In the world of travel experiences, what tops your list of must-haves when visiting your favorite destinations? If “great food” is among those requirements that reign supreme, then you’re probably a foodie. And if you are, then we’ve got good news. With these Belize resorts, you don’t have to go very far to enjoy some memorable gastronomic delights. If you love top-tier on-site restaurants, unique dining experiences, or simply some good eats that you’re sure to remember long after your trip, be sure to put these five stays on your radar.
1. The Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza
Location: Belize City
Highlight: Weekly buffets, Sunday brunch, and an on-site cafe
Photo by Duarte Dellarole
The Belize Biltmore Plaza has everything one could ever need in a home away from home in the tropics. Think things like easy access to the International Airport and even an onsite spa and gym. Whether traveling for business or leisure, though, one of the main standouts for guests of the Biltmore is their weekly buffets and Sunday brunches.
Enjoy weekly themed buffets at the Biltmore. Photos courtesy of property.
With a theme that changes daily – from Italian to traditional Belizean – it’s a can’t-miss for food lovers in Belize. Beyond the buffets, the onsite Biltmore Bistro has an impressive menu, and the newly opened Biltmore Cafe is an added treat for coffee lovers with a sweet tooth.
2. San Ignacio Resort Hotel
Location: San Ignacio Town
Highlight: A Dining With the Birds experience
The quality of food at San Ignacio Resort Hotel’s onsite restaurant – Running W – speaks for itself. The Resort’s unique location, however, adds an extra unique touch when it comes to dining in the morning. Known as “the only jungle in town”, San Ignacio Resort Hotel sits flanked by lush green forest, making it one of the only stays right in town where guests can enjoy nature activities – including birdwatching.
Grab yourself a coffee or order a Belizean breakfast and train your binoculars on the forest canopy. Dining with the Birds at San Ignacio Resort is sure to be a treat! Spot beloved favorites like the keel-billed toucan and maybe even a pair of brightly colored parrots.
3. Turtle Inn
Location: Placencia Village
Highlight: Multiple onsite restaurants
Dining at Auntie Luba’s. Image via Aaron Colussi/Turtle Inn
It’s no secret that the Coppola Family puts a lot of thought into any of their undertakings. And that’s especially true for the Coppola Family Hideaways in Belize. Set on Belize’s southern coast, the idyllic Turtle Inn is a choice destination for any traveler seeking to unwind in a refreshingly unique setting. For foodies, the fact that Turtle Inn has no less than four dining options right on site is also a very compelling draw.
Photo Credit: Turtle Inn
Photo by Turtle Inn
Photo by Turtle Inn
Enjoy traditional Italian fare at the flagship restaurant, Mare. On Mondays, epicureans can also enjoy Dutch Indonesian cuisine in the form of the weekly Rijstaffel (rice table) dinner. Meanwhile, Auntie Luba’s Kitchen is rustic, homey, and offers a taste of Belizean cuisine. For pizza lovers, The Pizzeria sits right beside Turtle Inn’s organic garden (could ingredients get any fresher?) and Gauguin Grill, found mere feet from the sea, is perfect for fans of seafood. Rounding out the stellar lineup of onsite dining options are a wine cellar (“wine aquarium”), two bars, and a kids’ gelato bar.
4. The Lodge at Jaguar Reef
Location: Hopkins Village, resort area
Highlight: Innovative menus
Garifuna Chicken and Waffles at The Paddle House. Photo courtesy of restaurant.
With menu items like Garifuna Chicken & Waffles and Craboo Beef Tenderloin, it’s not hard to see why The Paddle House, found onsite at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, prides itself on its innovative cuisine. With Chef Rahim Melendez at the helm, this resort eatery combines traditional Belizean ingredients – local fruit, longaniza sausage, Mennonite cheese, the works – with a modern flair.
Similar: Engage Your Senses With These Cooking Classes and Culinary Experiences in Belize
Craboo Beef Tenderloin at served up by Edgar at the Paddle House. Photo by The Belize Collection
For breakfast, enjoy pork belly stuffed jacks, which put a delicious spin on Belize’s favorite breakfast item. Or, go vegan with a tofu and guacamole Johnny Cake. At lunchtime, dishes run the gamut from the traditional “Sunday Dinna” (rice and beans) to molasses-lemon grass smoked baby back ribs and Garifuna chicken and waffles (the waffles are made with fire-wood roasted sweet potato mixed in cassava flour).
5. Copal Tree Lodge
Location: Toledo District
Highlight: Hands-on foodie experiences
A champion for sustainable food production and agritourism, Muy’Ono Resorts’ Copal Tree Lodge, unsurprisingly, offers a myriad of experiences that are perfect for epicureans and food connoisseurs from all walks of life. After all, this luxury eco-lodge in the heart of Toledo’s jungles is also the site of a 3,000-acre sustainable farm. Here, guests get to enjoy everything from fishing expeditions (and having the chef cook their catch) to rum distillery tours.
Tap into the world of agritourism, with experiences like in-depth coffee cupping classes and bean-to-bar chocolate making. Or, try your hand at tortilla making. For the extra enthusiastic chocolate lovers, there’s even a chocolatier class that teaches how to make truffles and center-filled chocolates. And for those cocktail aficionados, the cocktail mixology class is sure to impress.
Featured: Lunch at the Biltmore Bistro. Photo by Caribbean Culture + Lifestyle
