Water

Depending on how long you’ll be on Utila (more than 4 days, or traveling with a group) You are wisest to buy a five gallon water jug and a funnel to fill your bottles. The deposit on the jug is $8usd/$170 lempiras and only $1.50usd/30 lempiras to refill. You get the deposit back when you return the jug undamaged. You can also buy gallons of water for $1.25usd/26 lempiras and refill those for $.50/10lempiras. You can also get cheap bags of ice and some of the cheapest cigarettes on the island here too. Located about 20 yards up Mame Lane off the main road. Turn right on the street across from the fire station.

La Casita

“Oh my, God. Cinnamon buns.” Walking past La Casita, the smell of sweet cinnamon and baking bread wafts down the street, luring you to this small shack. Mmmmm, cinnamon rolls. And they are still in the oven. Clarissa, the head baker here, will tell you they still have 1.5 hours to bake, you’ll wait what will actually be 2 hours and it will all be worth it. (Well worth the $1.25/25 lemps.) The banana cake is a delicious consolation choice if you don’t have the time. She also has incredible frozen blended coffees and fruit shakes that are big enough to count as your breakfast, or a light lunch at $2usd/40 lemps. Her lunches and dinners are quite popular too — lasagna, cheeseburgers, fish suppers. Check the menu as it changes daily.

Babalu’s

If you want a place to drink a cheap beer or rum punch and watch the sunset over the water Babalu’s is the place. A rustic bar/restaurant set out over the water made of faded clapboards with couches inside, and an open dock in the back to sit, sip a beer talk with the regular group of local men and watch the sun sink into the sea. At night you can watch the Snappers, octopus or a Moray  eel  visit the man made reef through the cut out in the floor. Beers and homemade rum punch are only $1.50usd/28 lemps and the music is the best on the island (obviously a matter of opinion, but most people agree on this). Babalu’s also serves delicious sandwiches and seafood, but while it’s not exactly expensive it can be a little over budget.

Tree Tanic

Tree Tanic is a bar, which means after-dark, right? NO! Ok, so yes. Go there at night and drink some cocktails or beers, but failing to see this labyrinthine Guadi-esque masterpiece sparkle under the hot island sun would be shameful. The owner, who can be found most nights watching the sunset at Babalu’s, devoted 15 years to the intricate mosaics that blanket the small hillside here — and he’s not even finished. The bar menu isn’t the cheapest in town, but buy a beer ($1.75usd/33 lemps)and then go get lost in the winding paths and hideaway nooks throughout. There is a donation box at the entrance of Tree Tanic, and once you’ve seen the devotion and obvious passion that has gone into this true Utilian treasure, we seriously recommend throwing a few bones his way.

Friendly Girl Cafe

Located right behind Parrots Dive Shop, this small food shack provides the local divers with early breakfasts before morning dives, daily lunch specials, and delicious licuados and milkshakes.  The most popular items seem to be the breakfast burrito (35 lemps) and their daily lunch specials (around 70 lemps).  They open by 6:30am so you are guaranteed a good breakfast before hopping on the boat and if you take a course through Parrots, they always offer at least one free breakfast. Licuados are very popular on the island and you can get them most places, here at Friendly Girls’ they give you a large serving for 35 lempira and you can choose from fruit, chocolate, and even peanut butter.  It’s not a restaurant you want to go to and sit, but if you are diving at Parrots, you will definitely be taking advantage of the convenient location, friendly service, and delicious food.

RJs Grill

This restaurant is located near the bridge and is open on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. They feature a huge grilled steak along with a good sized snapper fish filet( pan fried or grilled}, beef, chicken or fish burgers. Beans, rice, French fries,  or mashed potatoes.side salad. Priced around $8 to $11. A little pricey but good food and large cuts of meat.

Rehab

If you’re looking for wings this is the place. $3.50 for 3 whole wings, $1.00 for each additional wing. A variety of sauces to be sure to find something for almost every ones pallet . They also have the best whole Sapper we found on the island. a truly large meal with rice, plantains and a side salad, $9.50. Burgers looked good.