The St Bernard’s Hill House Concierge team gives you their lowdown on the annual foodie festival.
Imagine lobster, freshly caught from the ocean, grilled to perfection, drenched in butter and with just a squeeze of lemon.
Or hot and spicy jerk lobster sandwiches. Or a sumptuous mac and cheese, made even more indulgent with deep-fried lobster rolls.
These are the kinds of mouthwatering delicacies you can expect at the Anegada Lobster Festival.
The Anegada Lobster Festival (30 Nov – 1 Dec 2024) has become a staple in the British Virgin Island’s social calendar.
Now in its 12th year, the food fete attracts visitors from all over the world, as well as BVI locals.
It’s a paradise for lobster lovers. Over the years, Anegadian restaurants have showcased the wide and delicious versatility of the crustacean.
Festival goers have been able to taste a wide range of lobster ‘samplers’ and menus.
Past samplers include kabobs, quesadillas, beignets, curry, fettuccine, pizza, patties and more.
This year 13 restaurants are taking part – the most since the festival began.
The restaurants are: Flamingo Pride, Lil Bit, KG’s Café, Anegada Reef Hotel, Big Bamboo, Cow Wreck, Flash of Beauty, Lobster Trap, Wonky Dog, Pink Flamingo, Potter’s by the Sea, Sid’s at Pomato Point and Tipsy.
For the first time, they will compete for the inaugural ‘ALFFY Award,’ and bragging rights, for the best lobster sampler.
The competition will be judged by Executive Chef Shane Huggins, a renowned regional culinarian, and Chef Ambassador for the Festival de la Gastronomie Saint-Martin 2024.
If there are friends or family in your group that aren’t fans of lobster, don’t worry. Other Caribbean delicacies like curry goat, jerk chicken and creole will still be available.
Anegada is very laid back (we might say ‘sleepy’ at other times of the year), so the Anegada Lobster Festival is an ideal time to visit and explore the island
The festival has a fun and happy Caribbean party vibe. It is very busy, so you should expect crowds.
Anegada is 15 square miles, and it’s the only coral island amongst the sister islands. It’s an atoll, so it’s very flat (28ft at its highest point) and can be windy.
If you’re traveling from Tortola for the day, you’ll have approximately 4 hours to spend on Anegada.
That’s enough time for a relaxed lunch, a spot of sightseeing, and perhaps a famous rum smoothie from the Anegada Reef Hotel. (Think fruity rum punch, a generous helping of coconut cream and a secret family ingredient.)
While you’re there, we recommend visiting the Anegada Salt Ponds for some great flamingo watching. The snorkeling is nice too – try Loblolly Bay. Flash of Beauty and Cow Wreck have beautiful beaches.
The Conch Mounds (also known as Conch Island) at the East End of Anegada are a spectacle. They look like sand dunes, but they’re actually human-made, up to 10ft above the sea. The mounds have been formed from thousands of discarded conch shells and the only way to visit is on a guided tour, like Sherwin’s Sea Adventures.
To navigate the island, you could get your own taxi, hire a mini moke or join a larger tour. If you want to embrace the festival’s full party experience, there’s a Party Cycle “taking riders vibing and imbibing while enjoying Anegada’s scenery”.
If you’re staying at St Bernard’s Hill House, we recommend traveling by private boat tour.
After a hearty breakfast prepared by your private chef, you’ll leave St Bernard’s Hill House between 8 and 9am.
From the West End, depending on weather conditions, the trip takes 2-2.5 hours by speedboat.
The journey is beautiful. Picture speeding atop azure, glistening waters, watching St Bernard’s Hill House’s lilac roof fade into the distance, as you sip ice cold drinks, enjoying Tortola’s verdant North Shore and views of Virgin Gorda.
After a day at the Lobster Festival, you would need to leave Anegada by 3pm. Most boats require a return by 5pm.
Then it’s back to St Bernard’s Hill House to relax and reflect on the day.
Most people go to the festival for one day.
However, if you want the full Anegada Lobster Festival weekend experience – complete with sunset, kitesurfing, and dancing in the moonlight – you could stay in a beach palapa at the Anegada Beach Club.
There’s only one way to find out!
St Bernard’s Hill House offers an ideal location for exploring the British Virgin Islands.
The exclusive-use villa, which sleeps up to 10 people, blends the luxury of a boutique hotel with tropical Caribbean charm.
Enjoy gorgeous 300-degree panoramic views from the mountain-top location, and your own private paradise.
