Insider’s guide to Barbados

What makes Barbados so special?
Often, when I speak to clients about why they keep coming back, they say it’s the people. Bajan people are so warm, friendly and welcoming. We want visitors to experience our country. Beyond climate, beyond all the natural beauty, it’s the people who make it special.

How is Barbados different from other Caribbean islands?
It’s a feeling, an energy. Barbadians are highly educated and our political system is stable. From a commercial perspective we have encouraging incentives for businesses to come here and operate. And there are incentives for developers and expats too.

What kind of people move to Barbados?
Until maybe 20 years ago, it was mostly retirees, but in recent years that demographic has changed. We’re seeing younger people, mid-thirties and forties, with young families – still a lot of Brits, but Canadians too. Barbados has always had a strong connection with Canada. In spite of recently becoming a republic, we’re very British in terms of our culture, though all of our commercial banks and tax structures are Canadian.

What kind of houses can you find in Barbados?
There are various developments from the Sandy Lane Estate, mostly large family homes and residences that might have an acre of land. Some even have dedicated beaches. Then you have larger developments such as Royal Westmoreland and Apes Hill, which are golfing communities with amenities attached, or the smaller Sugar Hill, which is based around tennis. If you want to be by the water, there are beachfront properties such as Portico, Coral Cove, Saint Peter’s Bay and Port St Charles, if you’re into boating. If your dream is to have a standalone home on the water’s edge, we have those options too.

Where are your favourite beaches?
Reeds Bay, also known as Thunder Bay, has always been a favourite with locals, but has recently started to attract a lot of visitors. Paynes Bay is also popular – a lot of people who come to the island want to be close to it, and it connects with Sandy Lane Beach. Sandy Lane is probably the island’s premier hotel and has a lovely, long stretch of sand. Then there’s Heron Bay, north of Holetown. It has a great bar, Juju’s, so you can have something to eat and enjoy the beach at the same time.

Tell us about some of your favourite restaurants?
We’re spoilt for choice as far as restaurants go. Opposite our office in St James we have two of the best on the island: QP Bistro and the Cliff. Tides Restaurant is good for cocktails and often has live music. Then there are lots of casual dining spots in the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. People often comment on how fresh the food is on the island – a lot of restaurants do farm to table, concentrating on local produce. Wendy’s is a buzz on Friday nights, too.

How about your favourite bars?
There’s a new place in Limegrove called the Bearded Rose, by Timothy Oulton and West Bar X chef Michael Hinds, that is really nice. Up north in Mullins, the Sea Shed, right on the beach, is popular – the nachos are a must. 

Is sport popular in Barbados?
A lot of people like to swim in the sea. Squash is popular, and there’s lots of paddleball, paddle tennis, lawn tennis – we have loads of tennis clubs. Golf is huge over here. And, of course, cricket is part of West Indies culture. Whenever there’s Test cricket on the island, it attracts big crowds.

And from a cultural standpoint, what does Barbados offer?
We have lots of horse racing: the Gold Cup is a big hit for the island. Many people here own horses or are into racing. Polo is also popular. There are boating festivals and surfing competitions too – the east coast, the Atlantic side, lends itself nicely to that.

Barbados has great museums such as St Nicholas Abbey, which is also a rum distillery. And the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum is one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere. It was established in 1628 by Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Brazil. 

And how can we discuss culture without touching on the sweetest carnival in the Caribbean? Crop Over is our yearly celebration, dating back to the 1780s when Barbados was the world’s most prominent sugar producer. In more recent times, it has evolved into a season of festivities, with exclusive parties, extravagant costumes, local music and amazing food!

What is your favourite thing about the island?
One of the things we take for granted is just how safe it is. I only realise that when I’m interacting with people from other areas, who say they can properly let their guard down here. That’s how it’s always been. We’re lucky.

Portfolio recommends…
On Friday evenings, as the fish market closes in Oistins, local DJs set up sound systems and fire up the barbecue, cooking tuna, marlin, swordfish and mahi-mahi. It’s always packed, and the fun goes on late into the evenings. Otherwise, try the food from the island’s roadside trucks: locals say it’s the best. Top of the list is the van parked cheekily outside Sandy Lane – Sandra cooks up a storm of Caribbean classics.

MICHELLE MARSHALL,
ALTMAN REAL ESTATE
michelle.marshall@altmanbarbados.com +1 (246) 231 6457

Pictures from top: Michelle Marshall; an early morning surf (Alamy); boats in the harbour in Barbados (unsplash); the Sea Shed; kayaking in clear waters (Getty); a tray of cool cocktails