Does a stunning view make cocktails taste better? Or do the drinks make the view just that much more amazing? Decide for yourself in USVI, where there’s no shortage of beach bars and hilltop watering holes with incredible panoramas. Soak up some of the islands’ best views — with a tropical cocktail in hand — from these scenic drinking spots.
ST. JOHN
The Windmill Bar shares a hilltop with the ruins of an 18th-century sugar plantation. Wander the old stone windmill dating back to the 1780s before grabbing a seat on the bar’s deck with spectacular views overlooking Hawksnest Bay.
Happy hour is the best time to visit, with live steel pan drums and reggae music in the late afternoon/early evening most days. And the sunsets here are a must see. Order a refreshing Windmill Breeze — rum or vodka mixed with orange, cranberry and mango juice. The bar food menu includes mac & cheese studded with shrimp, chicken or bacon and jalapeños. Your friends back home can catch you on the live webcam as you toast!
As you disembark from the ferry at Cruz Bay, you’re just steps away from High Tide Bar & Seafood Grill. Located on Cruz Bay Beach right next to the dock, you can be sipping pretty moments after your arrival.
This beachfront bar gives you a front-row seat to the action on the bay. Sit under the umbrellas on the shady deck and try their namesake High Tide, a mix of banana rum, Sprite and pineapple juice. Or cool off with a frozen Mango Tango blended with mango and dark rums, mango puree and a fruity strawberry swirl. Pair breakfast with a guava mimosa. Or stop by for dinner and try a signature seafood dish like the grilled tropical mahi-mahi topped with pineapple-mango salsa.
For a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience, visit floating taco shack Lime Out. This Coral Harbor destination is only accessible by boat. Take a shuttle or rent a dinghy so you can explore the waters of Coral Bay before you head to the bar.
When you arrive, sit at the lime-green swim-up bar or grab a “lily pad,” an oversized floating booth big enough for your whole crew. Cocktails are flavorful and creative, made with hand-squeezed juices. Try The Danger, a sweet-and-spicy concoction of Thai chili-infused blue agave tequila, fresh watermelon and lime juices, and pineapple simple syrup. If you’re hungry, the tacos are to die for. Try the surf-and-turf version stuffed with slow-braised short ribs and blackened shrimp, sprinkled with feta cheese. Lime Out is open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ST. CROIX
You’ll need to use the panorama mode on your phone’s camera to capture the vista from Rhythms at Rainbow Beach. Located on west St. Croix just a quick drive from Frederiksted Pier, there’s nothing but beautiful blue ocean as far as the eye can see — plus the occasional rainbow.
Grab a seat on the waterfront patio and browse the full menu of Caribbean cocktails, including the popular Lime in Da Coconut (lime juice, cream of coconut and rum). Or try the Rhythms’ take on the Cruzan Confusion, a blend of six flavored Cruzan Rums and three tropical juices. Ask for your drink in a personal-sized beach bucket! And be sure to order one of their renowned burgers or a jerk chicken taco.
Located on St. Croix’s North Shore, The Landing Beach Bar is the quintessential Caribbean beachfront destination. Their spacious covered deck is just across the road from Cane Bay Beach, with wide-open views of the palms and the vast expanse of water beyond.
You’ll find all the island favorite cocktails here, like Painkillers, Lime in Da Coconuts and Bushwhackers, plus beers from St. Thomas’ Leatherback Brewing Co. For something unique, try the Win Zinger. It’s made with local Mutiny Island ginger-and-lime vodka and house-made Bush Tea (brewed by owner Win), an aromatic blend of lemongrass, soursop, sorrel, ginger, basil and moringa. Snack on the popular fish and chips, made with Leatherback beer-battered mahi-mahi.
Take your pick of seating areas at Louie & Nacho’s Beach Bar, each with a fantastic view of the open sea and the Frederiksted Pier that’s just a 10-minute walk away. Float above the water on the open-air upstairs level, where the ocean blue pops against the pretty white interior. Or grab one of the hammock chairs at the downstairs bar and ramp up your relaxation.
Cool off with a refreshing Crush, a boozy cocktail made with crushed ice. They come in a wide range of flavors and liquors like the Blueberry Lemonade made with Smirnoff blueberry vodka; the Blue Caribbean Margarita blended with tequila, coconut rum and pineapple juice; and the Irie Punch, made with Cruzan black cherry and mango rums, lemonade and fruit punch. Shareables include hangover nachos (homemade potato chips topped with buffalo chicken, cheese and ranch dressing) or refuel with a breakfast taco, served all day.
ST. THOMAS
The posh St. Thomas Social puts a sophisticated spin on the island beach bar. Located at Yacht Haven Grande, you’ll get a front-row seat to the luxury mega-yachts of the rich and famous moored in the marina.
The cocktails at St. Thomas Social are elevated and refined, combining beloved island ingredients with unexpected twists. Try the Medjool Daiquiri made with top-shelf Bumbu rum, herbal amaro, date syrup and pineapple juice. Or sip the Social 75, a light concoction of soursop puree, Courvoisier, lemon and a bubbly prosecco float. Share tapas-style plates like the Mediterranean garlic hummus or grilled Portuguese octopus. Don’t miss the high-energy Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas and live DJs.
You’ll find the most dramatic view on St. Thomas at Paradise Point, a jaw-dropping overlook with a sweeping view of downtown Charlotte Amalie and St. Thomas Harbor. The best way to get there? The Skyride to Paradise Point, a scenic gondola ride that climbs 700 feet up into the hills.
Once you arrive, head to Taste at Paradise Point for a drink on the open-air deck. Taste is famous for its frozen Bailey’s Bushwhacker, a sweet blend of Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa, amaretto, vodka, rum, and coconut and cacao liqueurs. Sip slowly and take in the view — on clear days you can see all the way to St. Croix and Puerto Rico. Snack on Caribbean lobster fritters or the sweet fried plantains drizzled with honey.
On the eastern end of St. Thomas, Sapphire Beach Bar’s roomy open pavilion offers unobstructed views of the white sands and stunning turquoise waters of Saint John Bay. With direct ocean access, you can venture out onto the beach shaded by sea grape trees and peer across the water to see St. John in the distance.
Sip frozen cocktails like the Guava Freeze, made with Deep Eddy lemon vodka and guava puree. Or try the Sapphire Lemonade, named for its bright blue color. Enjoy casual bites like fish tacos or coconut shrimp as you listen to the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach. Come on Sunday afternoons for an energetic beach party with live local rock or reggae bands.
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