Oistins legendary Friday night Fish Fry, located in the marketplace, is one of the more infamous scenes on the island. Even the drive along Oistins Main Road celebrates the site, with archways of neon lights in the shape of various fish and beautiful bright paintings hanging from the lampposts by the Olympian Windsurfer Brian Talma.

There is a huge selection of fresh, locally caught fish available such as Swordfish, Marlin, Mahi-Mahi, Flying Fish, Yellowfin Tuna, Amberjack and Barracuda (to name but a few). All of which are grilled to perfection with different Caribbean spices and accompanied with all the traditional trimmings such as Rice and Peas, Cou-Cou (made from a combination of cornmeal and okra, very similar in texture to polenta), Macaroni Pie, Plantain and Coleslaw.

We had teamed our Oistins Fish Fry treat with an afternoon at Miami Beach, which is just steps away. After watching one of many incredible sunsets at the pier, we ventured into the bustling marketplace. There are some fun, brightly-coloured beach huts; reminiscent of a typical British seaside resort, but here you have vendors selling their Caribbean wares.

I visited Claire J’s Ice cream and Dessert stand to order myself a rum cocktail. This is one of the islands best kept secrets and one of my favourite places to purchase this classic cocktail, with its perfect blend of spices.

We then walked through the market, perusing the various fashion and craft stalls, watching a group of older men with their weathered faces playing a very animated game of dominoes. On this occasion we decided to go with our most trusted and favourite food stand – Uncle George’s. This is mainly because they are the largest vendor and most likely to have my favourite fish barracuda available.

If you are a fish lover, you are in the right place and truly in for a treat! I’ve tried a variety of seasonal fish available from a huge number of vendors here and they never fail to impress. I just love to watch the chefs in full flow with the fish sizzling on the large industrial-sized grills and the aroma of the spices filling the air.

The succulent flavours of my grilled Barracuda were complemented by the many textures of the accompaniments – savoury rice, creamy macaroni pie, grilled plantain and crunchy coleslaw. A tantalising, mouthwatering experience not to be missed!

If you visit during the weekends you will see queues forming around the perimeter of the market for the more popular stands. The tables fill promptly from the late afternoon, so prepare to wait several hours for food to be served.

Drinks are readily available from all stands, so just sit back with an ice cold Banks beer and soak in the atmosphere, and you’ll get into the laid-back island vibe in no time.

As the pandemic restrictions on the island are being lifted, we have seen the vibrant energy of this market return – with various musicians taking the stages. The dance floor is once again packed, with people of all ages Soca dancing through the evening. Whilst the band conduct their sound checks, Arlo is entertaining the crowds with some of his own Soca moves that he has observed from the locals, as its quite common for Bajan’s to burst into dance at any given moment!

A random guy walks up to the stage balancing on his hands, then leaps to his feet and starts body popping – anything goes here!

If you are uncomfortable with big crowds and prefer a quieter scene, we would recommend that you avoid the weekend as the live music in the evenings draws in the masses – so these are the busiest nights. It is worth noting that the market is open daily, and from lunchtimes during the weekend – and by selecting a more relaxing atmosphere, you’ll find the service much more efficient.

VENDORS

THE SPECIFICS

Opening Times: Friday/Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 10pm, Monday to Thursday 6pm – 11pm. (N.B. not all Vendors are open during these hours).

Pricing: Entry to the Oistins Fish Fry Market is free. Expect to pay $25bds to $50bds for a fish supper. $7bds+ Rum punch. $4+ beer.

Parking: There are ample parking spaces available in a car park next to the Marketplace and in front of Miami beach, both are free of charge.

Facilities: Well-maintained toilets can be found towards the centre of the food market, behind the stage area.

Location: Oistins Fish Fry, Oistins Main Road, Oistins, Christchurch, Barbados.