Sippin Gypsy Guest Post: 3 Best Beach Bars to Visit in 2018 by Laurel Of More Than a Destination

Cheers Sippin Gypsy Team Rum! This post comes to you while enjoying a Pina Colada from the recipe by friend Laurel of More Than A Destination that she shares below along with her suggestions for three of the best beach bars she's encountered in her travels!  Enjoy!

3 Best Beach Bars to Visit in 2018

The 3 Beach Bars that made our list this year include one of Thailand's lesser-known islands to visit, Barbados next big party spot, and a favorite of the isle of St. Kitts.

#1 - Bon Island, Thailand
When I image myself visiting an island, I see crystal clear water, soft sand, peaceful solitude and a Pina Colada in my hand. Bon Island (or Koh Bon) located south of Rawai Beach in Phuket meets all of my requirements. The only occupants of the island are visitors during the daytime and the owner Dawn and the staff of Bon Island Restaurant.

The locale is perfect for a day trip out to the island by a longtail boat for lunch. Most everything is negotiable in Thailand, and we hired a taxi to take us down to Rawai Beach to find a boat for hire. The hills and roads of Phuket remind me of Honduras, and the taxi driver was a little crazy on the turns and hills, but we made it to our destination, and all was well.

There are many boats near the pier, and you can negotiate a ride very smoothly. The transportation costs for the day broke down to be 1200 Baht for the round trip by longtail boat out to the island. You should arrange to pay after the return trip to ensure they come back to get you. The taxi was a little different, we negotiated 1400 round trip, but we paid for each leg of the journey. Before leaving for the island, I had messaged Dawn, the owner on Facebook to find out how much the average cost of a longtail boat out to the island would cost. I suggest doing this as we knew what price was fair when we arrived at Rawai Beach to find a ride.

The restaurant is charming with thatched roof structures and colorful sand chairs to relax in after your meal. The owner and her staff bring their supplies out to the island every morning by longtail boat and cook in an outdoor kitchen. The restaurant was clean; the food was excellent, the owner and her staff were fantastic and made you feel at home. We will visit again next time we are in Phuket.


The Piña Colada is a sweet cocktail made with 1 1⁄2 ounce light rum, 2 ounces coconut cream/milk, and 2 ounces pineapple juice. My favorite way to drink a Pina Colada is in a coconut shell, shaken with crushed ice.

#2 - The Boatyard, Barbados
Located in Bridgetown, Barbados this beach bar is a favorite spot for the crew members of the
cruise ships.

The Boatyard was a recommendation by one of the crew members on board the vessel that we were sailing on. It is a 20-minute walk from the cruise port, located in Carlisle Bay. The water here is the most beautiful color of blue I have ever seen.

We paid USD 25 for two beach chairs, two drinks, and the price included a taxi back to the cruise port. The owner and staff are both attentive and go out of their way to make sure everyone is having a great time. For lunch we ordered their Fried Flying Fish plate, it was delicious. As a result, we ordered the dish a second time and enjoyed it as much as the first time.

#3 - Reggae Beach Bar & Grill, St. Kitts
We found out about the Reggae Beach Bar after we arrived at the port in St. Kitts. There are tour operators stationed at the port that offers private or shared rides to the different locales on the island. We picked a shared van provided by an expat named Rosie to Cockleshell Beach.

While the ocean is warm and very inviting, the water here was not as blue and clear as Barbados. There are beach chairs available that are owned by the beach bar that you can use if you spend money at their establishment. Also, there are restrooms and a picnic table in the shade if you need to get out of the sun for awhile.

They launch boats with a tractor in the middle of the beach. Therefore this is something to watch out for if you are in the water!

If you are planning a trip to any of these islands, visiting one of these beach bars will ensure you have a fantastic day on a picture perfect beach with good food, cold beer, and all the amenities needed for a couple of beach bums!

Happy Travels!

Thank you Laurel for these suggestions!  And the Pina Colada was delish!  Check out more of Laurel's travel adventures at More Than a Destination.  Also check out her other social media platforms at:
Pinterest: More Than A Destination
Instagram: @morethanadestination
Facebook: @morethanadestination
Twitter: @mtadestination