Despite the island's small size, the tourist market has produced a staggering variety of places to eat . Although most of Barbados's restaurants have a vague international flavour, it's well worth sampling traditional Bajan cuisine.

Fresh seafood is the island's speciality: snapper, barracuda and dolphin fish, as well as fresh prawns and lobster. Most popular of all is the flying fish - virtually a Bajan national emblem.

Look out, too, for other traditional Bajan dishes: the national dish is cou-cou (a cornmeal and okra pudding) and saltfish, and you'll occasionally find the fabulous pudding and souse - steamed sweet potato served with cuts of pork pickled in onion, lime and hot peppers. Cohobblopot (also known as pepperpot) is a spicy meat and okra stew.

For snacks , you'll find cutters (bread rolls with a meat or cheese filling), coconut bread, and more substantial rotis (flat, unleavened bread wrapped around a filling of curried meat or vegetables); all are widely available.

Rum is the liquor of choice for many Bajans. Hundreds of tiny rum bars dot the island, which are an integral part of Bajan social life. On the coast, you'll find fewer places that cater specifically to drinkers but, all-inclusives apart, most hotels and restaurants will welcome you for a drink even if you're not staying or eating.

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