes into its own is that it's piled high with lettuce or coleslaw, tartar sauce, onions and tomatoes, sitting between two slices of raisin bread. There are a number of delicious versions across the island. Ask any local within an hour's drive of Hamilton; they'll send you to the out-of-the-way Art Mel's Spicy Dicy, to which devoted fans frequently make a pilgrimage.

4. Bermudian Rum Cake: Something Sweet and Exciting

If you're looking for a great dessert to finish your meal, there's no shortage of options. From anything and everything to do with locally grown bananas (like fritters and ice cream) to the syllabub, a creamy, layered British dessert hailing from five centuries ago, a sweet ending is never far away.

For those looking for the ultimate classic, the champion would have to be the Bermudian rum cake. It's spongy and boozily moist, thanks to a healthy soaking of local rum. Its origins are a bit murky, and it's thought to have evolved from sailors dunking their biscuits into cups of rum in order to soften them (and add some flavor).

Rum cake shops abound, and the Bermuda Rum Cake Company Ltd is a popular stop. A number of flavors are available, including swizzle (zesty apricot, cherry, lemon and pineapple), chocolate and traditional. They're made to take home, if you can hold off eating them till you get there. When suddenly hit by a craving once you're away from the island, you'll be happy to know that they ship their cakes across the globe.

5. Bermuda Rum Cocktails: Quench Your Thirst

While an evening snifter or cocktail calls, let Gosling's Black Seal Rum be the perfect answer. The Gosling story began over 200 years ago when the son of an English wine merchant set sail for America and had to pull into the closest port (Bermuda) when their charter ran out. It took them almost half a century to master their particular blend, and ever since, the Gosling product has been a central theme in Bermudian food, from the fish chowder bowl to the cocktail glass.

The range of rum and rum products has expanded, and even includes a ready-to-drink Dark ‘n Stormy, a longtime island favorite. Its deliciousness lies in its simplicity — you just mix Gosling's with ginger beer at about a 1:2 ratio and squeeze in some lime juice. Pack some extra Dark ‘n Stormy so that when you get home, you can sip it as you sit back and think of Bermudian breezes.

Once back from your cruise, you can recapture the spirit of the island's flavors with just a handful of ingredients and a little sense of adventure. Try one of these favorite Bermuda foods on your own, well after your island cruise travels, for a bit of that lasting vacation magic!

Other Notable Mentions And Culinary Highlights For Foodies

Some Bermuda food and drink recommendations may fall into a slightly off-the-cuff category for foodies who like to go beyond the most popular or obvious choices. So, if you want to experience Bermuda’s cuisine more experimentally, pay extra careful attention to these unmissables.

6. Seafood Delights

Seafood lovers cruising to Bermuda can’t miss the island’s iconic fish chowder, spiced with black rum and sherry pepper sauce. Try pan-fried rockfish, grilled wahoo or buttery spiny lobster when in season. Conch fritters and fish sandwiches on raisin bread also deliver a bold, authentic island flavor with every bite.

7. Seasonal Offerings

When cruising to Bermuda, savor seasonal specialties like spiny lobster from September to March, a local delicacy served grilled or in creamy dishes. Summer (May to October) brings sweet loquats, fresh pawpaws and juicy Bermudian tomatoes. Don’t miss festive hot cross buns or cassava pie during the Christmas holiday season — true island treats.

8. Sauces That Pair Well

Travelers craving bold Bermuda flavors should try the island’s signature sauces. Start with sherry pepper sauce, a fiery favorite that adds kick to chowder. Pair fish with creamy rum butter sauce or spicy banana ketchup. Don’t skip the tangy honey-mustard or rich mayonnaise-based tartar, perfect complements to seafood and island fare.

9. Farms, Markets and Unique Restaurants

Cruisers looking to dive deeper into Bermuda’s food scene should explore its vibrant farms, markets and local eateries. Visit Wadson’s Home Farm Market for fresh, organic island produce, or explore the Farmer’s Market in Bermuda Botanical Gardens on Saturdays for homemade jams, baked goods and seasonal fruits.

For unique dining, try Art Mel's Spicy Dicy for the best fish sandwich in Bermuda, or enjoy upscale island cuisine at Barracuda Grill in Hamilton. Don’t miss dining by the sea at Wahoo’s Bistro & Patio in St. George’s. These spots offer an authentic taste of Bermuda, blending local flavors with unforgettable island charm.

Quick Bermuda Food Notes

● Traditional Bermuda food: In Bermuda, fish chowder, cod with potatoes, rum cake, cassava pie, pan-fried rockfish, conch stew, spiny lobster and Bermuda banana bread are all considered traditional food classics.

● National dish of Bermuda: Bermuda fish chowder is this region’s national dish. It’s a hearty, savory soup made with locally caught white fish (often rockfish), onions, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and island spices.

● Must-try Bermuda foods and drinks: When in Bermuda, try a codfish breakfast, raisin bread, loquats and Gombey pepper jam. To drink, you’ll love Dark ‘n Stormies, rum swizzles, Barritt's ginger beer, loquat liquor and Gosling’s Black Seal Rum.

Cruise And Enjoy The Culinary Stylings Of Bermuda

From spiny lobster and fish chowder to rum swizzles and loquat liqueur, Bermuda offers a rich tapestry of flavors that reflect its island heritage. As you cruise the North Atlantic, make time to savor these local delights at seaside shacks, markets and charming bistros. Bermuda offers cruisers a rich taste of island heritage to enjoy at various destinations across the British Overseas Territory.

For those wanting to indulge in a fish sandwich on raisin bread or sipping a Dark ‘n Stormy under the stars, Bermuda’s cuisine adds unforgettable taste to your journey. For easy access to this culinary paradise, consider one of our cruises out of New York for a flavorful adventure just beyond the horizon.