The first impression of Esther’s is where the heck is it? – followed by a feeling of what the… there’s barely anything here. The second impression is hmm… this place has something. The third is OK, I’m totally hooked!

The amazing thing is that you can manage all this in a single visit, though you’re almost guaranteed to be drawn back.

Esther’s Bar on Grenada’s beautiful Grand Anse Beach takes minimalism to a whole new level. It’s located within the open-air Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market, tucked into a row of similar drinking and eating kiosks. Like the others, it’s really small, no bigger than a closet (and I’m not exaggerating).  Look for number 6 and the small sign above the bar opening. Blink, and you’ll miss it.

Yet it’s the happening spot on a generally buzzy beach. In fact, it made number eight on USA Today’s 2025 Ten Best Caribbean Beach Bars.

So, what makes this tiny, family-run place so popular?  It’s the happy vibe, cheerful attitude and warm welcome (the small, friendly staff seem genuinely pleased to see you and remember your previous order), backed up by absolutely killer cocktails.  Plus, the prices are really good. And that’s it. But trust me, when these things click, you don’t need much else.

And there isn’t much else anyway. The place itself technically only has two seats, and these are on the other side of the bar attached, along with a small table, to the wall. Good luck scoring those. The rest is a scattering of communal stools and picnic tables shared with the other establishments. You may have to stand if it’s busy. And it can get busy. Customers, a mix of locals, tourists and expats, start to drift by mid to late afternoon on weekdays (not coincidentally, around happy hour). The bar is ‘compact’, and each cocktail is painstakingly made. This is a “rush slowly” kind of place and, by our experience, it will be well worth the wait.

There’s frequently live music somewhere in the market, adding to the low-key house party feel. We liked visiting around 4:00 pm, when the vibe is just starting to pick up and it’s not too busy yet. But judging from everyone I talked to – any time is a good time to drop in to Esther’s.

What will you have?

Beer: Carib and Stag are the popular choices here, as in most places in Grenada. They also carry a ‘few’ Corona, Heineken, Stella and Coors Light (remember, it’s a small place).

Rum/Cocktails: They manage to squeeze a decent collection of Caribbean rums onto the stacked shelves. Naturally, Grenadian rums from Clarkes Court, Westerhall and Rivers feature prominently in the cocktails. Westerhall 10XO is a more than decent sipping rum and I spotted El Dorado 17. But Esther’s is famous for its island cocktails. Their mojitos are (justifiably) famous island-wide, as are their pina coladas. But they’ll cheerfully make anything. Kimani was more than happy to make my mojito with a dark rum (try it).

Food: This bit is easy. There is none.  Esther’s is drinks only, unless you count bags of salty snacks. However, you can grab something to eat from some of the other kiosks, like the neighbouring Fish Pot, but hours vary, to put it politely.

Asides

As mentioned, this is a teeny place that doesn’t serve food. Seating is limited and mainly communal. Not the location for a family lunch or a kid’s day out. It can get busy, but, somehow, your waitress will track you down and serve you with a smile.

Reflections… 

More than anything, Esther’s is a vibe. The staff are a happy bunch, and it rubs off on the customers. You can’t be gloomy or cry in your beer at Esther’s. As I said at the beginning. I’m hooked.

IC 2025