I visited Bermuda last Labor Day weekend for the first time, even though its only a 2 hour flight from NYC and had been on my travel list for years. Part of my first full day on the island was spent in food tour around Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital and largest city (or really, town). It’s the colorful, shop filled streets that you see in photos. While most prioritize Bermuda’s beaches, we really like to eat and drink, and we visit beaches enough that we felt we could dedicate a morning to learning more about Bermuda’s culture, which is just what this tour provided (in addition to a large lunch and several drinks!).
Hamilton, Bermuda.
We began our tour on Front Street, Hamilton’s main drag. The tour consisted of about 10 people, most visiting from the United States for Labor Day weekend. The tour began at 11:15 AM and lasted about 3 hours, taking us solidly into the afternoon. All it, it was a fun experience. I would take the tour again and recommend it to those in Bermuda who need a break from the beach.
A pretty mural in Hamilton, Bermuda made from tile.
STOP ONE: A TRADITIONAL BERMUDA BREAKFAST AT AN IRISH PUB
Our tour began with a traditional Bermudan breakfast at Flanagan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, where we actually had dinner the previous evening. I love an Irish pub, so that didn’t bother me. Flanagan’s is somewhat of an institution in Hamilton. Founded in 1988 by Irishman Jack Flanagan, Flanagan’s claims to be Bermuda’s sole Irish Pub & Restaurant, although there are numerous other spots with similar vibes (and I’m not sure that’s true…). The restaurant now has new owners and serves “modern and classic bar fare.” I was a particular fan of. its Indian food, which I ate at dinner (not on the food tour). It’s also located right on Front Street, in the heart of Hamilton. You can’t miss it.
Flanagan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant on Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda. Very Irish; a worthy stop.
Our group sat on the second floor and began our meal with what must be Bermuda’s national drink, the Rum Swizzle. A rum swizzle is a sweet alcoholic beverage made with local rum and lime, orange, and pineapple fruit juice, sweetened with grenadine. The rum swizzle is super famous in Bermuda, especially at the Swizzle Inn across the island! The drink itself is a bit too sweet for me, but people LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Flanagan’s was quite good; a great way to begin the tour!
The famous Rum Swizzle at Flanagan’s Irish Pub.
Shortly after we sat down we were served a traditional Bermudian breakfast, which was an interesting mix of foods and something I didn’t even know existed! A traditional Bermuda breakfast, also known as a Codfish Plate, is a dish made of codfish, a hard-boiled egg, an avocado slice, a slice of banana, tomato chutney, local bread, and a local onion sauce. It sounds and looks odd, but it worked well together. Apparently a few chefs on the island made really great ones that locals wait in line for. Flanagan’s was pretty good. It worked well together, and I especially loved the tomato chutney, the onion sauce, and the local bread. Flanagan’s is a great place and location to find this breakfast without going too far afield. It also has traditional British and American breakfast if you are looking for something more familiar or just less cod-y.
A traditional Bermuda breakfast plate.
STOP TWO: AVOCADO TOAST AND SAKE INSIDE A MALL
From Flannagan’s we walked through Hamilton a bit, passing Hamilton’s pretty City Hall and pretty church, before walking into a modern mall. Very different from the pastel buildings that one envisions in Hamilton!
Said church.
Hamilton’s City Hall.
This was quite the contrast to Flanagan’s, which felt like the Bermuda of yore, a sushi bar inside of a modern mall. Beluga Bar is a sushi and pan-Asian restaurant, apparently most famous for its sushi. Beluga is also located in the basement of the mall. I was a little skeptical based on the location… In any case, we sat at a table that felt very Japanese, in a cool way. At Beluga, we began with sake, which we paired with an Avocado Toast made with soy sauce. And once I tried the Avocado Toast, which is not my go-to breakfast dish, I completely changed my mind about Beluga. It was incredibly tasty. I loved the Avocado Toast (and I’m usually not a fan of this breakfast dish). I would absolutely return to try more of the menu.
Sake at Beluga Bar. It was a bit early for me for sake.
An Asian style avocado toast. This was so good.
The seating at Beluga Bar. it felt very Japanese.
STOP THREE: A LOCAL JEWELER’S WORKSHOP
Moving on from the mall, we stopped at a local jeweler named Alexander Mosher. I had read about Alexander Mosher before our visit, so I was excited to visit the shop. Mosher is most famous for her jewelry made from Bermuda’s famous pink sand. While not inexpensive, she has some reasonably priced items for sale (both in store and online). We were welcomed into the artist’s area where the jewelry is made and sampled pink champagne and a white chocolate with pink sparkles!
Alexandra Mosher’s jewelry.
Sparking wine at Alexandra Mosher.
A white chocolate with pink sprinkles.
Alexander Mosher’s shop is located right on Front Street and its show room is open to the public except Sunday and public holidays. You can purchase directly from the show room or online. And, between Alexander Mosher and our next top, you can walk through one of Bermuda’s famous Moongates!
A real Bermuda Moongate.
STOP FOUR: PIZZA!
Next up was a surprise to me, pizza on a Bermuda food tour! La Trattoria is apparently one of the longest standing restaurants in Bermuda, and its located in a small alley in Hamilton; very cute. While I was surprised to see pizza on the menu, its existence emphasized the communities that make up Bermuda, which is quite a mixed bag (as Bermuda has no indigenous population). We paired a mediocre red wine with some very tasty thing-crust cheese pizza at La Trattoria. Much better than expected, honestly. I would certainly give La Trattoria a try if you are searching for pizza in Bermuda.
La Trattoria in Hamilton, Bermuda. Dan is skeptical of pizza in Bermuda.
Bermudian Cheese Pizza!
STOP FIVE: HAMILTON’S OLDEST ESTABLISHMENT
We next moved on to an establishment that I more expected to be on this tour – The Hog Penny. The Hog Penny claims to be Hamilton’s oldest licensed establishment, having opened in 1963. It has been a restaurant and local pub since. Locals and tourists both apparently love this place. And, it gives some real British vibes, the kind you are looking for in Bermuda.
Dan at The Hog Penny’s deck the evening prior.
Dan and I had already visited The Hog Penny the prior evening, but were happy to return. And, fun fact, we learned that this exact pub was the inspiration behind the bar in the show Cheers (which I loved when I was younger). At The Hog Penny, we each tried a local beer from local Dockyard Brewing Company and Wahoo Nuggets, which are basically chicken nuggets made from the local, and super prevalent, Wahoo fish. The Wahoo Nuggets were served with lemon and a tasty tartare side. Both were quite good and very “Bermuda.” I would gladly order the Wahoo Nuggets again.
The famous bar at The Hog Penny that inspired Cheers (the American TV show).
Wahoo nuggets.
A local IPA from Dockyard Brewing.
STOP SIX: A VICTORIAN PUB
Stop 6 was yet another pub, this one in the Victorian style. Yes, Bermuda likes its pubs. This pub, Astwood Arms, is located right on Front Street and while it gives Victorian vibes, it is rather modern, with large screen TVs paying the local games. Dan and I returned to Astwood Arms for dinner later in our trip.
The Astwood Arms.
Our group began with a classic Gin & Tonic. Like in Great Britain, G&Ts are popular in Bermuda. Our G&T was paired with a plate of British classics, including a Scotch Egg, a cheese toastie, a salad, and curried vegetables. I really loved the Scotch Egg, which, like in the UK and Ireland, is a deep fried hard boiled egg and of course, the cheese toastie.
A G&T.
My favorite was the Scottish Egg.
STOP SEVEN: RUM ICE CREAM!
Our final stop was for something sweet – ice cream! We visited Meltdown, a hole in the wall in the midst of Hamilton. Meltdown serves several flavors that change somewhat regularly, including some Bermuda themed ones. Yes, things like The Bermuda Triangle, Dark and Stormy, and Bermuda Black Rum and Raisin. I had to go with the Bermuda Black Rum and Raisin, which was topped with actual rum. This was a fun stop and a great way to end the tour
Meltdown’s tiny storefront.
The menu at Meltdown.
Bermuda Black Rum & Raisin.
STEAL OUR TRIP
Bermuda Food Tour: We took the Saturday Flavor and Flair Tour.
Flanagan’s Irish Pub: 69 Front St, Hamilton, Bermuda. Open daily 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM. Reservations suggested on weekends but probably not required.
Beluga Bar: 18 Church St, Hamilton, Bermuda. Open Monday – Saturday 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM (9:30 PM on Friday and Saturday). Closed Sunday.
Alexander Mosher: 5 Front St, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. Open Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Closed Sunday.
La Trattoria: 23 Washington Lane, Hamilton, Bermuda. Open Monday – Saturday 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM, Sunday 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
The Hog Penny: Burnaby St, Hamilton, Bermuda. Open daily 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, until 10:00 PM Wednesday – Saturday.
The Astwood Arms: 81 Front St City of, Hamilton, Bermuda. Open daily at 12:00 PM until at least 9:00 PM, much later on the weekends.
Meltdown: 47 Front St, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. Open Monday – Saturday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Closed Sunday.