Nikki Beach Barbados luxurious oasis
Published:Thursday | May 2, 2019 | 12:00 AMLatara Boodie/Gleaner Writer
The latest addition to Barbados’ long list of attractions is the new Nikki Beach located at Port Ferdinand Retreat in Saint Peter. Nikki Beach is the freshest place in town that serves lunch and dinner by the sea, seven days per week. Be prepared to be transported into a luxurious oasis upon entry to this ultra-chic restaurant.
Its modern all-white interior, accented by earth tone furniture with scattered pops of yellow, gives a surreal Miami-chilli vibe. Its main dining area provides an amazing view of Barbados’ clear, azure sea as well as a large rectangular pool surrounded by plush, white lounge chairs. Think extra fancy Laguna Beach when getting ready to dine at Nikki’s.
A masterful blend of European Riviera sophistication with the laissez-aller Caribbean attitude means a meal at Nikki Beach Barbados is exclusive yet totally unpretentious. Do not expect boring gourmet from Nikki Beach, because its incorporation of local produce and spices will have your tastebuds doing the meringue. The food is not only beautiful to look at, but also incredibly tasty. Every dish is created with Barbadian flair, and the team is dedicated to using seasonal, local ingredients, organic where possible, to create farm-to-table dishes that support the Barbados community. The Nikki Beach culinary team work with local fishermen to offer the freshest Caribbean catches.
The Gleaner’s Food was able to sample numerous delicacies from Nikki Beach Barbados, and these are our must-try meals;
Appetiser
If you are a sushi person, then you will appreciate the flavourful Saint Barth salmon roll, made with fresh salmon, avocado, cucumber, chives, cream cheese, smoked salmon, and ikura. It is, hands down, in the top five best sushi experiences to have. The smoked salmon and avacado flatbread took us by surprise. It is made with house smoked salmon, avocado, herb cream cheese, red onion, arugula, caper berries, and cracked black pepper. Our final appetiser to indulge in is the marbella shrimp pil pil, made with sauteed shrimp, extra virgin olive oil, sliced garlic, cherry tomatoes, parsley, chili flakes, white wine and lemon juice.
Main Course:
Barbados’ national dish is ‘Cou Cou’ Flying fish. Nikki Beach embraced this traditional meal and turned it into a simply delicious light meal that any local would appreciate. Its ingredients include local fried flying fish, panko coating, grilled okra, cornmeal, red pepper sauce, yellow pepper sauce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. The savory rotisserie roasted pork ribs is finger-licking good, and we are not exaggerating about its saucy flavour. The pork is served with BBQ sauce, country-style cole slaw and roast potatoes. For those who want a light meal without all the calories, then the salmon and sweet potato fries is the perfect choice for you.
The must-try drink is the Nikki Beach mojito, which has incorporated the use of local Caribbean rum and is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. What we appreciate about Nikki Beach is that it is a franchise with 14 locations around the world, which tries its best to stick to its Miami roots while fusing with the culture of its host country.