Weekendz Bar & Grill: Pinneys Beach Ribs and Reggae
The Nevis weekend ritual ΓÇö legendary ribs, ice-cold rum, and toes in the sand
Why Go
Only open Thursday through Sunday, this unfussy beach shack on Pinneys is where Nevisians and in-the-know visitors converge for what regulars swear are the best BBQ ribs in the federation. Owner Laverne runs the room like a family cookout that just happens to sit on one of the Caribbean's most beautiful stretches of sand.
The Experience
Follow the smoke and the soca down a dirt track off the main road in Vaughans and you land at a bare-bones open-air grill fronting Pinneys Beach. It's not polished ΓÇö plastic chairs, a wooden bar, string lights ΓÇö and that's precisely the point. You order at the counter, grab a Carib or a rum punch, and settle in while the pit master works the grill. By sunset the vibe shifts: locals roll up, a speaker gets louder, someone starts dancing, and the line for food gets longer. Portions arrive heaped on paper plates ΓÇö the kind of meal that leaves you loosening your belt and packing a takeaway box. It's the antithesis of Four Seasons dining a mile up the beach, and that's exactly why people keep coming back.
What to Try
The BBQ ribs are the headline act ΓÇö smoky, fall-off-the-bone, and worth the trip alone. If ribs aren't your thing, the grilled Mahi Mahi and conch dinner both earn constant praise, and the jerk-spiced BBQ wings make a great starter for the table. Every plate comes loaded with Nevisian sides: island rice and peas, macaroni pie, fried plantain, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. Wash it down with a rum punch ΓÇö they don't skimp on the pour.
Insider Tip
They're only open Thursday through Sunday, and locals know Sunday afternoon into evening is when the beach-party energy peaks. Come hungry, come with cash (card acceptance is spotty), and don't be shy about chatting with Laverne or the servers Tanya and Christi-ann ΓÇö they'll steer you toward whatever came off the grill freshest. Grab a table close to the sand before the sunset crowd arrives around 5pm.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Pinneys Beach, Vaughans, just south of Charlestown, Nevis. Phone: +1 869-469-9335. Hours: ThursdayΓÇôSunday (weekends only); lunch through late evening. Price range: budget-friendly ($) ΓÇö plates typically run EC$30ΓÇô60. Bring cash. Casual beach dress; sandy feet welcome. Best reached by rental car or taxi from Charlestown (about 5 minutes) ΓÇö ask for 'Weekendz on Pinneys.'
Pair It With
- Pinneys Beach stroll — Weekendz sits directly on Nevis's iconic four-mile ribbon of golden sand ΓÇö arrive early for a swim and a walk before lunch, or linger for sunset over the Caribbean Sea.
- Bath Hotel and Spring House Guide — Soak in the 18th-century hot mineral springs just up the road in Charlestown to work off the ribs ΓÇö a five-minute drive that pairs beach indulgence with historic wellness.
- Birthplace of Alexander Hamilton Guide — Pop into the small museum in Charlestown before heading to the beach ΓÇö a dose of Nevisian history balances the afternoon of grill smoke and rum punch.
- Cades Bay Guide — Continue the low-key beach-bar circuit up the west coast to Cades Bay for another quiet swim spot away from resort crowds.