ExploFood · North America
What to eat in Barbados
Five dishes to try in Barbados, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Barbados
Cou-cou and flying fish
Cornmeal and okra mash served with steamed flying fish in a tomato sauce.
How to have it: The national dish, usually a Friday lunch special at local cafés and rum shops.
Macaroni pie
Baked macaroni and cheese set firm and cut into slices.
How to have it: A standard side on Sunday lunch plates and at buffet-style local restaurants.
Fish cakes
Fried saltfish and flour fritters seasoned with herbs and Scotch bonnet.
How to have it: Order 'bakes and fishcakes' at roadside stalls or Oistins Friday fish fry.
Conkies
Cornmeal, pumpkin, coconut and spice steamed in a banana leaf.
How to have it: Made around Independence Day on 30 November; look for them at markets and bakeries then.
Mauby
Bittersweet drink brewed from tree bark and spices.
How to have it: Sold chilled at snack bars and rum shops; an acquired taste, so try a small cup first.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Barbados famous for?
Cou-cou and flying fish (cornmeal and okra mash served with steamed flying fish in a tomato sauce) comes first on our list, followed by Macaroni pie, Fish cakes, Conkies and Mauby.
What is the national dish of Barbados?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Barbados is Cou-cou and flying fish: cornmeal and okra mash served with steamed flying fish in a tomato sauce. The national dish, usually a Friday lunch special at local cafés and rum shops.
Which dishes in Barbados are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Macaroni pie, Conkies and Mauby. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Barbados?
Fish cakes (fried saltfish and flour fritters seasoned with herbs and Scotch bonnet).
What do people drink in Barbados?
Mauby: bittersweet drink brewed from tree bark and spices.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
Keep exploring
Practical · 3 min readEat your way through a country: how to find the national dishesFood is the fastest way into a place. How to find a country's signature dishes, order them well, eat safely and keep a record of what you have tried.
Planning · 4 min readHow to choose the best time to visit anywhereWeather is only one part of it. Learn how to weigh seasons, crowds, prices and events, with real examples of the best months for popular destinations.
Planning · 4 min readHow to build a travel bucket list you'll actually useTurn a long wish list into a short plan: sort places by ease, season and effort, pick your next three, and keep the list alive after every trip.- Country guidesCountry guidesBest months, weather, holidays and plugs for every country.
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Tick off every dish you try in Barbados
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.