It’s easy to miss Lone Star if you are driving along Highway 1b on the west coast of Barbados.   You might mistake it for a gas station. After all, it looks like one and the dominant sign high on the front of the gleaming white building does, in fact, say ‘Lone Star Garage’.  But behind that façade is one of the island’s most famous bars and restaurants, opening directly onto to a gorgeous stretch of beach.

In fact, this stylish place began life as a garage back in the 1940s.  Throughout the years the site has housed a furniture repair shop, a bus depot, a nightclub and a residence. Somehow, the distinct façade remained and was lovingly restored in the late 1990s when Lone Star transitioned to a restaurant/bar.

In many ways, Lone Star led the way – the first in what is now a string of chic establishments along the island’s so-called Platinum Coast. From its opening it stood out and still does. The first thing you’ll notice is that Lone Star is a decidedly upscale place, obvious by the décor, the menu and prices (though these are far from outrageous given its locale – the Platinum Coast of Barbados is not a cheap place).

Steps lead down to a large, breezy, covered area overlooking the beautiful beach. It’s usually bustling, but seating is well spaced, so it doesn’t feel crowded. I particularly like the bar area, in the corner away from the beach. Its comfy white-and-blue chairs and sofas, automotive prints, discreet service and imaginative cocktails make it a great place to gaze out over the turquoise ocean or do a bit of people watching. And that’s a big part of Lone Star. It’s very much a place to see and be seen. But that’s not a knock – as long as you know what to expect.

What will you have?

Beer: Barbados’ own Banks is the first choice, though they also carry the usual suspects: Heineken, Corona, Red Stripe… but this is not a really a beer place.

Rum/Cocktails: There’s a good selection of rums, fronted by local products, such as Doorly’s, Cockspur and, of course, various Mount Gay bottlings (after all, it is the world’s oldest rum distillery). Cocktails are creative and well-made, with a good list of classics, like a properly made Kir Royale, and signature drinks.

Food: The menu is excellent. In fact, the restaurant side dominates. The summer lunch menu included appetizers like prawn cocktail, fish and potato croquettes, and mains such as blackened catch of the day and a delicious, perfectly spiced lamb curry.

Asides

Lone Star is a chic establishment and let’s you know it from the minute you walk in.  The website happily boasts that it is “renowned for its idyllic beach setting and celebrity clientele”. (It now includes a six room/villa boutique hotel). But it also promotes a “buzzy, yet laid-back atmosphere”, which is definitely accurate.

Reflections… 

We visited Lone Star shortly after it opened and longed to return. We did recently, and while it’s much more than a beach bar now – bigger, bolder and decidedly more upscale – it’s still a welcoming, lovely place in an equally lovely part of the island. Let the Kir Royales flow!

IC 2024