Anguilla: Azure Beach Bar at CuisinArt (April 2016)

My spouse and I enjoyed drinks at Azure on a Saturday afternoon in late April 2016. Because we visited the bar late in the day (at approximately 4:30 pm), close to the closing time of 5:00, the bartender was selective in what guests could order at that hour. This small, picturesque beach bar at the Cuisinart Resort in Rendezvous Bay reminds one of being in the Mediterranean although you are really in the Caribbean. (The owner of Cuisinart built the property to resemble the Greek island of Mykonos.) With a panoramic view of the sea, this breezy outdoor bar features whitewashed décor with a sparkly blue tile bar top. Terraced water fountains lead from the main property elevation down to the round bar, the dining deck, and the beach. The bar offers some roof cover; in fact, on the afternoon that we visited, it rained (it was the only time during our 9-day Caribbean vacation that we experienced any inclement weather), and although there was simultaneously a good breeze, we remained dry under cover of the bar’s roof. You can also sit on the deck in a completely al fresco environment, where you can eat a casual meal while still enjoying the beach and the view. (The only drawback is that there are no restroom facilities near Azure, so you must climb the steps and make the walk to either the hotel lobby or to your own hotel room.) Fresh ingredients for the cocktails (basil, sage, cucumbers, and tomatoes) come from the resort’s own hydroponic farm.