In general, it is wise to order the speciality of the house or of the day to ensure freshness. Island cooking includes Creole, Continental and American dishes. Food prices on Dominica are usually reasonable. Restaurants close at about midnight weekdays but are open later at weekends. Root vegetables, such as yams and turnips, are often referred to as ‘provisions’ on a menu. Local spirits, rum especially, are inexpensive. Wines (mainly French and Californian) are expensive. There is a wide choice of beers. There are no licensing hours.

National specialities:
• Tee-tee-ree (tiny freshly spawned fish).
• Lambi (conch). 
• Manicou (small opossum).
• Crab backs (seasoned crab meat).
• Bello Hot Pepper Sauce is made locally and served everywhere with almost everything.

National drinks:
• Island fruit juices are excellent.
• Rum punches, particularly coconut rum punch (made from fresh coconut milk, sugar, rum, bitters, vanilla and grenadine).
• Sea Moss is a non-alcoholic beverage made from sea moss or seaweed, with a slightly minty taste.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is added by most hotels and some restaurants. Other less touristic places do not add service to the bill and tipping is discretionary; 10 to 15% of the bill is acceptable.

Some hotel lounges stay open until 2300 and there is music at weekends at several hotels. A favourite haunt in Roseau, La Robe Creole, has dance music nightly with live bands at weekends. Popular local discos include The Warehouse, Scorpio and Doubles International. There are often folklore evenings with authentic costumes and music. Hotel staff will generally be able to advise visitors as to the best places.

There is no duty-free shopping, but there are some excellent buys to be found among local handicrafts including hats, bags and rugs made from vetiver grass joined with wild banana strands. The Carib Reserve Crafts Centre produces bags made from two layers of reeds that are buried in the ground to achieve a three-colour effect and covered with a layer of broad banana-type leaf to make them waterproof.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1400-1600, Sat 0800-1300.