Da'Vida in Crocus Bay
Beach club by day, candlelit seafood house by night ΓÇö Anguilla's most versatile stretch of sand.
Why Go
Tucked into the sheltered arc of Crocus Bay, Da'Vida is really two restaurants sharing one impossibly pretty cove: a barefoot Bayside Grill with your toes in the sand, and a soaring, open-air Main House perched just above the water where sunset dinners turn into long, unhurried nights.
The Experience
You arrive down the winding road from the Valley and the whole bay opens up in front of you ΓÇö calm, jade-green water framed by cliffs. Grab a lounger and a rum punch, order ribs and johnnycakes from the Bayside Grill, then swim it off between courses. Come back at dusk, climb the stairs to the Main House with its high-pitched ceilings open on three sides to the breeze, and settle in for Anguillian crayfish and a cowboy steak as the water goes pink. On Sunday afternoons the island's own Omari Banks turns the beach into a live-music party ΓÇö locals, boat crews and honeymooners all mixed together.
What to Try
At the Bayside Grill go straight for the barbecued ribs with homemade sauce, the jerk chicken with rice and peas, and a stack of johnnycakes to mop everything up. Upstairs at dinner, the Anguillian crayfish (grilled simply, split down the middle) is the move, along with the tamarind-glazed sea scallops, ahi tuna tartare and the cowboy steak if you're sharing. Save room for the warm brownie with vanilla ice cream. Wash it all down with a passion-fruit rum punch ΓÇö they pour a generous one.
Insider Tip
Come for a long lunch, not just a meal. Beach chairs, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear are available for a small fee ΓÇö paddle the ten minutes over to Little Bay (unreachable by road) for a swim in a hidden cove, then return ravenous for lunch. Sundays around 2ΓÇô5 pm are the sweet spot for Omari Banks' live set; arrive by 1 pm to lock in a beachfront table.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Crocus Bay, on Anguilla's northern coast, about a 5-minute drive down the hill from the Valley. Bayside Grill hours: daily 11 amΓÇô5 pm; the Main House opens for dinner in the evenings (reservations strongly recommended, especially in high season). Price range: Bayside Grill is moderate (casual lunch prices); the Main House is upscale ΓÇö expect resort-level dinner pricing. Getting there: taxi from most resorts is 10ΓÇô20 minutes; rental cars can park at the top of the bay. Bring: swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen, cash or card (both accepted).
Pair It With
- Little Bay — Paddle or kayak the short distance from Da'Vida's beach to this cliff-ringed cove ΓÇö one of Anguilla's prettiest snorkel spots and only reachable by water.
- Crocus Hill viewpoint — Just up the road above the bay, it's the highest point on Anguilla ΓÇö a quick photo stop on the way in or out for a bird's-eye view of the coastline you just ate on.
- Heritage Collection Museum — A five-minute drive inland in East End, it's a small, charming crash-course in Anguillian history that pairs nicely with a lazy Da'Vida lunch on a cultural half-day.
- Shoal Bay East — When you've had your fill of Crocus Bay's calm, drive 15 minutes east to the powder-white, two-mile stretch that regularly tops 'world's best beach' lists.