Ten Foot Square Caribbean

Anytime you go on a trip, one of your main interests is the availability and the quality of food. Bermuda offers a wide range of the best cuisines that you can find all over the world. From native Bermudian to French to Italian, you will certainly find a restaurant that will cater to your preferences. If you are the adventurous type when it comes to eating, you can even find restaurants that offer fusion cuisine. Indeed, one thing you can be sure of when you go to Bermuda is that you will never go hungry. Here are some of the top restaurants in this wonderful place.

Ascot’s
Acknowledged by people from different countries as one of the best in Bermuda, Ascot’s is housed in an old 19th century home. The ambience is perfect for a romantic evening or a dinner party. Dine in elegance as you lounge on Queen Anne chairs and take in the view of their lush gardens. Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean and Continental cuisine as you are waited on by hospitable and experienced staff. The food takes advantage of the abundant seafood available in Bermuda. They also have daily offerings for vegetarians. Desert should not be missed, with their rich variety of seasonal fruits. It is recommended that you call in for reservations. Dress code is smart casual to semi-formal. Ascot’s serves lunch from noon to 2:30 pm from Monday to Friday and dinner from Monday to Saturday from 6:30 pm to 10 pm.

Black Horse Tavern
Have a taste of native Bermudian food at this cozy restaurant on St. David’s Island. Quite popular with the local crowd, Black Horse Tavern offers dining either within a glassed-in porch or out on the deck, where you can be closer to the beach. The specialty is seafood, which is normally abundant in Bermuda. They do have excellent steaks and burgers as well, if that’s what you prefer. If you drop by this place, do try their famous Bermuda Triangle – a mixture of pineapple juice, black rum, orange juice, and Bermuda gold liqueur. This is the perfect place for good food and casual atmosphere. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 1 am and Sunday 12 noon to 1 am.

Chopsticks
Feeling the craving for Chinese food? Then Chopsticks is the place to go in Bermuda. They have the traditional Peking duck (order 24 hours in advance) and even offer green Thai curry. Enjoy the rich Chinese flavors infused in the freshest seafood available. Dress code is smart casual. Open from Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 2:30 pm and daily from 5 pm to 11 pm.

Little Venice
The best Italian restaurant in town, Little Venice has also been cited by the New York Times as the best place to eat in Bermuda. You can eat inside the restaurant or dine out on the terrazzo to enjoy the cool breeze. Have a taste of authentic Italian food together with a glass of only the best wine. Dress code is smart casual. They are quite strict about this so dress properly when you come to visit!

No matter how much of a paradise a place is, there are always some things that you must avoid. As the saying goes, for every good thing there is always a bad side. Bermuda is quite lucky in this respect as there aren’t too many things that a traveler should worry about. At least when compared to other popular tourist destinations, that is. However, there are still some things that you should look out for. Awareness is the key to prevention. Keep these tips in mind and you will probably have a hassle free stay in this wonderful place.

Riptides
The water may look very inviting yet underneath some places there are deadly currents. Be especially careful at Horseshoe Bay where riptides are quite common. Though there are lifeguards on duty, it is better to avoid swimming in the ocean alone.

Petty crime.
Though Bermuda has a relatively low crime rate, petty crime does exist, so you shouldn’t drop your guard. Common sense and street awareness will keep you safe. Do not bring around large amounts of cash with you and do not flash around expensive stuff if not necessary. The peak season attracts the most snatchers. Also, try not to walk around Court Street at night alone. This is a great place to hang out but is also known for incidences of crime.

Driving carelessly
Though this is a general thing for most any place you visit, you may want to pay special attention when driving around on Bermudian roads. For one thing, if you are from the US or any other country where people drive on the right side of the road, you will have to make adjustments when you drive in Bermuda as they drive on the left side.

Though you won’t be able to find cars for rent to drive on your own, scooters or mopeds abound. If you are not used to driving these things around, then all the more should you take care. If you haven’t driven one in 10 years, best just avoid renting one and take the bus or taxis. More than this, vehicles in Bermuda seem to take their winding roads in stride. They do really drive fast!

Another thing, bear in mind the other tourist zipping around on their mopeds. They probably feel as carefree and indestructible as you do, which is the perfect recipe for disaster. Drive defensively if you have to drive at all.

Under this category of things to avoid would be drinking and then driving. After a night out in town you may think that it is perfectly normal to get back on your moped and drive back to the hotel. However, rules about drinking and driving are quite lax in Bermuda. Do not take the chance – just get a cab.

Jellyfish.
They are not all that common in Bermudian waters but if you do spot one or hear of one, then best get out of the water immediately! The notorious Portuguese Man of War delivers a nasty sting that can ruin you entire stay!

After a whole day of nature tripping, what better way to end the night with some entertainment? Though Bermuda is more well known for its beaches and other nature-related activities, it does not lack for entertainment. In fact, it boasts of night spots that can rival that of the bigger cities around the world.

Splash Nightclub and Wine Bar
This bar has been dubbed as Bermuda’s answer to the clubs of London, New York, and Rome. With a European theme, Splash offers patrons two full bars, a wine bar, and a martini bar. You can choose to merely lounge around and enjoy a relaxing evening with friends or you can dance to the excellent music and lights until 3 in the morning. If you come in after 9:30 pm, you would have to pay a cover charge. However, if you dine at Portofino, which is next door, you have complimentary entrances passes to Splash.

Mediterraneo Restaurant
Located in Church Street, this restaurant is one of the finest places to go for a night filled with entertainment. Different nights offer different fares. On Monday nights, treat yourself to a wide variety of martini mixes during their Martini Madness night from 8 pm to 1am. Enjoy the wild concoctions that expert bartenders mix up. On Fridays and Saturdays, enjoy your dinner while listening to live jazz music from 10 pm to 1 am.

The White Horse
Are you up for a night full of dancing and socializing? Then pay The White Horse a visit after a day spent outside. With state of the art lighting and sounds, you will feel as if you were in a nightclub in the world’s hippest cities. The best of Bermuda’s DJs will entertain you with a whole range of music from different parts of the world.

Café Cairo
Get a taste of Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon in this cozy café in Front Street. Feel like a nomad as you sit within a dining room patterned after Bedouin tents. Enjoy the exotic taste of their cuisine as you lounge on cushions and watch performers such as belly dancers dancing to the enthralling music of that region. You can also try their Sheesha pipe of fruit tobacco and Turkish coffee for a more authentic experience.

Cinemas
Not everyone is into nightclubs and all that for sure. If you are one of them, then do not fret. There are cinemas which you can visit for a night of movies. You don’t even have to sit through re-runs of old movies as Bermuda’s movie theaters show the latest movies from Hollywood as well!

Hotels
The different hotels in Bermuda have their own brand of entertainment offerings nightly. You simply have to find your way to the nearest show that suits your tastes. You can ask your own hotel to see if they have their own events for the night. Alternatively, ask them if they know of other entertainment events being held in nearby hotels or resorts. Whether it be a night of live music or dancing, there will surely be something to meet your needs.

Going on a vacation involves a lot of planning and research, more so when you are going to another country. Bermuda is a premiere tourist destination so it is not very difficult to plan a trip there. However, it is always better to know certain requirements and customs rather than be taken by surprise.

Bermuda Visa and Immigration Laws
No matter from which country you originate, you would need a return or exit ticket in order to be allowed to enter Bermuda. The only way you can enter the country with a one-way ticket is if you have obtained prior permission from the Department of Immigration.

Starting January of 2007, all persons traveling from the US to Bermuda are required to have a passport, regardless of their nationality. Otherwise, they will be denied entry to Bermuda.

Residents of the US, Canada, the UK, and Hong Kong are not required to have a visa to enter Bermuda. To see the complete list of countries which require visas for entry, visit their Immigration website.

Customs
You are allowed to bring in a liter of wine and a liter of spirits, both duty free. Furthermore, you are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, 0.5 grams of tobacco, and 50 cigars duty free as well. You are also allowed to bring in 20 pounds of meat, which is convenient if you are staying in a place wherein you can prepare your own food.

Dangers
Bermuda is relatively free of petty and violent crime. Snatchers and thieves are very rare in this part of the world. One thing you may want to be careful with is if you rent a bike as some youths sometimes take them off for joyrides. Most rentals are equipped with locks, however.

As for natural dangers, there are more of these in the ocean. Be careful of riptides, jellyfish (Portugese Man of War), and sharks. It is best to inquire from your hotel or local guide as to these matters.

Health
Expert medical attention is available widely in Bermuda. However, it does not come at a cheap price. As such, it would be wise to have a comprehensive medical insurance policy to cover you in case of an emergency. No special inoculations are required for entry.

Money
The Bermudan dollar is the official currency. However, as this is pegged to the US dollar on a one is to one basis, you can also use US dollars in Bermuda. This is quite convenient as you can basically exchange the dollar anywhere in the world. As for ATMs, there is a vast network of machines all throughout the place.

Time
Located in the Atlantic Time Zone, Bermuda is 4 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time and an hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time.

Bermuda Tourist Information
Upon arrival in Bermuda, you may want to pay their Visitors Service Bureau a visit for all your information needs. They have offices at the airport, Front Street in Hamilton, King’s Square at St. George, and the Royal Naval Dockyard.

It is always a good thing to know something about the culture of the country of your destination. Whether you are staying for a few weeks or a few days, knowing a little bit of the local customs and traditions will go a long way when it comes to dealing with the locals. More than potentially helping you out on your vacation, knowing more about other people’s culture actually benefits you as your understanding of the diversity of human culture is broadened. Here are some things that you may want to know about Bermuda before embarking on your trip.

Lucky you (if you come from an English-speaking country that is), they speak English in Bermuda. There is really no problem with communicating with locals over there. Some of the residents still speak the Queen’s English. However, you will be exposed to a wide variety of accents and dialects which have evolved through years.

As for religion, there exists a variety of religions in Bermuda but the main religions over there are Christianity and Animism (or Voodoo). Bermuda is very much influenced by British culture. As such, you will have no problems finding a church if you wish to do so.

Bermuda has assimilated the British culture so much that Anglophiles will feel as if they were at home. Due to this influence, Bermudian culture is quite reserved and polite. As such, you would not see any nude or even semi-nude beaches in Bermuda. Furthermore, it is not acceptable to wear your swimwear in public places other than the beach. Going out to dinner, though it may be a “casual” one, will require a certain degree of formality with regards to attire. Do not be surprised when you see a “bobby” directing the traffic on a Bermudian road. More so, you will probably find delight in seeing that their judges still wear the white powdered wigs worn by barristers in England.

Underneath the strong influence of the British is the African influence. The main manifestation of this influence is the music and dance of Bermuda. One interesting fact about the African traditions is that they have blended quite well with the Christian traditions. As such, the result is a unique fusion of two very different customs and traditions. The traditional form of music and dance in Bermuda is called the Gombey, which is firmly rooted in African tradition. However, as mentioned earlier, Christian components have been incorporated into the dance and music.

Bermuda does have a large supply of seafood but by and large, their food is imported from other countries, mainly the United States. Some say that Bermudian cuisine does not exist per se, but many beg to disagree. The fact is that there are certain ways that the Bermudians prepare their food that is unique to their culture. However, if you are not very adventurous when it comes to eating, you will not be like a fish out of water in Bermuda. You will probably find exactly the same things that you have at home. From American food to French cuisine and Italian food, Bermuda can cater to your tastes.