I’ve made no secret of how much I love living on Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. (I’m a very lucky girl!) And an unmistakable benefit of living where I do, is having one of the Caribbean’s premier restaurants as my ‘local’.
CocoMaya, Virgin Gorda
It’s where I get my happy hour on, a quiet date night favourite and a great girls lunch spot! It’s where they show sporting events, throw lavish brunch buffets and host some of the hottest parties of the year. We’ve celebrated birthdays, attended weddings, New Year’s Eve celebrations, baby showers, fancy dress events and wine tasting dinners. I’ve dined among the boulders and danced the night away on the sand. In short, it plays a prominent part in my social life.
With resident DJ James Park playing every Friday and Saturday, CocoMaya perfectly captures that sunset laid back vibe, before picking up the party tunes after dinner. The food is an eclectic mix of delicious Latin Asian fusion dishes and the cocktails are pretty special too.
Start your evening down sitting up at the bar on the swings – try the happy hour champagne cocktail (changes daily) and enjoy the views as the sun starts to set. Not ready for dinner quite yet? Not a problem, take your drink round to the fire pit and relax a while first.
With a brand new menu for January 2021 which keeps some existing favourites, while adding new dishes to try – I couldn’t wait to get down there!
Dining at CocoMaya is a laidback and convivial affair. Tapas-style small dishes alongside larger sharing plates all lend themselves to a wonderfully relaxed experience, where you can try lots of different options. Food comes out of the kitchen as it is ready, so service is quick.
For our recent visit I tried the new Agedashi Tofu (lightly fried tofu in a dashi broth topped with bonito flakes), the Indo tacos (pulled beef in rendang curry) which were messy but packed a really nice bit of heat. While my husband opted for the new steak frites and crispy lemon chicken bites. We shared the yummy Korean pancakes (also a great vegetarian option). My long standing favourites include the gyoza and the duck tacos. Chef Mac’s Green Thai Curry also deserves a special mention.
Recently Chef Mac has been mixing it up with themed Sunday brunch specials – anything from Thai street food, to Chinese and even junk food with his own special twist. Follow their Facebook page for more information on current menus and events.
You might also enjoy reading: The Definitive BVI Restaurant Guide
Current CocoMaya hours are Tuesday and Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 1-10 pm and Sunday 12-10 pm. Be sure to book – you don’t want to miss out!
Disclaimer: Some of these photos – including those of groups of people were shot pre-Covid 19.
Let me know if you pay them a visit – you might even find me there enjoying a cocktail or two!
