Save on Food at the Westin Grand Cayman
For spring break this year we packed our passports and flew to Grand Cayman to put our Starwood Preferred Guest points to good use at the beachfront Westin Grand Cayman. No vacation or destination is ever perfect, but this one was pretty darn close for those who enjoy picture-perfect family beach getaways. If I had to nitpick about anything on our stay, it would be how pricey it can be to eat at the hotel. That really isn't a shocker when you are dining at an island resort, but it still stings when you factor in the high costs, the CI to USD conversion rate, and 16% service charge. I'll walk you through the onsite food options, what was worth the splurge, what wasn't, and how you can save on food when staying at the Westin Grand Cayman.
To catch you up if you missed the previous post in this series on Grand Cayman, check out one of the below articles or our video overview.
- Where to Use Hotel Points on Grand Cayman
- Review of the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach
- Chartering a Boat on Grand Cayman to Visit Stingray City
- Fun Things for Kids To Do in Grand Cayman
Save on Food When Staying at the Westin Grand Cayman
Let's start at the beginning, with breakfast. If you want to eat breakfast at the Westin Grand Cayman you have two main options, the first is getting something like a muffin and coffee at the grab and go cafe located near the check-in area that opens at 6AM. Or, you can head to Ferdinand’s, the hotel's “Caribbean Casual” restaurant that is open for breakfast seven days a week beginning at 7AM.
On the menu, you will find items such as pancakes, frittatas, or eggs starting at about CI $12 each. The continental breakfast that is thankfully included for two adults with SPG Platinum status is listed at CI $16. This breakfast includes eggs, juice, coffee, pastries, yogurt, and fruit, and was frankly plenty of food to start the day.
There is a full breakfast buffet for CI $25, and if you have SPG Platinum status and want to upgrade from the included continental meal to the full buffet, it is $8 upcharge per person. My kids were both free at each breakfast with our Platinum status as long as they stuck to the buffet, they were not free when they ordered off the menu.
The buffet was totally fine, but not something I would pay for every single day. However, I'm a sucker for an included and easy breakfast, so our SPG Platinum status was a big hit each morning since it allowed us to kick off the day without a swift kick to the wallet.
Had we been paying full rate for breakfast we would have most certainly not enjoyed the restaurant every single morning, and instead would have mixed in some CI $6 - $7 breakfast items from the onsite cafe.
Another great breakfast option is to walk right across the street from the hotel to Eats Cafe and enjoy their extensive and affordable breakfast menu.
Eat Lunch Across the Street from the Westin Grand Cayman
If you don't make it across the street for breakfast, at least make it across the street for lunch as the food is better and cheaper than the Westin's lunch offerings at the three strip mall restaurants Eats, Legendz, and Yoshi Sushi. They are all owned by the same group and all had good service, good food, and fair prices. They don't look like much on the outside, but they are worth a visit for sure if you are looking to save money on food while at the Westin Grand Cayman.
From 4:30 - 7PM each day there is even a happy hour at Yoshi and Legendz with drinks starting at $3.50. We did not eat at Sunshine's Grill on this trip, but we heard great things about their lunch offerings. This restaurant is also within easy walking distance of the Westin Grand Cayman (and has the same owners), so give them a visit if you want an affordable and tasty lunch near the hotel.
If you do eat lunch at the Westin Grand Cayman's poolside Tortuga, be ready for CI $16 burgers, $18 fish tacos, and a kid's menu made up solely of salads, raw vegetables, and a tuna fish sandwich...really. You've been warned. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't very good and was not budget friendly, especially since our kid's wanted nothing from the cheaper kid's menu.
Peanut Butter Jelly Time at the Westin
I'll admit to laughing at the CI $6 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches available in the Westin's grab and go cafe when I first saw them, but by about the third or fourth lunch, we grabbed a few and called it good for our picnic lunch. #Don'tJudge
Enjoy the Freebies at the Westin Grand Cayman
There aren't a ton of free food and drinks at the Westin Grand Cayman, but there are a few things to be aware of so you can snack and save. First, the juice in the lobby is free, consistently refilled, and the perfect pairing for your poolside meal.
On certain evenings, there is a SPG reception at the lobby bar where you can get some free small bites and a complimentary glass of wine.
Your resort fee includes a few bottles of water each day, but in practice, housekeeping will give you as many as you want if you just ask. If you don't see the housekeepers, you can call housekeeping and request some more water. On one of our nights there, housekeeping even came by in the evenings with free rum cakes which instantly became the day's dessert. Speaking of dessert, some nights feature included 'smores by the beach campfire which makes for another fun and tasty treat that won't cost you a thing.
Enjoy the Themed Dinners at the Westin Grand Cayman
While I was not a fan of lunch at the Westin Grand Cayman, I did enjoy their themed dinners for the right mix of fun, value, and convenience. On the night we arrived, they were cooking up the Friday Night Beach BBQ that proved to be the perfect answer to "what's for dinner". It is the priciest of their themed dinners at CI $38 for adults and $14 for children 12 and under with our toddler dining for free.
I loved the beachside setting at sunset and many of the menu items were big hits with my crew. We really enjoyed the fish, plantains, red beans, rice, and ribs.
To no one's surprise, once our two-year-old found the unlimited dessert station, it was all over. I can't blame her though, the brownies, in particular, were excellent.
The other themed dinner we enjoyed was not only very solid for our taste buds, but was also budget-friendly. On Monday nights, the Westin Grand Cayman offers CI $10 seafood Paella that is served out by the beach. All four members of my family went absolutely nuts for this paella, and the helpings they served were more than enough for adult + a snacking kid, making this a dinner by the beach for a little over CI $20!
We were not there for the Wednesday night Cuban Pig Roast that includes pork, black beans, rice, and pickled vegetables for CI $22 for adults and $8 for kids, but if we were still around on Wednesday, I would certainly go for it.
By leveraging elite status for breakfast, strategically eating offsite at the restaurants across the street as well as at Camana Bay, and mainly going all-in at the hotel on the themed dinner nights, we saved as much as we could on food at the Westin Grand Cayman without sacrificing taste or convenience.
Since Grand Cayman is a bit of a foodie's paradise, there are plenty of others nearby restaurants to visit on your next trip to the island. With little kids, we stuck relatively close to the hotel on this trip instead of making events out of meals, but I'd love to hear your favorite places to eat or save on food while in Grand Cayman!
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.