Where Can You Find Island Zen on Barbados’ East Coast?

Zemi’s Cafe is the ticket!

The beauty and luxury of the West Coast are well known. But, it is certainly not the only Barbados coast worth visiting.

Slower-paced, and less-populated, the East Coast has many hidden gems to offer. One of those is Zemi’s East Coast Cafe, in Bathsheba.

A Family Affair

A large part of Zemi’s charm comes from its family vibe. It’s owned and run by the former Operations Manager of Elegant Hotels Group, Gayle Talma, and her husband, Kenny Hewitt, the owner of Premium Seafood Ltd. As the cafe Manager, their daughter Ella ensures the service you receive is nothing short of excellent. The entire family is so friendly and accommodating.

Views For Days

A panoramic deck with spacious seating gives patrons plenty of room to enjoy an uninterrupted ocean view and Atlantic sea breezes. Gaze over an expanse of green grass and you’ll see frothy surf and a stunning east coast sunset; a contrast to the tranquil views of the west coast. In fact, Bathsheba Beach is also known as the Soup Bowl, where Atlantic rollers lure surfers for local and international comps.

Why not take a stroll along the shore at Tent Bay after dining at Zemi’s? It’s the perfect place to spend an entire afternoon in our opinion. And if you really want to make a day of your east coast experience, we recommend spending the morning at Hunte’s Gardens.

Coffee + Dining + Cocktails

Given that Zemi’s is a cafe, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the coffee! Whether you enjoy a standard or specialty coffee, try it with a homemade Zemi’s chocolate chip cookie and you won’t be disappointed.

Fresh seafood is a prominent feature on the menu – as it should be, given Zemi’s location in a fishing village. For a starter, we recommend either the ‘Tent Bay’ Ceviche (a firm favourite), or the Yellowfin Tuna Poke. The Ceviche is freshly prepared each day by Chef Steffi from the best local fish. The Tuna Tartare comes in tiny bites with an Asian marinade that packs a big flavour punch.

The Rum Glazed Pork Belly is simply divine, served with sweet potato mash and seasonal chutney (like mango or pineapple).

We love that local fruits inspire Zemi’s cocktail creations. Homegrown and hand-picked passionfruit feature in cocktails like the Passion Lemon Drop. Fresh grapefruits, indigenous to Barbados, show up in a lush Gin and Tonic cocktail.

Island History

Zemi’s name pays homage to the history of the cafe’s location – this was once an ancient Amerindian village. Specifically, “Zemi” was a deity in the Caribbean’s Taino culture.

More recently, this location was derelict, however a redevelopment has brought it to life once more. And it’s this redevelopment that has welcomed Zemi’s Cafe.

Hot Tip

It only opened in 2022, but already, Zemi is hugely popular with the local community (a stellar review in itself). This makes it a busy spot, so it’s often worth making a reservation before you go.