The south - The Rough Guide to Belize - page 197

fry-jacks are especially good at breakfast. Daily
7am-10pm.
★

Rumfish y Vino Main Rd, Placencia Village T 523
3293, W rumfishyvino.com. Swish rooftop “gastro-bar”,
opposite the sports field, where the inventive tapas menu
(Bz$12-30) is complemented by burgers and flatbreads for
more like Bz$25, full-sized mains such as fish stew or short-
rib lasagne for Bz$32 and an extensive drinks list. The
candlelit surroundings and atmospheric veranda are as
enjoyable as the food. Daily 2-10pm.
Secret Garden Main Rd, Placencia Village T 532 3420,
W secretgardenplacencia.com. Tucked, as the name
implies, into a hidden enclave across from the sports field,
this courtyard café/restaurant offers a peaceful respite
from the bustle of Placencia, serving great breakfasts and
anything from Thai curry (Bz$28) to jambalaya (Bz$32) or
grilled grouper (Bz$38). Thurs-Sat 7.30-11.30am &
5-9pm, Sun 7.30am-noon.
The Shak Sidewalk, Placencia Village T 622 1686,
W shakbeachcafe.com. Small restaurant, facing the pier
at the south end of the Sidewalk, serving fabulous fresh-
fruit juices (Bz$5) and smoothies (Bz$7), good all-day
breakfasts for BZ$12 and salads, sandwiches and curries for
BZ$15-20. 7am-6pm; closed Tues.

Gelateria Tutti Frutti Main Rd, Placencia Village
T 523 4055. Genuine Italian ice cream, made by genuine
Italians, and quite simply the best in Belize. It's available in
dozens of flavours and you should try at least one every day
you're in town. One scoop costs Bz$3.75, shakes start at
Bz$6. 9am-9pm; closed Wed.
Omar's Creole Grub Main Rd, Placencia Village. Long-
standing local favourite, recently moved to larger premises,
with seating on a large open-air deck. Omar being a
fisherman, the speciality here is ultra-fresh seafood, grilled or
served with Caribbean or coconut curry; shrimp dishes cost
Bz$22, whole lobsters are Bz$40. Lunchtime burritos and
burgers cost more like Bz$8-12. 8am-9pm; closed Sat.
Purple Space Monkey Main Rd, Placencia Village
T 523 3169. Smart bar/restaurant, with plenty of open-air
seating, across from the sports field. Good coffees and
American/Belizean-style breakfasts, and an extensive
menu of Bz$13 sandwiches and quesadillas, good-quality
Bz$25 pub favourites like fish'n'chips, curried shrimp and
jerk chicken, and Bz$32 pizzas. Daily 10.30am-10pm.

6

DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Although most of Placencia's restaurants also serve drinks, and many encourage diners to linger into the night, there are a few
places with live music and more of a bar atmosphere. Almost everywhere you can drink offers an early-evening happy hour.

Caribbean sounds, the peninsula's only true clubbing
experience, a couple of miles north of the village, attracts a
good mix of locals and visitors. Busy at weekends from
midnight. Thurs-Sun 9pm-2am.
Pickled Parrot Bar & Grill Pickled Parrot Cabañas,
Placencia Village T 606 7336. Friendly bar/restaurant,
set back from the main road under a big thatched roof, with
wonderful blended tropical drinks, pool tables and a pretty
decent food menu. Mon & Wed-Sun11am-midnight.
Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar Sidewalk, Placencia Village
T 523 3089. This lively beachfront bar and restaurant is
often packed and regularly hosts live reggae, soca and
punta music. Happy hour (daily 5-7pm) includes free
banana chips. Free wi-fi available. Mon 4pm-midnight,
Tues, Wed & Sun 11.30am-midnight, Thurs-Sat
11.30am-2am.

MAYA BEACH
Jaguar Lanes & Jungle Bar Maya Beach T 664 2583.
An unlikely sight in sleepy Maya Beach, this four-lane
bowling alley makes a fun early-evening rendezvous,
serving hot dogs and pizzas in the adjoining open-air bar.
Mon, Thurs & Fri 4-8pm, Wed, Sat & Sun 2-8pm.

PLACENCIA VILLAGE
Barefoot Bar Sidewalk, Placencia Village T 523 3515.
Old favourite in a brightly decorated and prominent
location. Very popular bar, right on the beach, with primary-
coloured tables and loungers and live music five nights per
week, plus great cocktails (happy hour 5-6pm), fire dancers
and surprisingly good bar food. Daily 11am-midnight.
D'Eclipse Nightclub Near the airstrip, north of
Placencia Village T 523 3288. With its predominantly

SHOPPING
SEINE BIGHT
Goss Chocolate Blue Crab Resort, just north of Seine
Bight T 523 3544, W gosschocolate.homestead.com.
This tiny little chocolate factory is Seine Bight's chief claim
to fame. Visitors can buy tru es, bars and boxes of superb
organic dark, white and milk chocolate. Mon-Fri
9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm.
Lola's Art Gallery Seine Bight T 601 1913,
W jcasadart.com. Lola Delgado's studio/showroom, just

behind the soccer field in Seine Bight, offers visitors the
chance to buy her superb (and affordable) oil and acrylic
paintings of village life. Specializing in beach scenes, flora
and fauna, and (faceless) portraits of the Garifuna, she also
does overnight commissions. Daily 7am-7pm.

PLACENCIA VILLAGE
Art'n'Soul Gallery Sidewalk, Placencia Village T 503
3088. This little beachfront gallery sells a fine assortment