Rick's Café

The Basics

Outside on the expansive cliffside patio, watch in awe as local professional cliff divers and courageous tourists leap some 30 feet (9 meters) into the deep sea waters below. Dining at the restaurant is semiformal, with the chef making authentic, mouth-watering Jamaican dishes like ackee and salt fish, callaloo, oxtail and butter beans, and curry goat.

You can experience Rick’s Cafe on your own, or with a private or group half-day or full-day tour that leaves from Montego Bay, Negril, or Ocho Rios. Tours incorporate the highlights of whichever area you choose, and many also feature fun activities like a catamaran cruise to the famous Negril Cliffs, stops at the best snorkeling spots, scenic coastal drives, and swimming and relaxing at postcard-pretty beaches along the way. Most tours include round-trip transportation from your hotel, gear rental, and some food and drink.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Rick’s Cafe is a popular stop with first-time visitors to the area, especially at sunset. Families with small children are welcome, though mind them closely around the cliffs area.

• Remember to bring your swimwear, sunscreen, towel, and camera for sunsets and cliff jumps.

• There are reports of travelers sustaining serious injuries from jumping off the cliffs. Dive at your own risk.

• Rick’s Cafe is accessible to wheelchair users.

How to Get There

Rick’s Cafe is west of central Negril along West End Road, easily accessible by taxi or shuttle bus from many Negril hotels.

When to Get There

Rick’s Cafe is open from 12pm to 10pm daily year-round. Nightly live music and sunset parties get going around 5:30pm. During the off-season (May through November) there are smaller crowds here and throughout the island.

Seven Miles of Heaven

Chances are if you’ve seen postcards of Jamaica, you’ve gazed upon the creamy white sands of Seven Mile Beach. Along the coast next to Rick’s Cafe, this stretch is a popular destination, not only for its stunning beauty but also for activities. At the beach you can snorkel the reefs, play volleyball, kayak, take a glass-bottom boat ride, or go for a horseback ride in the surf.

What is Rick’s Café in Negril, Jamaica, and what makes it famous

Rick’s Café opened in 1974 as the first public bar and restaurant on the West End Cliffs. It was rebuilt twice, once in 1988 and once in 2004, due to hurricane destruction. It’s most famous today for its sunsets, lively vibes, and cliff jumping that’s open to all who dare.

What are some recommended dishes or drinks to try at Rick’s Café?

Rick’s Café specializes in tropical cocktails and Jamaican dishes like Red Stripe Beer Battered Shrimp, Rick’s Caribbean Whole Lobster, and Blackened Mahi Mahi Fillet. Rasta-politan, Rick’s Frozen Rum Runner, and Rick’s World Famous Rum Punch are popular cocktails. Sweet potato pudding and traditional rum cakes are best for dessert.

Are there any nearby accommodations or hotels close to Rick’s Café for overnight stays?

Yes, there are multiple accommodations near Rick’s Café. Villas Sur Mer is a chic four-star rustic hotel with villas and cottages right next door to Rick’s. Le Mirage is a small, adults-only, clothing-optional resort nearby with an infinity swimming pool. There are many other hotels within minutes of Rick’s Café.

Does Rick’s Café have any water activities or attractions, such as cliff jumping or snorkeling?

Yes, Rick’s Café is best-known for cliff jumping. The water is 15 feet (4.5 meters) deep, and you can jump from heights of 10 feet (3 meters), 25 feet (7.6 meters), and 35 feet (10.6 meters)—at your own risk. There also is a swimming pool on-site.

What transportation options are available for getting to Rick’s Café from other areas of Negril or nearby towns?

Most visitors to Rick’s Café either walk from their hotel or take private transportation. There are dozens of car hires available in the Negril area; nearly every hotel will help you secure a ride to Rick’s. You also can ask airport staff upon arrival for a local taxi number.

Is Rick’s Café family-friendly, and are there any age restrictions for visitors?

Yes, Rick’s Café is considered a family-friendly restaurant, and kids can dine alongside their parents. No pets are allowed. Keep in mind that this busy restaurant draws a crowd who enjoy drinking and dancing. It is a lively bar atmosphere that may become more adult-oriented as the sun sets.

Ways to explore

Soaking up the sunset at Rick’s Café is a rite of passage when visiting Negril. Do so over a dinner of jerk chicken or fried snapper, or take in the view while cliff-jumping 35 feet (11 meters) into the Caribbean. If you’d rather lounge poolside, you can rent one of the restaurant’s cliffside cabanas.

Rick’s Café is very popular and doesn’t take reservations for parties smaller than 10 people. To avoid a long wait, go with a guided tour that provides transportation from Montego Bay and also makes stops for snorkeling, river rafting, or sunbathing at Seven Mile Beach.

Accessibility

Rick’s Café has wheelchair accessible seating areas.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Bring sunscreen and a towel if you plan to swim or sunbathe, plus a camera for capturing the bar’s signature sunsets.

What to wear

Swimsuit, lightweight clothing, flat shoes for climbing the restaurant’s stone steps

Not allowed

Cliff-jumping is at your own risk, so don’t take the plunge if you’re not a confident swimmer. The restaurant also doesn’t allow pets.

Amenities

Restrooms, gift shop, pool, parking lot

Address 

Located on Jamaica’s West End, Rick’s Café is just a 10-minute drive south of Negril and about two hours away from Montego Bay to the north. Drive there yourself, join a guided day trip with included transportation, or, if you’re staying in Negril, ask your hotel about a shuttle service.

Driving

From Montego Bay, take coastal A1 for 47 miles (76 kilometers) to Negril, then follow West End Road for about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the restaurant. Rick’s has a parking lot, with overflow parking nearby.

Public transportation

There’s no public transportation to the West End, but Rick’s is a quick taxi ride from Negril. If you’re traveling without a car, consider booking a day tour with round-trip transfer from nearby resorts.

Best times to visit

Sunset is the most scenic (and crowded) time to visit Rick’s Café. Go for lunch for a shorter wait, or linger after dinner for music and dancing.

Best days to visit

Rick’s Café is open daily—just check the forecast to make sure you don’t visit on a rainy day.

Best months to visit

November to early December is the ideal time to swing by Rick’s, as you’ll skip the hurricane season and holiday travel rush while still enjoying plenty of lively atmosphere.