World Country Guide

Social Profile

Food & Drink
Local specialities include seafood and vegetables, calaloo soup, crabs, conches (lambi) and nutmeg ice-cream. Most hotels and restaurants offer international cuisine, serving a large variety of tropical fish and English, Continental, American and exotic West Indian food. A local company supplies a wide variety of local fruit juices and nectars. The local rum and beer, Carib, is excellent. Bars are stocked with most popular wines and spirits, including various brands of whisky, rum and brandy.

Nightlife
Home to the vibrant calypso and reggae music, Grenada offers a good mix of local and international restaurants and bars. Many resorts provide night time entertainment, such as discos, organised shows and cabarets. The Regal Cinema has recently been refurbished and hosts many multi-cultural events as well as showing films.

Shopping
Special purchases include leather crafts, jewellery, spices, straw goods, printed cottons and other fabrics. There are a number of duty-free shops selling quality goods from all over the world. A vendors market has now opened close to the Grand Anse Beach with 82 vendors offering various goods and services. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1300. Supermarkets are usually open Mon-Sat 0900-1900.

Special Events
Grenada’s annual carnival in August involves colourful street parties, steel bands and calypso competitions. There are several yachting and fishing events throughout the year; in addition, public holidays are usually accompanied by some form of special celebration. For full details of events, contact the Grenada Board of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Grenada in 2005:
Jan 21-5 Spice Island Billfish Tournament. Jan 28-Feb 2 Grenada La Source Sailing Festival, Grand Anse Beach. Feb 7-9 Carriacou Carnival. Mar 17 St Patrick’s Day Festival. Mar 24-29 Grenada Round-the-Island Easter Regatta. Apr 11-20 Grenada Classics Festival, cricket festival. May 14 Whitsuntide Athletic Games. Jun 29 Fishermans' Birthday Celebrations. Jul/Aug Carnival 2005. Jul 29-Aug 1 Carriacou Regatta. Dec Carriacou Parang Festival.

Social Conventions
Local culture reflects the island’s history of British and French colonial rule and, of course, the African cultures imported with the slaves – African influence is especially noticeable on the island of Carriacou in the Big Drum and in Grenada with the Shango dance. The Roman Catholic Church also exerts a strong influence on the way of life. Local people are generally friendly and courteous. Dress is casual and informal but beachwear is not welcome in town. Tipping: A 10 per cent service charge is added by most hotels and restaurants. If no charge is added, it is customary to leave a 10 per cent tip.