Camana Bay is a Great Place to Shop, Stroll, and Dine


Camana Bay is one of my favorite places to visit when I’m in Grand Cayman.  It’s not a tourist trap, but rather a town center spanning over 650 acres in an urban, mixed-use community setting.  Camana Bay is located in Grand Cayman’s West Bay near Seven Mile Beach.

There’s an outdoor mall offering high-end retailers, excellent restaurants and family-friendly entertainment.  You may enjoy everything from gourmet coffees, home-baked pastries, healthy lunches and freshly squeezed juices, to alfresco dinners, designer cocktails and live music.   Many of Cayman’s local professionals live in Camana Bay’s upscale apartments above all of the shops and restaurants.

Camana Bay’s shops and restaurants are situated around a lush outdoor Paseo with four beautiful courtyards named after prominent local flowers – Jasmine, Cassia, Gardenia and Canella.  The Jasmine courtyard has a water fountain with changing colors.  The Crescent near the boat dock has a fountain (pictured here) kids love to play in with bursts of water shooting upwards of 30 feet in the air.

There’s live music every Thursday and Saturday on the Paseo and a Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market every Wednesday from noon until 7pm where you can shop for authentic, handmade souvenirs and taste locally grown exotic fruits and vegetables.  I will admit the Farmer’s Market can be hit or miss.  There are times when it’s been great fun and the selections have been excellent and times when the vendors have been disappointing.  The environment is relaxing and beautiful, so it’s definitely worth a visit even if you simply get lunch at one of the outdoor restaurants.

There are many restaurants at Camana Bay offering a variety of dining options.  A personal favorite is Abacus.  It is located on the corner of the Paseo.  Karoo is another favorite that has a great view of the water.  Karoo offers tapas, small plates, sliders and oven-baked artisan pizzas.  If you’re looking for something Asian, Mizu has a gorgeous sushi bar where you can watch the chefs prepare your fresh tuna roll.

The following is a list of some of the other stores at Camana Bay:

Cafe Del Sol – internet coffee house,  Regal Movie Theater showing the latest releases,  Books & Books –  a large book store with a great selection,  Island Jewelers – nice selection of watches, David Yurman, and Ed Hardy,  Little Angels – stylish children’s wear, The Cabana – Lilly Pulitzer store, and Sand Angels – gorgeous bathing suits and cover-ups.

Here’s the best news!  If you’re renting a villa on the North Side or East End of Cayman, you no longer have to drive to Camana Bay.  Cayman Ferries now makes water trips across the North Sound to and from the Kaibo Yacht Club in Cayman Kai to Camana Bay.  The ferry runs every day but Monday.

Avoid the tourists of George Town and enjoy the local flavor of Camana Bay.