Holy Smoke

Holy Smoke is a barbecue smokehouse at Kaya Ir. Randolph Statius van Eps 17 in Kralendijk, founded in 2020 and known across the island for its ribs.

Everything is smoked over Caribbean hardwood with a house spice blend, and the ribs come off the bone. The turkey legs are the other thing people order — an unusual item here, and the size of them is part of the appeal. It is takeaway only: there is no dining room and no terrace, you collect and eat elsewhere.

The opening hours are narrow and worth writing down: Thursday for smoked beef birria tacos, and Saturday and Sunday from 17:00 to 19:00 for the ribs and turkey legs. Two hours on two evenings, and it sells out. Ring +599 796 9966 to order ahead rather than turning up and hoping. Reckon on fifteen to twenty-five dollars a head, and take it to a beach on the south coast — the salt pans are ten minutes away and there are picnic spots along the water.