Kingston Nightlife
Jamaican cooking is famed for being slightly spiced and containing plenty of fruit where possible. The country's national dish, ackee and salt fish is not spiced at all but must be tried at least once during a stay. Ackee is a local fruit which can resemble scrambled eggs, while the fish will be cod, cooked with tomatoes and onions.
Other popular cuisine includes a number of different variants of chicken, pork and fish such as jerk, fricassee or curry. Spicy patties are also a popular and handy item to enjoy on the go and come with many fillings, including chicken, lamb, lobster and shrimp.
The beers to drink are Red Stripe and Dragon Stout but many locals prefer the rum. One of the most popular varieties is Appleton, which is fairly inoffensive when compared with Wray & Nephew's white rum offering, which is positively lethal. Coffee lovers should try Blue Mountain, which is widely regarded as one of the top coffees in the world.
For a laid back bar in which to unwind try Peppers on Upper Waterloo Road, which has plenty of outdoor space and is one of the most popular spots in town.
If you fancy catching some live reggae, pick up a copy of the Gleaner, which has a huge range of listing, with Friday night normally the top night for live acts ? this is the home of Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley after all.
For the best in live jazz head to the Grog Shoppe on Hope Road, where the standard is always high throughout the week, apart from the Thursday night karaoke sessions.
One of the top clubs in town, frequented by locals and visitors alike, is Quad, which can be found on Trinidad Terrace, New Kingston. It has a bar on the ground floor that attracts local jazz musicians while the two top floors are given over to dancing, with one catering to fans of Jamaican dance music while the other is more mainstream.
Nearby, Asylum on Knutsford Boulevard is one for those looking to get a little more local flavour. This place is usually packed, mostly with locals, dancing away to the reggae beats throughout the night. A few calypso and hip-hop numbers also get in the mix.
Those after a good restaurant, serving local food at a cheap price, should try the Hot Pot on Altamont Terrace. Ackee with salt fish, sweet-and-sour fish and garlic chicken are this place's speciality and it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the finest examples of Jamaican home cooking in Kingston.
Fish lovers on a budget should try Heather's on New Kingston's Haining Road. It offers grilled, sweet-and-sour and Cajun-style fish as well as crab cakes and shrimp. Look out for the mango tree that extends through the roof and the singles bar that is attached to the restaurant.
Those on the go may should try the Chelsea Jerk Centre, which has a small seating area in which to take your cheap but hearty fare. The top deal is the enticingly named Chelsea Special, which includes jerk pork or chicken rice, peas and other vegetables.
|
Nightlife and eating & drinking
