Palmilla Restaurant

Top choice in Ambergris Caye


The classy, candlelit restaurant at Victoria House is the island's priciest, but also one of its best. Arrive before sunset to have a mojito on the veranda, then head into the white-tablecloth dining room to devour a cashew-crusted grouper or imported beef tenderloin. There's also a seasonal fish market, involving fresh seafood handpicked by the chef at the hotel's dock.

Dishes are enormous, flavorful and artfully presented. Vegan and vegetarian options abound, and the wine list slays. At lunchtime you might prefer Admiral Nelson's Beach Bar, the hotel's casual, open-air cafe on the beachfront.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ambergris Caye attractions

1. Cypress Garden

0.92 MILES

Due to chumming, this San Pedro dive site was once the spot to see nurse sharks and grouper. The feedings have stopped and the fish have moved elsewhere,…

2. Tuffy Canyons

1.29 MILES

About 1.6 miles south of San Pedro, this dive site is marked by deep grooves and a long, narrow tunnel. This high-walled passage leads to an opening at…

3. Hol Chan Canyons

1.85 MILES

Four miles south of San Pedro, this part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is famous for its dramatic canyons and ample sea life, including eagle rays,…

4. Hol Chan Marine Reserve

2.08 MILES

At the southern tip of Ambergris, the 6.5-sq-mile Hol Chan Marine Reserve is probably Belize's most oft-visited diving and snorkeling site. It offers…

5. Tackle Box Canyons

2.37 MILES

About a mile offshore from downtown San Pedro, this great site offers big, steep coral grooves. There are swim-throughs in many places along the drop-off…

6. House of Culture

2.4 MILES

Find out more about the fascinating culture found in San Pedro at this cultural center near the football field. Frequently changing displays celebrate…

7. Catholic Church

2.5 MILES

San Pedro's modern Catholic church has a central location on the waterside and is a local landmark.

8. Shark Ray Alley

2.57 MILES

Only snorkeling is allowed at this perennially popular spot, which is in a shallow part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Shark Ray Alley was traditionally…