Getting flavor of local culture at some best restaurants in Haiti

Haiti is fast emerging as a premier destination in the Caribbean to spend vacations. Wouldn’t it be a fine way to enjoy the flavor of its local culture by visiting some of the best restaurants in the capital city Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in the country? Whether it is beachside cafes, smart brasseries or restaurants, there are plenty of options for you to enjoy some of the best Caribbean cuisines available in this small, yet beautiful nation.

Here are some of the best restaurants that you should consider visiting when spending your vacations in Haiti. These include Hotel Oloffson, Papaye, Magdoos, Hôtel-Restaurant Cyvadier Plage, L’Oasis Restaurant, La Plantation, Brasserie Quartier Latin, La Kay, Fior di Latte and Lakou Lakay. A glimpse into some of these restaurants and eateries will enable us to acquaint with all their delectable cuisines being offered to the visitors.

Hotel Oloffson
The elaborately decorated 19th-century Hotel Oloffson is among the best examples of a ‘gingerbread mansion’ currently into existence in Haiti. The hotel is located in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The fictional Hotel Trianon, which prominently finds mention in Graham Greene’s ‘The Comedians’, draws its inspiration from Hotel Oloffson. This hotel even today continues to be a major stop for tourists because of its historical importance and great ambiance. Thursday nights are special here as you will be entertained with the boisterous performance of hotel owner Richard Morse-led ‘Vodou rock 'n' roots’ band.
 
Papaye
Papaye is regarded to be among the best restaurants in Port-au-Prince. It is immensely popular with the expat community here. The restaurant is acclaimed to offer international cuisines with the occasional Caribbean fusion. The popular dishes served here include Asian salad loaded with tuna tartare, ground roasted peanuts, fried plantain along with creme fraiche and crabmeat, and pizzas topped with caramelized onions and prosciutto. The menu at the restaurant varies round the year. Consider making frequent visits if you are looking forward to different kinds of cuisines at intervals. Above all, the bar looks quite elegant with its superb white interiors. An impressive list of excellent rum cocktails is also offered at Papaye.

Magdoos
The Magdoos is an upscale Lebanese restaurant situated in Port-au-Prince. The restaurant has a garden, a swanky dining room, and a covered patio with white drapes and hung Middle Eastern lanterns. The traditional Lebanese cuisines such as garlicky babaganoush, hummus, mezze, salads and kebabs are among the major highlights of dinner menu. The bar here offers cold beer, varied types of cocktails, wine and rum. The restaurant also regularly offers Shisha as well. You can also look forward to events such as wine tastings and Arabian magic shows which are occasionally organized here. Local DJs will also be there to entertain you with their powerful musical performances.

Hôtel-Restaurant Cyvadier Plage
The popular Hôtel-Restaurant Cyvadier Plage is situated in Jacmel, an important destination in Haiti. This former coffee town is notable for its colonial architectures, handicrafts, and of course, the fascinating, raucous carnival celebrations in Haiti. The hotel is undoubtedly the best eating option in the area, particularly for those looking for some really good seafood. Among the major highlights on the menu here include grilled red snapper and lobster. If seafood or meat based dishes are not among your favorites, then you can surely order for vegetarian food as well. The vegetarian dishes you can relish include squash soup, basil bruschetta and avocado. The coconut palm trees dotting the restaurant’s terrace provides spectacular views.

L’Oasis Restaurant
The L’Oasis Restaurant is situated in Jérémie. The city of Jérémie, also nicknamed as the ‘City of Poets’, has been a birthplace of some of the most famous literary personalities of Haiti such as Emile Roumer and Etzer Vilaire. Though the city is relatively less famous for its cuisines, but nevertheless, L’Oasis is among the best creole restaurant here. The restaurant is quite popular for its seafood dishes and attracts a large number of visitors daily. The food available here is affordable and served in generous quantity. The meals are usually accompanied by fried green plantain, rice and salad. Lambi Creole, the amazing Haitian classic, is among its major highlights and absolutely worth trying out. Live musical performances in the evenings occasionally held at the restaurant keep the visitors entertained.
 
La Plantation
The La Plantation is situated in Petion-Ville and is amongst the best spots in Port-au-Prince for French cuisine. The restaurant is quite popular with the expatriates and the tourists visiting the city. Among the delicious cuisines served here include warm goat’s cheese salads and rack of lamb, fish soup, snails, and steak tartare. French wines are among the major highlights on its extensive wine list.