Imagine yourself drinking a cold Red Stripe beer at a bar, laughing at a joke your friend just shared from their last vacation. Seems pretty ordinary right? Now imagine that bar on the pristine South Coast of beautiful Jamaica surrounded by water in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Now that’s starting to sound a lot better. What if I told you, you could stop imagining and experience that very reality in Jamaica? Floyd’s Pelican Bar in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is just that. A rustic wooden bar built on a sandbank about ¾ of a mile out at sea.
How it started
What started as a dream for local fisherman Floyd Forbes has grown into a must-see bucket list item when visiting Jamaica. Floyd’s Pelican Bar was first opened in 2001 (it was destroyed by a hurricane in 2004 and rebuilt shortly after with help from the surrounding community) and was initially meant to be a rest stop for local fishermen in the area. However, as word got out about this cool new spot, locals and tourists started arriving in numbers. Fun fact: the name “Pelican Bar” came from a large flock of Pelican birds that rested on the sandbank where the bar was built.
How to get there
Floyd’s Pelican Bar is located about ¾ mile from Parottee Bay. The easiest and quickest way to get there is from the quaint fishing village of Parottee in St. Elizabeth. There are several fishermen who can ferry you across in their boats. You can also access the Bar from other areas in St. Elizabeth such as Treasure Beach and Black River, though the journey is slightly longer. If you’re lucky enough, you can even see dolphins on your journey.
What to do there
Pelican Bar is one of the coolest places to spend the day looking cool and making fun memories to last a lifetime. You can relax and chill on deck as you sunbathe and enjoy a refreshingly cold Red Stripe beer, or take a dip and swim in the shallow tortoise waters around the bar. While there, you’ll even see Floyd playing a game of dominoes with his friends or even your boat captain and why not ask to join in for a game as well. Hungry after all that fun? Don’t worry, you can enjoy a deliciously prepared seafood meal as you take a break from all the fun. The menu includes freshly caught lobster and fish, which is then prepared to your liking. Choices include steam, roast, or fry fish served with bammies (sort of a fried cassava flatbread), breadfruit, or festivals (a fried dough) depending on your preference.
What to expect
What can you truly expect during your visit to Floyd’s Pelican bar? Well firstly, bring cash as there’s currently no other means of payment accepted, it is in the middle of the sea, remember. The fun memories you make will last a lifetime but why not leave a memento of your visit for future visitors to see! You can have your name or initials carved on the boards on the walls or even the floors. Don’t worry it’s not public mischief but rather a part of the décor and experience of visiting Floyd’s Pelican Bar. The interior décor is made up of flags, caps, T-shirts, license plates, you name it! All left these items were left behind by previous visitors. You should wear something comfortable that you don’t mind getting wet, as this bar has no restrooms. On a more recent visit, I was actually informed that there was indeed a restroom, see below. It also serves as a changing room.
Showcase Jamaica gives Pelican Bar 5 stars for the unique experience it offers. Check out this quick video below. Please Like, Share and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. And remember to click the bell to be notified every time we post a new video.
Until next time, Walk Good.
Orlando
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