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Hey party people,
A bit back someone posted a list that they share with their newbies. I can't find it (my internet and my computer are both having issues so I'm limited on what I can do). If you have it or have the link to it, can you post it please and thank you!
Delta what kind of list? We talking pack list, what to do before you go list, where to eat list, what to do list - I have several mostly culled from this board.
All of the above!
If this girl calls me one more time asking me what to do how to do and when to do I'm going to scream!!! Usually I don't mind but today isn't the day.
Here are some that I copied from this board or the old one and saved. All credit goes to Marko for one and probably both.
Steve
Here's Marko's list. Lots of fun things to do.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN NEGRIL
Mayfield Falls
Kubaya for dinner and drinks
For Real and Boat Bar for 100J Red Stripes
Selinas on Sunday for Brunch
Ossies or Best of the West for Jerk
Sunrise for Italian or Pizza
JahB's for real home Jamaican cooking and renting Scooters
Rent scooters or a bike from Tykes on da West End Rd(Cliffs)
Vernon's for renting a car
Wild Thing for a sunset cruise and open bar
White Sands for 2 for 1 specials
Alfreds for breakfast
Bouborn for Jerk and live music on Monday Thurs and Sat nights
Alreds for live music Sun, Tues and Fri nights
Roots Bamboo on Wed nights
Charela Inn blues on Thursday nights
Jungle on Thursday nights for Ladies Night
Legends or SamSara Happy Hour 4 - 7PM
YellowBird Happy Hour 4 to sunset
Margaritaville popular all afternoon and good place to watch sports on a lot of TV's...
Cosmos for food
Kool Runnings Water Park
Shamrock Shop on da beach road for coldest Red Stripe Beer and fresh squeezed OJ
LTU for Chicken Lola or Red Snapper
Pushcart
SeaStar Inn on Sat nights for $12 buffet and entertainment
Common sense prevails.
Negotiate a price with a red plate taxi before you get in the car. If a driver waits for you at the supermarket, you’ll be paying for his time, unless you’ve negotiated that into the price beforehand.
When dealing with beach vendors, a polite No, thank you and a smile is better than saying that’ll you’ll see them on the way back; they’ll expect it.
Carry a pocket calculator and take the time to do the conversion. It’s very easy to get confused in a deal and pay more for something than you should have. Negotiate it down to a reasonable price and take the time to do the math.
Ganja is not legal. If you get too high, eat sugar and it’ll bring you back down. Taking a few tokes off a spliff is not the same as having a few bites of ganja cake. The same goes for mushrooms. That’s a day trip you’ll want to avoid.
Hydrate, sun block, hydrate, sun block, hydrate, sun block, hydrate. Repeat.
Braids hurt; you're better off spending that money on a nice massage.
Don't expect things on your time, especially dinner. Most food is cooked to order with fresh ingredients. Yard food tends to be ready to pick up ‘n go.
Watch for bones when eating fish. Give your extra chicken bones to the dogs.
Not everyone wants their photo taken. Ask first; many will say yes.
Assume nothing. Everything has a price.
Tip your servers and housekeeping well. They earn very little. Feel free to leave things behind for housekeeping that you don’t want to carry back.
Walking barefoot on soil may give you parasites. Be careful of broken glass in the sand.
Carry wipes to use after eating jerk chicken or for places out of toilet paper.
Don’t tell a Jamaican man where you’re staying unless you want him to stop by later to let you buy him a drink. (Always refer back to Rule #1.)
Change your money at The Cambio or bank. Restaurants are notorious for using a much lower rate. You’re better off paying in J’s (Jamaican dollars) to avoid this.
Be careful walking down/crossing the street. Cars drive fast, on the left, and are constantly passing one another. Pedestrians, animals, and bikes lose out.
Don’t fret over the afternoon rain. It’ll cool things off and be finished by sunset. This is a great time to nap, if you can sleep through the THUNDER.
If you smoke cigarettes, pay more for American. There are no regulations on Jamaican cigarettes and they should change the name Craven A to Cracken A. Don’t be surprised if you’re up all night after smoking them.
Restaurants operate by the whim of the owner and the only thing consistent is inconsistency. They may be open (but out of food), closed, no longer in business, or having a bad night. No problem.
No problem is said often, especially when there’s a problem.
Last, but not least, “Never leave a fellow crasher behind.” – Vince Vaughn
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“Yard Food”
The term yard in Jamaican patois means home, but for Jamaicans living abroad, it refers to Jamaica itself. A yardie is a Jamaican. Yard food is essentially Jamaican peasant food that is good, plentiful, and cheap! For $5.US or less, you can expect a delicious meal that will satiate you for many hours.
--Fatties (across from Travelers): Don’t let the crude simplicity of the board house scare you off. Eat in or get your food boxed up to go. The restaurant is named after the owner’s unflattering nickname. Feel free to ask for her.
--Cool Spot (across from Foote Prints): Not as conveniently located, but worth the long walk or quick taxi, this newer discovery of ours is a clean and professional establishment where you’ll get a lot for your money. My favorite a convenience store is next door.
--Sweet Spot (across from Trombone): sister restaurant to --Cool Spot, same great food/price, closer to Beach House Villas
--Norm’s Yard Food (located at Bar B Barn, on the beach): take-out food only
--Juicy J’s (Coral Seas Plaza, behind Scotia Bank): A bit weather-beaten, but still respectable – indoor/outdoor dining, mismatched chairs & tables, pinewood bar in the back, 957-4213
--Coconut International (next to Mom’s Place): picnic tables on the beach or open-air restaurant seating, traditional family-owned restaurant that is one of the older properties in Negril still in operation. Ask Miss Angie to tell you stories.
--Chicken Lavish (West End Road, across from Blue Water Ice Cream): a longtime favorite of many,
--Spring Park (across from Mariposa)
--The Royal Kitchen (West End, across from Paradise Cove): simple, Ital restaurant
Moderate/Expensive for Jamaica (cater to tourists)
--Hungry Lion (West End, across from Dream Scape Villas): The menu offers simple and well-presented vegetarian and seafood dishes. Dine upstairs in the newly renovated space with outdoor deck. You should call to make a reservation and check they are open, as they have been known to close down at certain times of the year. 957-4486.
--Sunrise Club (across from Gloria’s Sunset, beach road): Italian-owned hotel/restaurant/bar, pastas imported from Italy, brick oven pizza, linguine lobster, pink gnocchi in parmesan cream sauce, espresso and cappuccino
--Norma’s at Sea Splash (two doors down from Treehouse): Creative Jamaican food is served in a newly renovated beachfront restaurant. More formal than your average beach restaurant, Norma's provides a stylish dining experience in a romantic setting. For free pickup, call 957-4041.
--Bar B Barn (next to Mom’s Place, not to be confused with Angela’s): If you’re homesick for pancakes, eggs, homemade banana bread or if you would like to try finer Jamaican cuisine than the more common yard food and you don’t want to go far, then Bar B Barn is your best bet; you won’t be disappointed.
--Rainbow Arch (next to White Sands): Run by two sisters, Miss Joy and Miss Denise love to talk about their favorite show, “The Biggest Loser.”
--Selina’s Coffee Bar & Eatery (across from Yellow Bird): Big Roy and his Canadian wife, Selina, use fresh/healthy ingredients, freshly roasted Blue Mountain coffee to drink or buy by the pound, famous for their Sunday brunches with live entertainment and memorable banana pancakes, coffee, and Bloody Marys, less greasy Jamaican fare, and back-home favorites such as quesadillas, salads, etc.
--Jus Natural (West End, across from Xtabi): voted best natural food/vegetarian restaurant. This quiet spot is set in a lush garden.
--Rockhouse (West End, next to Pirate’s Cave): The Rockhouse Restaurant was designed to live in harmony with the natural environment. The thatched-roof, airy bar tiers down to an outdoor balcony suspended directly over Pristine Cove, where the service is attentive and respectful. While reggae plays in the background and the ocean laps against the rocks below, the unpretentious, relaxed environment is sure to lull you into a tropical mood. Signature dishes include Lobster Blaze, Crab Turnover and Blackened Mahi Mahi served with mango chutney. Meals are complimented by a solid international wine list, island- inspired cocktails and Jamaica's famous Blue Mountain coffee. 957-4373
**
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SWEETS/SNACKS/TEA
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Patties: similar to the Spanish empanada, they’re great for a quick snack ~ filled with beef, chicken, or vegetables in a filo pastry pocket and served hot
Coco Bread:an oversized, slightly sweet, buttery bun. It does not contain coconut, but it is called this because you split it open like a coconut.
If you’re looking for a heartier, more adventurous snack, you can have your patty served in the coco bread. The soft sweetness of the bread nicely offsets the spicy filling and the crisp crust of the patty. Whether together or alone, coco bread and patties are the quintessential yard food since their homemade, tasty, filling, and cheap! This is lunch for many Jamaicans.
--Juici Patties (Tait’s Plaza, next to Devon House Ice Cream): They sell veggie, chicken, or beef patties, callaloo bread, and buttery, carb-infested coco bread.
--Devon House (Tait’s Plaza): worth a trip at least once per day for ice cream and homemade cakes/pastries
--Fresh Fruit Lady (next to Beachcomber Club, on beach in front of Moon Dance Villas): Take your early morning power walk to Miss Marlene. She’s a lovely woman who will cut your fruit for you, squeeze oranges for juice upon request, and, best of all, won’t rip you off.
--Neville the Patty Man: If you see a petite, old gentleman with kind eyes and a sweet smile pushing his bicycle down the beach, hail him over! He’s a hard-working man that sells patties and coco bread up and down the beach, day after day, year after year. You will love Neville and his homemade goodies in small paper bags. (You may also want to purchase fish tea or ice cream from two other bicycle vendors.)
--Café Le Vendome at Charela (next to Idle Awhile): serves high tea from 3:30-5:30 PM, featuring: assorted teas and herbal infusions; coffees – espresso, cappuccino, Jamaican ---Blue Mountain; homemade ice cream, pastries, cakes, biscuits and fresh fruit sorbets; dainty sandwiches; and fruit juices, 957-4414
--Barry’s Bold as Love (hidden in a pocket between Mom’s Place, Gloria’s Sunset): It’s a short walk away and has a variety of goodies such as snacks, fried chicken, drinks, and yard food. This is very Jamaican establishment is open 24/7, but avoid it after dark since Jamaican men, rum, and gambling don’t mix well. It’s good for homemade snacks and take-out lunch.
**
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MENU GLOSSARY
MENU GLOSSARY
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Entrees, regardless of the meal, are served with rice ‘n peas or “cooked food.”
If you want to keep it light, ask for your meal to be served with just vegetables. Chances are you will get callaloo or cooked cabbage.
--Ackee and saltfish: The national breakfast dish is ackee and saltfish (cod). The ackee fruit is bright red. When ripe, it bursts open to reveal three large black seeds and bright yellow flesh.
--Bammy: fried bread made from cassava flour and served with fried fish
--Breadfruit: starchy, large, green fruit with a pebbly green skin and potato-like flesh, typically served like squash--baked, grilled, fried, boiled or roasted
--Callaloo: a spinach-like, green, leafy vegetable, but not as gritty
--Cooked food: boiled banana, fried plantain, yam, and dumpling
--Escovitch: Spanish for "pickled." It usually refers to fresh fish that is fried and then pickled in vinegar, spices, hot peppers and oil.
--Festival: fried dumpling similar to hush puppies
Fish tea: spicy soup (like a fish bouillon) – watch out for fish bones!
--Fritters: deep-fried breads that usually contain codfish or conch
--Gizzada: coconut tart
--Hard dough bread: brought to Jamaica by the Chinese, hard dough bread is very dense and served with jerk chicken
--Ital: food of the Rastafarians, a vegetarian cuisine that does not use salt
--Johnny cakes: fried or baked breads, oftentimes served with saltfish
--Mannish water: spicy soup sometimes called power water, made from goats’ heads (some cooks include tripe and feet as well), garlic, scallions, cho-cho, green bananas, Scotch bonnet peppers and spinners (dumplings). White rum is an optional ingredient.
--Pepperpot soup: This soup is indeed peppery, although the main ingredient is callaloo, which gives its green color. Along with callaloo, it includes pig tails or salt pork (sometimes salt beef), coconut milk, okra and plenty of spices.
--Pumpkin soup: Caribbean pumpkins are not large and sweet like their American counterparts, but small and a favorite soup ingredient.
--Red pea soup: made from kidney beans, salted pig tails, beef and vegetables
--Rice ‘n peas: This dish is sometimes called the Coat of Arms. It features rice and either peas or beans, cooked in coconut milk and spices
--Scotch bonnet peppers: a pepper that puts the jalapeno to shame
--Yam: not to be confused with the Southern Sweet yam or potato, similar to the potato, but nuttier in flavor, served boiled, mashed or baked
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JERK
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~ A category worthy of being all on its own!
Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica in which meats are dry-rubbed with a fiery spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. Jerk seasoning principally relies upon two items: allspice (Jamaican Pimento) and Scotch Bonnet peppers (among the hottest peppers on the Scoville scale). Other ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, which is mixed together to form a marinade which is rubbed onto pork, chicken, or fish. Jerk chicken, pork, or fish is said to be at its best when barbecued over aromatic wood charcoal or briquettes. Pimento (allspice) wood or berries placed over coals give Jerk its authentic flavor.
Jerking has evolved over time from pit fires to old oil barrel halves as the container of choice. In about the 1960s, Jamaican entrepreneurs sought to recreate the smoked pit flavor, and relatively quickly came up with a solution. The solution was to cut oil barrels lengthwise and attach hinges, drilling several ventilation holes for the smoke. These barrels are often heated by layers of charcoal, which some say lends itself to making the burnt smokey taste.
Street-side "jerk stands" are most frequently found on the side of the road. Jerked meat, usually chicken or pork, can be purchased along with Hard Dough or Jamaican fried dumpling served as a side. The starches in the breads lend themselves to counteracting the powerful pepper of the jerk. Recipes for Jamaican jerk spice vary, and it is often debated around jerk stands about which chef's secret recipe of spices and herbs makes the best Jerk seasoning.
Note: Your chicken will be served to go, in tinfoil, with very spicy extra sauce on the side and hard dough bread.
Our favorite Jerk Pits!
--Bourbon Beach (formerly known as DeBuss, two down from Bar B Barn): A rite of passage in Negril, Bourbon Beach’s jerk chicken is usually ready by late afternoon and open very late into the night since the rum and Red Stripes flow into the evening with live reggae shows three nights per week. It’s a short walk from Beach House Villas and you can easily get your food wrapped in tinfoil to go. You can purchase french fries separately. 957-4405
--Boston Jerk: side of the road barrel, across from Legends Hotel
--Best in the West (across from Coco La Palm): You can sit and eat there or get it to go. Mikey’s Grocery sells Juici patties next door and Jamaica Jane Gift Shop is a few more steps away.
--3 Dives (West End, next to Xtabi): picnic tables, known for lobster dinners/jerk and a long wait for your food, draws a sunset dinner crowd
--Smokey Joe’s: across from Kuyaba
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BARS
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--Errol’s Sunset Café (next to Negril Beach Club & Travelers): located nearby, take a front row seat to the sunset, serves food, be wary of the men, beachwear casual, open 24/7, ask for Lloyd
--Xtabi (West End, near Sam Sara): The name is as exotic as the quaint cottages and octagon-shaped bungalows perched atop rocky terraces overlooking a turquoise sea. Explore the underwater caves, swim in a tropical lagoon where swimsuits are optional, or sip a cool island drink while you watch a Negril sunset bursting in a display of Technicolor wonderment. Great restaurant! 957-0121
--Kuyaba (next to Legends): funky, upscale island atmosphere with Tahitian thatch roofs and decking on the beach -- the perfect venue for slugging back the house special cocktails or ordering food
--Travelers Swim-up Bar (next to Errol’s Sunset Bar): Why waste a moment of pool time while drinking at the bar? After a few cocktails, stop by the hotel lobby to see if their pianist is hard at work; you won’t want to miss him! (Moderately priced restaurant on property.)
--Whistling Bird (next to Fun Holiday): semi-rustic, private oasis with the best staff in Negril! Stop by for a nightcap, play dominoes, and instantly feel at home amidst the gardens, while reggae plays softly. There are few nicer ways to end the day than laughing with Miss Lily and Bim. The cook is, from what I’ve been told, “out of this world” and purported to have cooked for Saudi kings.
--Sea Splash (near Treehouse): If you don’t want to eat a more formal, romantic dinner here, it’s still a great choice for a cocktail.
--The Sands at The Caves (West End, just before lighthouse): this upscale Island Outpost, all-inclusive property recently opened its bar to the public. If you’re looking for a break from the beach scene and want to enjoy a few drinks before dinner, take a taxi up to the cliffs and enjoy the sunset from this gorgeous property.
--White Sands (next to Nirvana): casual beach bar, cheap drinks, 2 for 1 specials, best blender drinks anywhere and laid back atmosphere, great rooftop sunset viewing
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SHOPPING/INTERNET CAFES
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A good place to go for most of your needs is the Sunshine Plaza. According to some, it has Negril's best supermarket, Hi-Lo, the NCB Bank, a range of duty free and gift stores, news stand, and a small local craft plaza. Countryside Pharmacy, located on the waterside of the plaza, is the best pharmacy in Negril.
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FOOD
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--HiLo (Sunshine Plaza, West End): an overall wider, americanized selection and roomier grocery store experience. The best exchange rate.
--Value Master (Value Master Plaza): Some would argue that this store is better than HiLo. The two stores are owned by the same company, so the prices are comparable, but you may find a few interesting items in this store that make unique and cheap souvenirs. It’s more Jamaican.
--Mini Mart (next to Barbbarn & Miss Mary’s): a nearby convenience store for snacks, drinks, and small purchases
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GIFTS/ART/JEWELRY
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--Jamaica Jane Gift Shop (across from Idle Awhile): Sick of seeing the same crap, store after store, island after island? Here’s a shop for those with discriminating tastes and an artistic eye! Bring your credit card.
--Ja Ja Originals (at Coco La Palm): the only decent attempt at an art gallery in Negril: paintings, jewelry, sculptures, carvings. 957-4326
--Times Square (across from Legends): conveniently nearby, well air-conditioned stores, courtyard café in the very back, and serves its purpose in offering crafts, souvenirs, Cuban cigars, and duty-free items
--Lindsay’s Original T-shirts (on beach, next to Roots Bamboo): powerful, painted by hand, unlike anything you’ll see in a gift shop
--Alfonso: Call Whistling Bird at 957-4403 to make arrangements in advance to see Alfonso’s exceptionally unique jewelry, hassle-free!
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INTERNET
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--Café Taino (across from Errol’s): offers snacks, coffee, drinks, food, and Internet service
--Surf ‘n Talk (next to Merrils): high speed Internet and COLD AC
--Easy Rock Internet Café (Mary’s Bay, West End): a funkier Internet Café with “the coldest Red Stripe in Negril”
**
Walking, swimming or floating in the sea, daydreaming, sunset watching, resting, shopping, eating, partying, and reading under a palm tree should give you plenty of exercise, relaxation, and things to do during your brief stay, but for those of you that are looking for a little more…
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INVIGORATE/LUXURIATE/REJUVENATE
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--Swept Away Sports Complex (near Cool Spot Restaurant): tennis, golf, lap pool, squash, racquetball, basketball, fully equipped gym, ½ mile jogging track, steam room, sauna, massage, Jacuzzi. Call 957-4220 for the visitor rate.
--Negril Yoga Center (across from Coral Sea): “When you push open the gates of Negril Yoga Center, you will know you are home.” $15. per class, Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 9:30 AM – 10:30, call or stop by to check additional classes, restaurant, fresh juices, 957-4397
--Jackie’s on the Reef (a secluded coral reef, two miles past the oldest lighthouse in Jamaica): A holistic health spa that offers a peaceful and supportive environment in a spacious and serene setting, allowing one to escape from the real world while rejuvenating the mind, body, and spirit through yoga, meditation, massage, and fresh, healthy meals.957-4997
--Ultimate Spa & Salon (at Beachcomber Club): facials, hair salon, manicure/pedicure, massage, exfoliate, salt scrub, 957-4439
--Certified Massage & Physio Therapist: Oya Oezcan has 14 years experience in sports deep tissue and Swedish massage, reflexology (Hanne Marquardt), lymphatic drainage, orthopedic and neurological treatments. Her massage cottage is located at Catch a Falling Star on the West End, but call to see if she’ll come to your villa. 440-7071
--Whoopie’s Hammock Park (just past lighthouse, West End): This park is just what is says it is, plus a bar. Before you get dropped off to sway a few hours away, make sure you have a ride home lined up.
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EXCURSIONS/ACTIVITIES
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--The Royal Palm Reserve is an amazingly beautiful and tranquil natural swamp forest within the Negril Great Morass. Experience the bountiful and endemic flora and fauna, including a huge array of butterflies, dragonflies (or needle cases as they are known locally), and birds. Particularly abundant are the Morass Royal Palms, this being the largest stand of them in the world! Your guided tour through the reserve is on well-maintained, elevated boardwalks, including a 40' lookout, giving you a commanding view across the reserve and morass to the nearby mountains. $10.00, 9.00 am - 6.00 pm, 7 days, 957-3736
--Mayfield Falls: This beautiful waterfall cannot be done justice by words alone. “Falls Walking” is a must, a hike through the beautiful rain forest, scattered with crystal clear pools for sporadic swimming that takes you right to the very falls themselves. Complete with a bamboo bar and a restaurant right at the base of this beautiful attraction, don’t forget to bring your swim trunks!
--Appleton Rum Estate (2 hours from Negril) Wray and Nephew's rum estate at Appleton is located on thousands of acres of sugar cane fields. This is the oldest rum producer in the Caribbean (250 years!). The 30-minute tour takes you through the rum-making process from a historic and current perspective and finishes with sampling some of the product. $12 per person, 963-9215.
--Lighthouse: This beautiful landmark is located on the western end of Negril. Staring out to sea, the almost 70 feet of sculpted concrete holds this beacon of safety aloft, so as to be seen from even the darkest of nights at sea. Eat breakfast at Sips ‘n Bites (West End) on your way.
--Famous Vincent: snorkel trips on his glass bottom, $20. per person, 333-2809
--Rhodes Hall Plantation: a magnificent property covering over 550 lush acres, located just five miles from Negril, tour the Jamaican countryside on horseback while friendly and knowledgeable guides lead the way. 957-6334
--Half Moon Bay Beach: privately-owned property with restaurant and bar, a nice escape if you are looking for a less populated, clothing optional beach
--Benji’s Paradise: swim in “The Blue Hole,” natural mineral water
- The artist formerly known as Rizla
Sorry about the multiple posts. The file was too big to fit in one post. I copied this quite a while ago so some of these may have changed or are no longer valid.
http://www.negril.com/discus/message...tml?1237403172
Here is a link to a post from the old board I've found useful. I modify to meet my needs as it is a very extensive list.