Undoubtedly the most successful restaurant and bar enterprise in the island of Jamaica and, indeed, the Caribbean is the world-famous Rick’s Café, to be found on the cliff of West End, Negril, in the parish of Westmoreland.

The Rick’s Café story began in 1974 when Richard ”Rick” Hershman bought this stony cliff-side one-and-a half acre property from Dr Winston Campbell, son of Jamaica’s first native Governor General, Sir Clifford Campbell. He then set about establishing the first public bar and restaurant on the west end of Negril.

Over the years, despite two major setbacks due to extensive property damage by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and almost total destruction by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Rick’s Café not only survived but has also been rebuilt bigger and better and now boasts a staff complement of 80 employees including management.

The popularity of Rick’s Café is almost unparalleled. It is not uncommon to see 200 or 300 patrons on the property at any one time, nor for Rick’s Café to cater to over 500 patrons for the day, especially during the tourist season.

The tourists come on excursions from as far as Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, as well as Negril itself, and the café is also well supported by returning Jamaican residents as well as the local populace.

What is it that attracts people from all over the world to this café? Is it the awesome sunset view, the spectacle of seeing patrons and the local ”professional” divers jump off the thirty-five-foot cliff into the crystal clear waters below, the wonderful sound of the live reggae band or is it the excellent array of food and drink that is served at Rick’s Café. I believe it is a combination of all of the above that has created this unique ambiance.

From my queries, the island jerk chicken and the fillet mignon seem to be very popular items. However, for my appetiser (described as ”munchies” on the menu) I had the appetiser sampler that comprised ”buffalo wings, shredded shrimp, cocktail patties and spicy chicken” and for my entrée I had the ”West End Trio”, which is a combination of three Jamaican specialities including grilled steak, jerk chicken breast and sautéed escoveitch fish. Delicious!

I noticed that many of the male tourists were ordering from the bar ”front-end lifter aka Jamaican viagra” which is described on the menu as a combination of ”blended stout beer, white rum, rum cream, clear syrup, oatmeal and one topped with chocolate syrup”. The ladies’ pick was a drink called ”Sex with Rick” and another called ”Rasta Politan” – don’t ask! It is probably because of these drinks and other exciting ones on the menu that Rick’s Cafe’ has been voted one of the 10 best bars in the world. Incidentally, Rick’s Café has also been voted one of the 1,000 places you should see before you die. If you have not yet, been it is worth checking out.

Island Jerk chicken US$19

Filet Mignon US$29

Appetiser Sampler US$18

West End Trio US$27

Front-end Lifter US$8

Sex with Rick US$8

Red Stripe Beer US$4

Rick’s Café

West End Negril

Contact: 957-0380

Email: info@rickscafejamaica.com