Exploring Grand Cayman’s North Side: Our Reviews of the Must-Visit Spots

If you have been following The Cayman Blueprint, you might remember that we previously put some of the Cayman Islands' Google and Tripadvisor reviews to the test, comparing what visitors had written with our own experiences.

This time, we are heading specifically to Grand Cayman's North Side and Rum Point area.

It is an area we talk about regularly at Oasis Land Development, particularly because of our Rum Retreat development, but there is much more to this part of Grand Cayman than land and property.

From waterfront restaurants and quiet beaches to natural attractions, caves and one surprisingly popular grocery store, North Side has its own distinct character.

So, we collected visitor reviews for some of the places surrounding Rum Point and asked a simple question:

Do we agree?

Watch The Cayman Blueprint: North Side Reviews

You can watch the full episode of The Cayman Blueprint below as Ellie, Anwar and Blake read the reviews, compare them with their own experiences and occasionally ignore the five-point scoring system completely.

Prefer to watch on YouTube? Watch the full Cayman Blueprint episode here.

Kaibo: Is It Worth The Trip?

Our first stop was Kaibo, in Cayman Kai.

Kaibo is one of those places where the location is a huge part of the experience. Sitting on the waterfront, it combines eating and drinking with the laid-back atmosphere that makes this part of Grand Cayman so appealing.

One review immediately caught our attention because the visitors had travelled to Kaibo by ferry from Camana Bay for its Barefoot Beach BBQ.

That is exactly the kind of detail that makes a review useful. Rather than simply telling you whether somebody enjoyed the food, it can introduce you to a completely different way of experiencing an area. If you are planning to make the journey yourself, check the latest Cayman Ferries routes and schedules before travelling, as services and timetables can change.

The visitors described being seated beside the lagoon for sunset, enjoying a family-style dinner, live music and entertainment before taking the ferry back.

Another review came from a local visitor who highlighted Kaibo Beach Espresso as a hidden gem — an important reminder that this is not somewhere enjoyed exclusively by tourists.

Our own experience of Kaibo has been equally positive. On one of our boat days, we docked there for lunch, burgers, fries and cocktails overlooking the water.

This was one of the rare occasions when Ellie, Blake and Anwar all agreed immediately: five out of five across the board.

Rum Point: A Grand Cayman Favourite

Next came somewhere that needs very little introduction: Rum Point.

Located on the tranquil North Side of Grand Cayman, Rum Point is known for its shallow Caribbean water, white sand, watersports and relaxed beach atmosphere.

The reviews we chose praised the views, food, service and tropical atmosphere, with one family describing it as a true jewel of Grand Cayman.

Another visitor highlighted the combination of indoor and outdoor seating, the beach bar, good food and particularly memorable service.

That last point resonated with us.

We have spent plenty of time at Rum Point, and one thing that consistently stands out is the atmosphere created by the people working there. On one visit, the team behind the bar even talked us through the cocktails they were making.

It is relaxed, sociable and unmistakably Caribbean.

The wider Rum Point and Cayman Kai area also gives visitors access to beaches, watersports, restaurants and other North Side attractions without needing to spend every day around Seven Mile Beach.

That is one of the reasons we continually tell visitors to explore beyond the western side of Grand Cayman. The island changes significantly as you travel around it.

Anwar attempted to award it an eight because he thought the service deserved extra points, but our scorecards only go up to five.

Starfish Point: Beautiful — But Respect The Wildlife

Our discussion around Starfish Point was slightly different.

Located around the Rum Point area, Starfish Point is known for its shallow, clear water and resident West Indian sea stars. It has become one of the better-known natural attractions on this side of Grand Cayman.

One visitor loved seeing the starfish but had a much less enjoyable first experience because the beach was busy with tour groups and some visitors were touching and lifting the animals. They returned at quieter times — once in the morning and again around sunset — and had a completely different experience.

This is more than visitor etiquette. The Cayman Islands Department of Environment's official Starfish Point guidance explains that West Indian sea stars are protected and that no-touch observation is always recommended. Gentle handling at Starfish Point is permitted when carried out correctly, but the animal must remain completely underwater and should never be bent, pulled or roughly handled.

Another review gave some genuinely useful practical advice. The visitor arrived around 10:30am and found several excursion boats already there, while our own later-afternoon visit was considerably quieter.

That does not mean arriving at a particular time guarantees a quiet beach, but it shows why recent reviews can be so useful when planning a trip.

For more ideas beyond Starfish Point, the official Cayman Islands tourism guide to popular attractions is a useful starting point when planning what to see around Grand Cayman.

And Yes... There Really Is A Floating Food Boat

During our Starfish Point discussion, Ellie suddenly remembered seeing a floating food boat offshore.

Nobody else was quite sure whether she had imagined it.

She hadn't.

That became one of those slightly chaotic Cayman Blueprint moments where the team stopped mid-podcast to investigate whether Ellie's random Cayman memory was actually correct.

We'll take that as another reason to keep exploring.

Cayman Crystal Caves: One Of The World's Best-Rated Attractions

Next we travelled underground — at least through the reviews — to Cayman Crystal Caves.

Visitors praised knowledgeable guides, the history and wildlife around the caves and the overall experience. One reviewer recommended booking an early 9am tour, while another reminded visitors to stay hydrated as the experience can become warm.

And Crystal Caves has earned some serious international recognition.

Cayman Crystal Caves was ranked among the Top 5 Attractions in the World in Tripadvisor's 2024 Best of the Best Awards. The guided experience takes visitors through underground caverns containing stalactites, stalagmites and other natural formations.

That is the accolade we were trying to remember during the podcast.

At one point we accidentally upgraded it to being one of the "wonders of the world", before eventually correcting ourselves. The actual achievement is impressive enough without our assistance.

Some of the Oasis team have attempted to visit before but managed to arrive too late for the final tour, so this one remains firmly on the list. If you want to visit, it is worth checking tour availability and booking information directly with Crystal Caves before setting off.

It seems slightly unfair to give a definitive rating before experiencing the full tour ourselves. Based on the reviews and international recognition, however, expectations are high.

Chisholm's Grocery: The Unexpected North Side Gem

Yes, we are reviewing a grocery store.

And somehow it became one of our favourite parts of the episode.

During our previous Rum Retreat podcast, Blake had talked about stopping at a little North Side shop, buying a cold drink and a pattie and then discovering that he could sit by the water outside.

This time we finally confirmed its name: Chisholm's Grocery.

And Blake is not the only person who loves it.

Established in 1954, Chisholm's Grocery in North Side is a family-owned supermarket that has served Cayman's Eastern communities for generations.

It is considerably more than somewhere to grab a bottle of water. The store carries food, fresh produce, toiletries, beverages, snorkelling and fishing equipment and other everyday essentials. It also offers a delivery service to areas including Rum Point.

The waterfront setting is part of its charm too. Sometimes it is the smaller everyday places, rather than major tourist attractions, that give an area its character.

What These Reviews Tell Us About Grand Cayman's North Side

Put all five places together and you start to understand why we enjoy this part of Grand Cayman so much.

Kaibo gives you waterfront dining and a place to arrive by road or boat.

Rum Point brings the classic Caribbean beach atmosphere.

Starfish Point offers an opportunity to experience Cayman's marine environment in shallow, clear water.

Cayman Crystal Caves reveals a completely different side of the island underground.

And Chisholm's Grocery gives you a glimpse of the everyday North Side community that exists beyond the visitor attractions.

It is also why location matters when we talk about Rum Retreat. The development is not sitting in isolation. It is surrounded by an established part of Grand Cayman where beaches, restaurants, natural attractions and local amenities are already part of everyday life.

If you are researching the wider Cayman Islands as well as North Side, our Cayman Islands Knowledge Hub brings together our guides, podcasts, location insights and latest Cayman articles in one place.

Should You Trust Online Reviews?

Our answer is the same as it was after our first review episode:

Yes — but do not treat one person's experience as absolute fact.

A five-star review and a one-star review can describe the exact same place.

What reviews are particularly good at providing is detail.

They might tell you that somewhere gets busy after tour boats arrive, that an attraction is better booked in advance, that there is another way to travel somewhere, or that a tiny grocery store happens to have a rather lovely spot to eat your lunch beside the Caribbean Sea.

As we said at the end of the podcast, third-party reviews can be genuinely useful for people researching Cayman, helping them decide where to visit, when to go and what they might need to book ahead of time.

Our advice? Read the reviews. Then go and make up your own mind.