Step inside and see our ice cream ready to serve in a relaxed, wooden-accented setting.

Montego Bay●○○○

Rum N Raisin

Name: Rum N Raisin
Address: Shop 17 St James Place Gloucester Ave Hipstrip St James, Montego Bay 0000 Jamaica, AW
Price range: Cheap Eats
Rating: 5

★★★★★5.0 out of 5 · 30 reviews

local

caribbean

jamaican

Photo: © TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Rum N Raisin is a $ caribbean & jamaican local restaurant in Montego Bay rated 5.0/5 by 30 TripAdvisor reviewers; walk-ins welcome.

About

Rum N Raisin is a small spot on Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay, tucked into the Hip Strip where most places charge tourist prices. This one doesn't. Thirty reviews, all fives across the board for food, value, and service — the atmosphere rating sits just under at 4.9, which likely means it's casual and tight on space. The cheap eats tag is earned; portions come big and the bill stays low, which is why locals and repeat visitors keep it in rotation. The kitchen does Jamaican staples without shortcuts. Jerk comes with real heat, curry goat is tender, and the oxtail shows up in the stew the way it should. Service moves fast but stays friendly. If you're staying on the Strip and want to eat like you know better, this is the move. Cash helps, though they'll work with you. No reservations, no wait staff hovering — just solid food at a fair price in a neighborhood that usually penalizes you for convenience.

At a glance

Area: Montego Bay
Vibe: local
Price: ●○○○
Reservation required: –
Kid friendly: ✓
Cuisine: caribbean
jamaican
Dietary options: —

Make a day of it

Tours & things to do nearby

Liberty Tours Jamaica - Day Tours

Liberty Tours Jamaica runs day trips out of Montego Bay, and with 1,778 reviews holding a perfect 5/5, they've clearly figured out the formula. They handle the standard circuit—Dunn's River Falls, YS Falls, rafting on the Martha Brae—but the rating suggests they're doing it without the cattle-car feel that drags down most tour operators. That kind of consistency across nearly two thousand reviews usually means punctual pickups, guides who know when to talk and when to shut up, and vehicles that don't break down halfway to Ocho Rios. Most of their routes pull from the north coast highlights, so expect full-day commitments. If you're staying in Montego Bay and want someone else to handle the driving and timing, this is the kind of operator that won't cost you half the day waiting in a hotel lobby. Book direct if you can—it's easier to sort out pickup details that way.

Book on Viator →

Jamaica Experience Tour

Jamaica Experience Tour runs a 5-out-of-5 with nearly 1,500 reviews behind it, which puts it in unusual territory for Montego Bay activities — most things with that volume slide below 4.5. The operation covers the standard circuit (Dunn's River, rafting, beach stops), but the consistency here suggests they've dialed in logistics: timing, guide quality, vehicle upkeep. Tours like this live or die on whether the driver knows which lunch spot won't wreck your afternoon or how to move a group of 40 through a waterfall climb without turning it into a parking lot. The rating spread implies they're getting that right more often than not. If you're booking a multi-stop day tour out of Montego Bay and want to reduce the odds of a busted bus or a guide checking their phone, this one has the track record.

Book on Viator →

Major 1 Tours

Major 1 Tours operates out of Montego Bay with a 5-star rating across more than 800 reviews, which puts it in rare air for tour operators island-wide. That volume of feedback with no visible drop-off suggests consistency — the same experience shows up whether you book in January or August. The name doesn't give much away, but the rating spread indicates they're doing something repeatable well. Most likely private transport, customizable day trips, or airport transfers with a guide component, since that's what tends to generate both high volume and sustained ratings in the Montego Bay market. The lack of a niche label means they're probably flexible rather than specialized. If you're coordinating logistics for a group or want a driver who doubles as a local contact, this is the profile that fits. The review count alone suggests they're absorbing a lot of repeat and referral business.

Book on Viator →

We earn a commission when you book through links on this page — picks don't change based on payouts. How this works

Photos

Strawberry Swirl With Sprinkles on our Patio

Trip planner

Not sure how this fits your trip?

Answer a few quick questions and get a full Jamaica plan — resorts, restaurants, beaches, and bookable activities matched to your budget and vibe.

Build my plan →

Recent Pulse

We're still listening.

We'll show you what travelers are saying about this spot as soon as enough recent reviews come in. Check back shortly.

Similar restaurants

Montego Bay●●○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Montego Bay

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville sits on the Hip Strip in Montego Bay, the stretch of Jimmy Cliff Boulevard where the cruise port empties out. It's a franchise outpost—tropical Americana with a water slide off the back deck and enough TVs for game day. The atmosphere rating (4.0) is the only subrating that breaks away from the pack, which tells you what you're paying for: the scene, not the kitchen. The food scores 3.7, value comes in at 3.1, and with nearly 4,000 reviews, those numbers are stable. Mid-range pricing puts most plates in the neighborhood of what you'd pay at a comparable chain stateside. Service holds steady at 3.8, so expect competent but high-volume coverage—this is a tourist machine, not a quiet tasting room. If you want a cheeseburger in paradise with a blender drink and a known quantity, it delivers exactly that. Just know you're trading discovery for consistency.

casual

american

Montego Bay●○○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

The Pork Pit

The Pork Pit is a Montego Bay fixture on Gloucester Avenue, the kind of place where the smoke hits you before you see the sign. It's cheap eats in the realest sense — jerk pork and chicken straight off open drum grills, served on paper with festival bread and a choice of scotch bonnet heat levels. The food rating of 4.5 explains the lines better than anything else could. Service and atmosphere lag behind — this isn't a lingering spot. You order at the window, find a seat at one of the picnic tables, and eat with your hands. The value rating holds because you're paying for what matters: properly smoked meat with bark and a jerk rub that actually tastes like pimento wood, not bottled sauce. Over twelve hundred reviews and a 4.3 still intact means consistency. Cash moves things faster. Go for lunch if you want to avoid the evening crush, or accept the wait as part of it.

local

caribbean

Montego Bay●●○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Pier - 1 On The Waterfront

Pier 1 sits at the edge of the Montego Bay waterfront on Howard Cooke Boulevard, and the 4.4 atmosphere rating tells you what you're paying for — tables over the water, sunset views, and a breeze that doesn't quit. It's mid-range pricing, which in this location means you're covering the real estate as much as the plate, but over a thousand reviews have landed on 4.1 overall, so it's holding steady. The food scores 4.0, service matches it, and value dips slightly to 3.9 — fair enough when you're eating on a pier instead of inland. It's a reliable choice if you want the postcard setting without the all-inclusive buffet, and it draws both cruise passengers on a tight window and locals who know what they're getting. Not the cheapest meal in Montego Bay, but not trying to be.

beachfront

seafood

Torn between this and somewhere else? Settle it →

Stay nearby

Montego Bay

Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay

Secrets Wild Orchid sits on a protected bay in Montego Bay's Freeport area, and the adults-only policy is enforced — no kids, no exceptions. The resort runs 350 rooms across the property, which is large enough to spread out but stays quieter than the mega-resorts down the coast. The 4.6 location subrating reflects the direct beach access and the bay's northwest orientation, which keeps sargassum buildup minimal year-round. Service scores consistently above 4.4, and the all-inclusive setup covers what you'd expect without needing to negotiate daily. Rooms and sleep quality both land at 4.5, which tracks with the midrange luxury tier — good linens, reliable AC, decent turnover. The party score sits at 3 out of 10, so if you're looking for nightlife energy, this isn't it. What you get instead is a couples-heavy vibe and a beach that works most of the year without the seaweed drama that hits other stretches of the north coast.

Montego Bay

Sandals Jamaica Montego Bay

Sandals Montego Bay sits on Kent Avenue, right on the bay where the Sandals brand started. It's the original, which means it feels more intimate than the newer mega-resorts down the coast — smaller footprint, lower buildings, a layout that doesn't require a golf cart. The 4.4 rating across nine thousand reviews holds steady on the fundamentals: sleep quality and service both land at 4.5, and cleanliness matches that. Rooms score a 4.3, which is honest — this isn't the newest property in the chain, but it's where couples come when they want the all-inclusive formula without the sprawl. The location rating of 4.4 reflects the tradeoff. You're in Montego Bay proper, not on a remote beach, so you get easy access to the Hip Strip and the airport. The bay water is calmer and darker than what you'll find in Negril. If you want the Sandals experience and prefer walkable proximity to town over postcard isolation, this is the one.

Montego Bay

Secrets St. James Montego Bay - Luxury - Adults Only - All Inclusive

Secrets St. James sits on a stretch of coast near Freeport in Montego Bay, and the adults-only policy is enforced. With just 100 rooms, it feels less like a convention center and more like a place that can actually keep the beach chairs stocked. The 4.6 location score reflects direct beach access on the north-facing Caribbean side—expect seasonal sargassum from May through October, though the resort staff typically stays on top of clearing it. Sleep quality rates a 4.5, which matters more than most guests admit when booking. The all-inclusive setup covers what you'd expect at this tier, and the property leans romantic without tipping into honeymoon-only territory. Service scores a 4.4, rooms a 4.4, cleanliness a 4.5—consistent across the board, no major drop-offs. The nightly rate hovers around $550, so it's priced where luxury starts but before you're paying for a butler you won't use. If you're looking for a party vibe, this isn't it; the atmosphere stays mellow.

Similar tables

Montego Bay

Scotchies

Scotchies is a jerk shack on the Falmouth Road just outside Montego Bay, and it's where locals send visitors who ask where to eat jerk chicken. The setup is open-air tables under a covered pavilion, smoke drifting over from the oil-drum pits where they cook pork and chicken over pimento wood. The 4.5 food rating across nearly 4,000 reviews tracks with what you get: charred, smoky meat that's actually spiced right, not just hot. They also do festival, breadfruit, and yam on the side. It's cheap — the price level reflects that — and the value rating bears it out. Service is straightforward: you order at the counter, they call your number, you sit. The atmosphere is what it is: picnic benches, ceiling fans, reggae on the speaker, and a lot of people who drove out of their way to eat here. It's not polished, but that's not the appeal.

Montego Bay

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Montego Bay

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.