Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve
Anguilla's legendary driftwood beach bar where reggae royalty meets Rendezvous Bay
Why Go
Built from shipwrecked racing hulls, driftwood, and pure island imagination, this ramshackle beach temple on Rendezvous Bay has been crowned the world's #1 beach bar by CNN ΓÇö and it's still the barefoot heart of Anguilla's music scene.
The Experience
Follow a sandy path off Rendezvous Bay Road and the Dune reveals itself in layers: weathered planks, hammocks strung between sea grape trees, driftwood carvings, and a stage where owner Bankie Banx ΓÇö the reggae legend known as the 'Anguillan Bob Dylan' ΓÇö still picks up his guitar when the mood strikes. Everything about the place feels handmade because it is: Bankie and his friend Bullet built it in 1994 from salvaged wood and pieces of wrecked sailboats, and it has been growing organically ever since. You'll sit at mismatched tables, dig your toes into powder-white sand, and watch the turquoise water of one of the Caribbean's most stunning bays slide toward St. Martin on the horizon. Afternoons drift by on rum punch and a soundtrack of reggae, calypso, and soca; sunsets bring live music that can pull in everyone from local fishermen to A-list vacationers. Every March, the Dune hosts Moonsplash ΓÇö the longest-running independent music festival in the Eastern Caribbean and one of the region's most beloved gatherings.
What to Try
Order the Dune Shine rum punch ΓÇö it's the house drink and the accepted currency of the afternoon. For food, the BBQ ribs are the sleeper hit, but grilled snapper, jerk chicken, and conch fritters are all solid, generous, and priced for a beach bar rather than a resort. Pair anything with a cold Heineken or a Ting-and-Cane Rum, and if there's live music on the stage, stay for it ΓÇö the acoustics of an open-air bar tucked into a dune are surprisingly wonderful.
Insider Tip
Sunday afternoons are when the Dune really turns on: expect live music, a mixed crowd of locals and in-the-know visitors, and a slow build from mellow to full-blown session by sunset. If you want a front-row spot for the band without giving up beach access, grab one of the small tables tucked just off the stage under the tree canopy ΓÇö they're overlooked because people gravitate to the sand, but they get the best sound and shade. And time a March visit around Moonsplash if you possibly can; tickets are inexpensive, the lineup punches above its weight, and Bankie almost always plays.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Rendezvous Bay, on the south coast of Anguilla, about a 15-minute drive from The Valley and 10 minutes from the ferry terminal at Blowing Point. Hours: generally open daily except Mondays, roughly noon until sunset, with later hours on live-music nights and during festivals ΓÇö call ahead in shoulder season as hours can shift. Price range: casual, beach-bar friendly; cocktails and mains are moderately priced by Anguilla standards. Payment: cash (USD or EC) is easiest; cards are usually accepted but service can be slow. Getting there: rental car or taxi is essential ΓÇö there's no public transport. Wear flip-flops, bring cash for the band's tip jar, and don't over-plan; the Dune runs on island time.
Pair It With
- Rendezvous Bay swim and stroll — The Dune sits on one of Anguilla's longest, most beautiful beaches ΓÇö arrive an hour early, walk the two-mile arc of white sand, and swim in the calm turquoise water before settling in for drinks.
- CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa — Just up the beach from the Dune, its polished restaurants and manicured grounds make a striking counterpoint to Bankie's driftwood aesthetic ΓÇö perfect if you want to bookend a rustic afternoon with an upscale dinner.
- Blanchards Beach Shack — On Meads Bay across the island, this beloved casual outpost of the famous Blanchards is the ideal lunch stop before an evening at the Dune ΓÇö lobster rolls, rum punch, and the same barefoot ethos.
- Moonsplash Music Festival (March) — If you're visiting in spring, the Dune's own festival is the ultimate pairing: three nights of reggae and Caribbean music on the same stage, hosted by Bankie himself.