Words by Natasha Were.
Sunsets and drinks go together like, well, rum and the Caribbean, making a late afternoon libation on the outdoor deck at the Lobster Pot a quintessential Cayman experience. The rum-based cocktails pay homage to local history and culture, from the potent Ivan the Terrible to the swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow. At the same time, the extensive wine list features almost as many countries as Cayman does nationalities. Day or night, the Lobster Pot has a beverage fit for the occasion, whether it’s Prosecco with brunch, local and imported beers at lunch, or sweet wines, dessert martinis or speciality coffees after dinner, all of which can be enjoyed out on the breezy deck or in the air-conditioned indoor bar. www.lobsterpot.ky
It’s not just the jazz vibes and the dimly lit interior with its cosy, comfortable couches or the breezy outdoor terrace that make Next Door an essential pit stop on a night out – it’s the fact that a drink here is something to feel good about. Not only are all their wines organic, biodynamic or otherwise sustainable, but their craft drinks menu champions native plants and herbs traditionally used in bush medicine – so a Cayman-inspired cocktail may be the cure for what ails you. Choose from original, signature cocktails, classics with a Next Door twist or a selection of new cocktails invented by mixologist friends, near and far. And, if a big day looms and a little self-restraint is in order, the non-alcoholic options deliver punchy flavour with no negative after-effects. www.nextdoor.ky
A long, cool drink at the water’s edge is hard to resist at the end of a hot, busy day, and Agua, perched on the harbour front at Camana Bay, is the perfect spot to indulge in an after-work or after-school-pick-up treat: kids can run around in a safe, traffic-free environment, plus customers with kids enjoy a discount on food, which happily coincides with the daily drinks a happy hour. The drinks list – more like a book than a menu – includes plenty of original, one-of-a-kind alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, which are given a unique twist with the subtle addition of flowers, fruits and teas. However, if the idea of a spirit moves you, you can also peruse a mind-boggling list of rums and whiskies, plus multiple gins, vodkas and tequilas. www.agua.ky
If an icy, aromatic gin and tonic is your idea of the ultimate weekend wind-down refreshment, head over to the Juniper Club at Anchor & Den. Enjoy free-flowing G&Ts from the bar cart, from 5 pm to 10 pm on select Saturdays, with a trio of nibbles to wash them down. This versatile, beachside venue takes its beverages seriously and has a team of innovative mixologists constantly pushing boundaries to deliver tantalising, experimental creations that are elevated by homemade ingredients: think infused liquors, local fruit purees, house-made syrups and freshly prepared jam. Drop in at Happy Hour for special rates on gin and tonics, beer and wine every day. www.anchorandden.com
