Waterlot Inn Bermuda
$$$$, Steak, Seafood and Continental
The Restaurant and Ambience
Earlier known as the Waterlot Inn, the elegant and upscale restaurant was renamed to The Waterlot in 2024 following an extensive renovation including its private jetty. The restaurant is part of the hotel
Fairmont Southampton.
Photo: David Broad/ Wikimedia Commons
It serves some of the finest steak, seafood and continental food. The service is impeccable from the moment you are greeted at the door. It's a graceful, two-story manor house, which dates back to 1670. Merchant sailors used to unload cargo at the basement and used it as a warehouse in those days.
Many local Bermudians approach this restaurant by water while mooring their boats at the sheltered cove. Over the years, the restaurant has attracted guests like Mark Twain, James Thurber, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Eugene O'Neill.
Nestled in Jew's Bay, the Waterlot offers breathtaking
sunset views. There is an upstairs bar where you can have a drink. Try out the local cocktail Dark ‘N’ Stormy and listen to a pianist playing classical numbers... a wonderful experience you will remember for long.
There is an outdoor terrace and also an adjoining garden that are excellent places for taking a cocktail prior to the dinner. Then there is colonial staircase to bring you to one of the dining rooms. Each features Captain's or Windsor chairs, oil paintings of old clipper ships, ceilings with beams, and lots of exposed wood.
Food and Drinks
The Waterlot offers a sophisticated dinner experience with a menu that blends classic steakhouse fare with modern, locally inspired dishes. A standout appetizer is the tableside Caesar salad, known for its showmanship.
Other popular starters include Tuna Tartare and Oysters Rockefoiegras. For soups, the French Onion Soup and Lobster Bisque are the signatures.
Sunset view from Waterlot
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
As a renowned steakhouse, The Waterlot offers an impressive selection of dry-aged steaks, including various cuts of USDA Angus beef, and other premium options like a New Zealand Rack of Lamb. Steak cuts includes Chairman's Reserve Filet Mignon, Prime New York Striploin, and Prime Ribeye, as well as specialty cuts like Wagyu Striploin and Bone-In Ribeye. Chef Hamish's Tasting Trio is also available.
Other signature grills include the Surf & Turf, which creatively pairs vanilla-poached Bermuda lobster with a smoked paprika filet mignon. Another unique offering is the Black Cod with Potato & Crab Rösti.
Seafood options feature Tuna Steak, Salmon Fillet, Swordfish Steak, Grilled Scallops, and Whole Lobster. Other grilled items include 12 Herbs & Spices Half Chicken, British lamb and pork options.
A signature dessert, the Banana's Inferno, is prepared tableside... it's a spectacle featuring flambéed bananas, Goslings Black Seal Rum, spices, Brandy snap, vanilla bean gelato, warm caramel sauce, all mixed expertly.
The Waterlot is known for its extensive wine list with options at various price points. You can also order wine by the glass. The list is curated to complement the menu.
The Waterlot has over 550 different types of wine and more than 2,250 bottles stocked in the wine cellar. You can now use the touch pad menu and select your wine quickly by searching with name, region, variety and price.
The restaurant also features a speakeasy bar offering cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.
The Service
Service here is extremely friendly and courteous without being intrusive. You can also enjoy pleasant conversation with the waiters and learn a lot about the restaurant and even the island. With their expertise on the menu, they make awesome recommendations and also take your orders and specifications with great care so that you get exactly what you ordered and enjoy the perfect meal. If you make them cognizant of any food allergies, dietary restrictions etc that you might have, they accommodate you as well.
If you are here to celebrate a special day the staff likes to recognize the occasion with a special dessert served with a candle. This adds a very nice touch to your special moment. It might be apt to mention however, that service could be a tad bit slow here and you would probably have to wait for a while before you get your first course on the table. However, from then on, the excellent quality of the dishes just makes your evening take off to pleasant heights.
Trivia
It is important to note that dress code is resort elegant and jackets and closed toe shoes are preferred for men. You can wear Bermuda shorts and a collared shirt too which is considered a formal dress. They accept credit cards. Reservations is required (see the Contact section for Table Reservation).
Conclusion
The restaurant exudes the atmosphere of Old School dining at its finest with a good measure of class thrown in and food that will satisfy the most discerning guests. From the moment you walk in through the doors past the excellent Bar to your rendezvous with the cordial wait staff, you will experience world class service here.
So sit back and enjoy some fine wine or delicious cocktails on the patio overlooking the beautiful view of the water (and even the setting sun if you are in time for it) along with live music, and then enjoy a great meal while wallowing in the old world charm of the very upscale and elegant restaurant.
I would like to put in a word of caution here. This is an expensive place and is excellent for a special occasions. On a usual day, we would try out another restaurant because similar food and wine would cost significantly lower in other places. I have heard strong reactions from some visitors who could not anticipate the high cost here and therefore could not appreciate the overall value the restaurant offers for the price it charges.
Waterlot is an upscale and expensive restaurant. To give you an idea, a meal for a family of three persons that may include seared sea scallops wrapped in proscuitto; an 8 oz petit filet mignon; an apple pie/tart with sour cream, some appetizers to start with; a local cocktail Dark ‘N’ Stormy each, a bottle of wine, three vegetable side dishes, dessert and coffee... the total cost could be around $450, this is assuming you order a bottle of regular wine (and not a high-end one).
Indicative Prices
Soups and Salads range between $22-$42 and appetizers between $22-$50 (note, some special appetizers can exceed $100)
Meats, steaks, seafood mains range between $42-$90
Sides, additions, sauces come for anything between $15-$40
Desserts come for $15-$40.
Cocktails are for around $20, Wines by the glass between $21-$30, Beer $11.
Open Hours
Dinner 18:00 – 22:00 (Wednesday - Sunday)
The restaurant is closed from January to Mid March. Lunch is not served at Waterlot.
Location and Contact
183 Middle Road, Southampton
You can book table through their website www.thewaterlot.bm
Bus route: #8 (operating between Hamilton and Dockyard)
Road Map
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 By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
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Southampton Parish to know about the parish including all its attractions, activities, hotels and other information.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Michael Newburger (June 2013)
We would like to make a brunch reservation at the Waterlot Inn for July 7, but I can't find an email to them to book this. Can you send me their email address or the Southampton Princess email to book this. Many thanks
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) June 2013
Hi, The restaurants at Fairmont Southampton do not have email addresses of their own. Reservations are usually accepted over phone (441/238-8000). However you can write to the hotel's email address ( [email protected]) or call up the toll free no. 866 540 4497. Regards,
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