Pelican's Beach Bar: Anguilla's Barefoot Fisherman's Table
A chalkboard menu, a wooden wharf, and whatever the boats brought in this morning.
Why Go
Skip the resort dining rooms ΓÇö this white-washed shack on Island Harbour's sand is where locals disappear for entire afternoons, watching fishing boats bob toward Scilly Cay while Patrick or Brian pour rum punch that costs less than your airport coffee.
The Experience
There's no host stand, no printed menu, and no rush. You walk up off the beach, glance at the chalkboard nailed to the wall, and someone tells you what the boats landed at dawn. Seating is picnic tables under umbrellas inside an open-sided wooden pavilion, with the Caribbean lapping ten steps away and a working fishing wharf as your backdrop. The crowd is a genuine mix ΓÇö Anguillian fishermen on lunch break, a handful of clued-in tourists, and repeat visitors who plan whole days around a long lunch here. Come sunset the harbor turns pink and gold, and nobody's checking the time.
What to Try
Whatever's chalked up as the catch — mahi mahi, red snapper, jacks, or old wife, pan-fried with sautéed onions and sweet peppers, served with johnny cakes or potato salad. Pair it with the rum punch (the price alone will make you laugh) or a cold Carib. If seafood isn't your thing, the burgers hold their own, and on lucky afternoons there's BBQ chicken and ribs coming off the grill.
Insider Tip
Don't come on a Thursday ΓÇö they're closed. And don't come in a hurry: 'Caribbean-style hours' means the kitchen moves at the pace of the sea, so order a rum punch first, then think about food. If you want the freshest fish, arrive by 12:30 before the lunch regulars work through the day's catch.
The Practical Stuff
Located on the sand at Island Harbour, next to the fishing wharf on Anguilla's northeast coast, about a 20-minute drive from The Valley. Open daily except Thursday, roughly 10am until after dinner. Cash is king ΓÇö bring EC or USD. Barefoot and swimsuit-friendly; no reservations, no dress code, no fuss. Phone ahead at +1 264-772-1904 if you're coming with a group.
Pair It With
- Scilly Cay Guide — The tiny island you'll see bobbing offshore from your picnic table ΓÇö hop the free skiff ride for lobster and rum punch on an even smaller sandbar.
- Shoal Bay East — After lunch, drive 10 minutes west to one of the Caribbean's most photographed beaches for a swim and an afternoon of powder-white sand.
- Island Harbour Fishing Village stroll — Walk the wharf before or after your meal to see the colorful wooden boats and catch the working rhythm of Anguilla's oldest fishing community.