REVIEW : Oisins Friday Night Fishfry, Barbados

Well before I even set foot on Barbados soil, I got told that if there is one thing that I need to do on my trip to Barbados, its to visit the Oisins Friday Night Fish Fry.

It’s Friday night and around 6pm and I’m making my way from St Lawrence Gap towards Oisins (10 minute drive or 30-40 min walk). Oisins is essentially an openair fish market with rows of fish gutting stations lined up where many fishwives and men are covered in fish guts and scales, working at a pace to clean the fish ready for the market and most importantly, ready for the great Oisins Friday night fish fry.

Adjacent to this fish market, and what is really an extension of the fish filleting stations, is a cluster of fish and rum shacks, with tightly packed outdoor seating areas; and many craft and trinket stalls  line the beachfront.

There are two distinctive sides to Oisins Friday night fish fry. The far side (where we ended up) has a purpose built undercover open air stage for freestyle dance acts and music that is blasted from  multi stacked speakers whilst the side closest to the fish stations, has a large bar with outdoor dance floor blasting out 80’s tunes.

Oisins officially opens at 7pm but my advice is to arrive early as the place fills up really quickly and it really does fill up.

OISINS FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY, BARBADOS

On arrival, we headed straight towards the beach to watch the sunset and what a spectacular sunset it was. Picture perfect wouldn’t you agree?

We wandered around the stalls before grabbing a seat right in front of the stage area next to xxx rum shack and food shack.

We ordered ice cold Banks Beer (3 for BD10) and get very easily persuaded into ordering dinner. Our waitress was utterly charming and just wonderful. The food is simple – a choice of fish and your choice for 3 sides for around BD20 (£12).

I ordered the Dolphin (don’t worry this is a fish called mahi mahi) and Mr TS ordered the swordfish along with sides of macaroni pie, coleslaw, plantain or rice n peas.

The remainder of the night was spent drinking ice cold beer, people watching, watching Spiderman and Michael Jackson dance, talking to other visitors and watching locals join in and get amongst it, including getting down with the Bajan Slosh!

This has to be the most enjoyable night of our holiday and one that I cannot recommend highly enough. If you don’t like seafood, there is plenty of other food to choose; it’s a cheap night out and so thoroughly enjoyable. The locals make this place, and I know I keep saying this, but they are so friendly and their happiness and joy for life really rubs off on you.

We stayed for several hours, and after many laughs, some noisy singing, clapping and toe tapping, we found our way out and staggered back along the main road to our hotel.

Oisins Fish Fry : Tartan Spoon 10/10