James Bond Beach
James Bond Beach sits on a small peninsula at
Oracabessa Bay about 20 minutes from Ocho Rios on Jamaica 's north coast.
James Bond Beach has a bar and restaurant that has a sizable sports bar. More than just a strip of sand, James Bond Beach also features
beach volleyball courts, soccer field, basketball hoops, watersports
toys and fine sandy beaches. Its connection with the legendary secret
agent is legit.
Not only were scenes from Dr. No filmed at Oracabessa's old banana
port (visible from the bar), owner Chris Blackwell also possesses the
title to Golden Eye, the nearby seaside property where Ian Fleming wrote
all of the Bond books during his annual vacations.
The huge 2-story Moonraker bar, open on all sides,
can hold up to 200, but the only time it's that packed is during occasional
jazz, blues and soca concerts. It's a genuine beach bar where sandy
feet and wet swimsuits are the norm. Even a nature girl like Honey Rider
would feel at home.
The Bond-related décor is subdued, obvious only in the names
of movies painted on small bamboo pieces that hang over the first-floor
bar. Thankfully, there's not a Bond souvenir stand anywhere.
Both locals and tourists come to drink, dine, sun and swim. Traditionally,
Wednesday is cruise ship day. Celebrity friends of owner Chris Blackwell,
who is also a movie producer and founder of Island Records,
sometimes stop by. A weekend regular is Carl Bradshaw, who appeared
in such well-known Jamaica-based movies as The Harder They Come
and The Mighty Quinn.
Mixed drinks rely heavily on the Bond theme, such as the Gold Finger
(rum and a blend of juices) and the Dr. No (vodka and juices). Although
it's not advertised, feel free to order a vodka martini (shaken or stirred)
and anything else from the well stocked bar, including Guinness or Dragon
Stout.
Come with an appetite, too, because the kitchen located beside the
bar serves excellent lobster, shrimp, BBQ and jerk chicken.
Admission fee. Open daily except Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours
extend considerably during special, heavily advertised concerts that
attract as many as 10,000. For information, call 876/975-3665.
Sunday is the best day for both the bar and restaurant.
Bar specials run all day, and beginning at 9:30 a.m. the kitchen starts
serving fish Bond style (snapper escovitch) with bammy and
festival. This is a wonderful dish. Worth the wait if there's a line.
Considering the name of the bar, it's not surprising the signature
drink here is the Moonraker. The drink is better than
the book and the movie (which bear no similarity. In the book, James
Bond never went into space. Or had such good John Barry background music).
Make Your Own Moonraker Drink
Use 1 oz each of coconut rum and Myers rum, a dash of strawberry syrup
and a teaspoon of lime juice. Stir and pour over half cup of crushed
ice.
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