Though St Lucia's restaurant scene is dominated by small, reasonably priced eateries with few pretensions, there are a few upmarket restaurants offering haute cuisine, and you're unlikely to be disappointed by them. The stalls in the Castries Central Market are excellent value, as are many of the local restaurants in Soufrière; the majority of St Lucia's restaurants, though, are clustered around the tourist areas. For a truly local experience, don't miss one of the island's weekend fish fries - Anse La Raye on Friday nights and Dennery on Saturdays are the most rewarding.

Like most of St Lucia's shops and businesses, many of the island's smaller restaurants are closed on Sundays, and opening hours may change during the off-season, with some restaurants closing for up to a month at a time. It's best to also call ahead for reservations , particularly in the high season - if you do so, some restaurants will even transport you to and from your hotel at no extra cost.