For families, Turks & Caicos is a great vacation choice.   The destination is quick and easy to reach from major cities in North America, and it’s a safe place to visit.  Modern grocery stores, clean drinking water, state-of-the-art medical facilities and reliable communications services take some of the travel safety worries away for parents.

The Alexandra Resort is a great property for families. In addition to offering spacious and  comfortably appointed suites that include kitchen facilities, we have our Pelican Kids club, an awesome freeform swimming pool and the resort is situated in one of the best areas of Grace Bay - right on the beach and in close proximity to many restaurants and shops.

If your idea of a great family vacation includes escaping the routine and spending quality time together, you’ll be looking for family-friendly dining options.  Fortunately, you won’t have to look very hard here.  There are a number of great restaurants on Providenciales that are sure to make everyone in the family happy.  Here are some of our favorite places for value-oriented family dining experiences:

The Tiki Hut Island Eatery - Dockside at Turtle Cove Marina

This casual dining spot has a consistent track record for serving good quality food at reasonable  prices.  It offers a relaxed atmosphere that makes dining with families and/or larger groups a breeze - literally!  The Tiki Hut is located on the docks at Turtle Cove Marina. This open-air restaurant has been an island establishment since 1992.   They are famous for their Wednesday Chicken and Rib Night, which always delivers a lively atmosphere and delicious grilled specials in addition to their normal menu.   It’s open for lunch and dinner weekdays, and also for breakfast on the weekends.   Reservations are recommended for six or more.  Phone (649) 941-5341.

Baci Ristorante

Also located in Turtle Cove, Baci is an Italian restaurant that has been feeding locals and visitors for the past decade.   The place has a beautiful yet relaxed ambiance with an indoor dining room that spills out to an open-air terrace directly on the water.   The menu features fresh pastas, seafood, veal and brick-oven pizzas that can be enjoyed at the table or to go.    The long bar at the entrance usually serves as a meeting spot for locals who gather after work.  It is open Monday through Saturday nights and weekdays for lunch.   Reservations are recommended:  (649) 941-3044. 

Mango Reef

Our own Mango Reef Restaurant located at the Alexandra Resort on Grace Bay is always a great choice for families. With a wide variety of menu options and an extensive kids’ menu, the food here is always good and the setting is fun.  Kids love the beach terrace, which is a great spot to dine while the sun sets.   Plenty of outdoor seating on the beach terrace means you’ll always get a great table. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and live music is featured on Tuesday and Friday evenings.   Mango Reef also provides the lunch for children attending Pelican Kids’ Club at Mango Reef.  Guests staying at the Alexandra Resort can also enjoy the convenience of ordering room service from Mango Reef.  For reservations or carry-out service:  (649) 946-8200.

Hemingway’s

If you are looking for a bit more elegance but in a relaxed atmosphere with a menu that will please everyone in the family, you should go to Hemingway’s at The Sands Resort.   Some of the seating area is covered and the rest is on the beachside terrace.   It’s open from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.    The terrace has a JoJo Bell that people can ring when they catch a glimpse of the famous dolphin swimming by.   The great thing about this place is the menu has gourmet choices such as its juicy filet mignon or fresh grouper, as well as kid-friendly options such as chicken fingers and the brownie sundae for dessert.   For more information or reservations: (649) 941-8408.

Giggles

When the formalities of dinner are done or if you are just looking for a fun outing for you and the kids, you can head to Giggles in the Ports of Call shopping complex.  This little shop is a sweet delight - with soft-serve ice cream and an abundance of loose candy and other treats.    It is basically an ice cream shop and candy store rolled into one!  The phone is (649) 941-7370.

Be sure to call The Alexandra Resort for your next family vacation 1-800-284-0699!

It’s February, so romance is in the air.   If you’re fortunate enough to be spending Valentine’s Day in Turks and Caicos then you’ll have a wide range of romantic dining options to choose from.  Even if you’re not here during the special holiday for lovers – when you do visit, these spots are sure to bring out the romantic in you.

But, before we present some of our favorite romantic restaurants, we want to point out that in no way is this list exhaustive.  Almost all the restaurants you’ll find in Turks and Caicos have something special to offer - whether it’s a signature dish, a unique setting or a special cocktail.   This list is just a sampling of the spots we think provide a romantic setting and excellent cuisine. 

Anacona in the Grace Bay Resort is the only gourmet restaurant located on the beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.   It’s open-air setting, right on Grace Bay Beach, provides both a dramatic and romantic ambiance.  Sometimes there is live music and when there isn’t, the sounds of the ocean fill in.   The menu emphasizes fresh ingredients with a modern presentation. 

The restaurant at the Amanyara Resort also offers a gourmet experience in a spectacular and serene setting.  Although the journey to the restaurant can be an adventure and reservations in advance are required, once you arrive you’ll be instantly impressed.  The restaurant is spread out around the tranquility pool with stunning ocean views, creating a zen-like effect.  The menu is filled with fresh seafood and prime cuts of meat, all prepared with a Mediterranean-Asian-Fusion influence.  If peace and quiet are top on your list - this place is heaven.

At Beach House the chef’s surprise tasting menu will whisk you away into the world of Chef Eric Vernice who will prepare a 5-course ‘farm-to-table’ menu for you. The French contemporary menu has a distinct twist of Turks and Caicos and offers a wide variety of dishes for culinary lovers.

Coyaba Restaurant is an eclectic, sophisticated and award-winning gourmet restaurant located in the heart of Grace Bay, next to the Caribbean Paradise Inn.   An elegantly-appointed gazebo style tropical garden serves as the dining room, where guests peruse the daily-changing creative menu of Chef Paul Newman.   Paul’s dishes have a strong European influence but always with an inventive touch. 

Set within the largest palm grove on the island, Coco Bistro is a food lover’s fantasy in a one-of-a-kind setting.   Located in Grace Bay next to Sunshine Nursery and within walking distance from many resorts, Coco Bistro serves fresh local cuisine under a sea of stars and swaying coconut palms.  The restaurant has a reputation for consistently creating, fresh, flavorful Caribbean cuisine as well as delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Grace’s Cottage in the Point Grace Resort is probably one of the prettiest dining settings on Providenciales.   The restaurant has a relaxing charm with an inviting mahogany bar located in the Victorian-styled cottage and candlelit tables on the patio and terrace.   The food here is as delectable as the ambiance it is served in  - and the fact that they can only accommodate a total of 62 guests at a time ensures a level of intimacy as well.

Perhaps the most romantic place to dine is right on Grace Bay Beach itself.   The Mango Reef restaurant at the Alexandra Resort can arrange for a romantic barefoot dinner for you on the world’s best beach - it doesn’t get much more romantic than that!

Beach Dining at Mango Reef

Fresh seafood, exotic conch dishes and a little bit of spice are generally what people expect when they visit the Caribbean.   In Turks and Caicos we are fortunate to have many great restaurants that showcase the fresh, local ingredients -

especially at Mango Reef, the on-site restaurant located at the Alexandra Resort.   Mango Reef serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and offers a diverse menu, consistently good service and an outstanding beachfront setting. 

This is always a convenient and delicious choice.   However, if you stay in Turks & Caicos Islands for longer than a few days you may want to branch out and experience some different types of cuisine - beyond conch and island fare.  

We are fortunate to have a number of international dining options that offer intriguing flavors and interesting dining experiences.   When you’re ready to explore, consider these excellent, international options:

The Beach House (Cuisine: contemporary French; location: Lower Bight Road)

While you might expect a restaurant called the Beach House to serve burgers and fries, the cuisine here is far from ordinary.  This is one of the newest restaurants to open on Providenciales and its début has created a stir in the dining scene.  Already, it has climbed to one of the top spots on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Turks and Caicos.  The reason for all the fuss is the creative and sophisticated menu created by Chef Eric Vernice. With an emphasis on freshness and harmony among flavors, the dishes coming from Chef Eric’s kitchen are truly a culinary celebration.   

Yoshi’s Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant (Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi; Location: Salt Mills Plaza in Grace Bay)

This is more than a sushi restaurant - it is a gathering place.  With its black and red modern décor, the inside dining room of Yoshi’s Sushi buzzes at lunchtime and in the evenings.   The food here is fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.   In addition to having bento boxes where you can sample a bit of tempura, sushi, salad and soups, Yoshi’s menu also includes meals like salmon teriyaki or Japanese curry beef.

Garam Marsala (Cuisine: Indian;  Location: Regent Village)

Flavor is the name of the game here, in fact the menu describes the restaurant as “an aromatic affaire with Indian Cuisine.”   The restaurant is under new management but the recipes are old-school and feature authentic, traditional Indian dishes.  This is one of the few restaurants to offer air-conditioned indoor dining as well as an open air lounge and dining area, making it a good choice no matter the weather or season. While the Garam Marsala official website is under construction, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is popular with visitors and residents alike.  Recently, it has had a professionally-designed interior revamp that adds to the ambience.

Thai Orchid (Cuisine: Thai; Location: Regent Village)

Smooth coconut soup with shrimp, sweet and savory crab rangoons, and spicy Thai green chili - these are just some of the more than 60 different delectable dishes served from this small Thai restaurant located in the Regent Village in Grace Bay.   The restaurant is open seven days a week and even late nights with a small amount of indoor and outdoor seating.  The consistently busy take-out business is proof of the restaurant’s popularity.   Owned and run by a local resident who was born and raised in Bangkok, the food here is genuine and unique - just like him.   If you enjoy Thai cuisine - a visit to the Thai Orchid is not to be missed.   

Lemon Café (Cuisine: Moroccan;  Location: The Village at Grace Bay)

For a fun night out and some delicious Mediterranean dishes, head to Lemon Café in the Village at Grace Bay.   The hummus and homemade pitas are mouth-watering and the lantern-lit patio and dining room draped in rich fabrics make you feel like you’re in Morocco instead of Providenciales.   In addition to fresh, flavorful Mediterranean dishes that please both meat lovers and vegetarians, the restaurant hosts monthly parties that go on until late, and usually feature DJs, belly dancers and occasionally even fire spinning!

Picture this - you, a good book, miles of pristine powder-like sand and brilliant turquoise waters lapping lightly on the shoreline.  This is what awaits you when you stay at the Alexandra Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands.   

Located on world acclaimed Grace Bay Beach, the Alexandra Resort has a prime location on a stretch of coastline that has won many accolades for its natural beauty.

The Alexandra Resort’s location on Grace Bay Beach is one of its biggest assets and we take it seriously to make sure our guests get the full experience. 

First we start with our idyllic setting - 620 feet of sugar white sand framed by clear, sparkling waters.   Then we’ve added ample chaise lounge chairs and beach umbrellas so everyone can

easily find their own space to comfortably enjoy the surroundings.  Next we add a full-service restaurant - Mango Reef - serving gourmet food at affordable prices on the beach and/or on the expanded beach deck.    Almost every craving you can anticipate can be fulfilled without having to barely move a muscle.   Our beach attendants are ready to serve and ensure you are getting the full Grace Bay Experience.  Whether it is a cold bottle of water, a fresh towel or help arranging water sport activities, our staff is happy to help. 

For the more adventurous - we provide free beach toys and non motorized water sports equipment.   Maybe you want to spend the afternoon snorkeling face-down with the fish or skimming the surface aboard a hobie cat. Whatever your preferences are, we are here to meet and exceed them.   You can fill out our on-line Activities Planner before you arrive so we can have everything ready for you! http://www.alexandraresort.com/resort_experience/activities_planner.html.

Mango Reef is a proud sponsor of this year's Annual Dog Show held by The TCSPCA, the oldest and most established Animal Welfare Organization in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Alexandra Resort and Spa now offers dedicated beach attendants to assist guests with chaise lounges on the beach and accessing non motorized water sport equipment.  Over 100 new chaise lounges and 50 umbrellas were recently purchased to ensure there is always an adequate supply of sun beds on the beach.  

The resort is also pleased to announce that Mango Reef Restaurant now offers a food and beverage service on the beach.  Guests can enjoy cocktails and lunch at their chaise.