The Negril List

Jamaica has always felt like family. Growing up with a Haitian-born mother in New York City, I moved constantly through Caribbean spaces, with Jamaican culture woven seamlessly into my family and social circle. The humor, the cadence, the directness softened by warmth made me feel seen without question and welcomed without inspection.

That sense of belonging carried into my first visit to Negril as a musician, while shooting the music video for my song “Money,” my biggest single at the time. The project was entirely DIY. I arrived with friends and my roommate, minimal equipment, no real budget and no formal crew. We scouted everything ourselves, moving through Negril by instinct and curiosity. While flowing through that work, the place offered openness, compassion, ease, joy, and the same cadence of humor I had loved my entire life.

I’ve returned regularly ever since to reconnect with the same energy that showed me love all those years ago. I now own a bar called Heaven & Earth in Brooklyn, one that has drawn endless inspiration from my time in Negril. I still come to eat, laugh, rest, get inspired, seek adventure, and most importantly, to remember who I am when the noise drops away.

Seeing Negril move through recovery after Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure, small businesses, and stretches of coastline, has only deepened my admiration. The resilience, togetherness, and generosity that welcomed me years ago are still very much present. Many beloved places are rebuilding, restoring and reopening, and thoughtful tourism remains essential to sustaining the community and the families who call it home.

This list reflects my relationship to Negril. It’s shaped by people, community, love, care, and resilience itself.

Where I Eat & Drink

Miss Lily’s at Skylark – A full-circle place for me after years working at the original NYC location. Familiar flavors, joy-forward hospitality, and the sea just steps away. Come early or at sunset, order simply, and let the day unfold.

3 Dives Jerk Centre – A longtime Negril staple perched on the cliffs. Casual, smoky, and deeply local, with jerk chicken grilled to order and sunset views over the water. Eat with your hands, stay longer than planned, let the night unfold naturally.

Rasta Ade Refreshments – A vibrant beachfront Ital and vegan spot on the beach by Norman Manley Boulevard. Perfect early in the day for fresh juices, plant-based dishes, and relaxed ocean views. Honest food in a true beachside Jamaican setting.

Kuyaba Restaurant – A personal ritual every time I’m in Negril. Beachside, open-air, and full of character. The resident parrots are part of the scene, and I always order the fried whole fish, sit for the sunset, and let the night stretch out.

Where I Stay & Linger

Rockhouse – Iconic and soulful, built into the cliffs. Best experienced by wandering, swimming, and letting the history of the place settle in.

Skylark Negril Beach Resort – Bright, intentional, and grounded in joy. A place that understands beauty without excess. Even a short visit feels restorative.

What I Do

I walk and swim Seven Mile Beach from day into evening. I swim the calm blue water, stop for drinks, meet people, talk to vendors, drift in and out of conversations, and let the day stretch without a plan. The beach is alive that way, social and unguarded, and it’s where Negril reveals itself most honestly.

I take a glass-bottom boat ride without overplanning it. I talk to captains along the water and opt in when a boat and a person feel right. I always ask to see the bat caves and the places where you can jump out, swim, and explore. It’s spontaneous, playful, and one of the best ways to experience the coastline.

Cliff jumping is part of the rhythm here. It’s spontaneous, a little wild, and best done when the moment feels right. Watch first, ask questions, then jump when you’re ready. Rick’s Cafe is classic for a reason.

A waterfall adventure is always worth it, especially Mayfield Falls. Go with a guide. You’ll move upstream through multiple waterfalls and natural pools, climb, swim, and take your time. It’s immersive and grounding, a beautiful way to experience Jamaica beyond the coast.

Where to Go Out

Bourbon Beach – A Seven Mile classic. Right on the sand, loud in the best way, and always social. Live music, dancing, and the feeling that anything can happen once the sun goes down.

The Jungle Nightclub – Iconic, chaotic, and unapologetically Negril. A late-night staple with big energy and packed dance floors. You’ll know if it’s your night as soon as you walk in.

The best nights aren’t planned. Let the night take you down Seven Mile Beach barefoot, bar hopping without an agenda, following music, laughter, and whatever feels right.

Negril is a living place, not a backdrop. Showing up with curiosity, patience, and respect goes a long way. Supporting local businesses and letting the place lead always feels like the right way to be here, especially in the midst of the post-hurricane rebuild.

I return to Negril because it reminds me how to move through the world with kind-hearted openness and strength at the same time. It doesn’t ask you to escape your life. It asks you to inhabit it more fully. 

That invitation still stands.