Pelican Bar: Jamaica's Most Unforgettable Drink with a View

A Bar in the Middle of the Sea

Imagine sipping a cold Red Stripe while standing on a rustic wooden deck, the Caribbean Sea stretching out in every direction as far as the eye can see. No beach. No shoreline. Just you, the water, and one of the most legendary bars in the entire world. That is exactly what you get at Floyd's Pelican Bar, a hand-built wooden shack perched on a sandbar roughly a mile off the coast of Parottee Bay in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

Built by a local fisherman named Floyd Forbes in the early 2000s, Pelican Bar has become a true Jamaican icon. Word spread organically, and today it draws travelers from across the globe who make the journey specifically to say they had a drink here. It is the kind of place that sounds almost too quirky to be real, and yet it delivers on every promise.

Getting There Is Half the Fun

The only way to reach Pelican Bar is by boat, and that short ride across the glittering water only adds to the adventure. Local boat operators out of Treasure Beach and the surrounding area will ferry you out and back, and the journey takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes each way. Once you step onto the dock, you are immediately greeted by the laid-back energy that defines this place.

The structure itself is built almost entirely from driftwood and salvaged timber, with pelicans often perching nearby as if they own the place. Inside, you will find cold beers, rum punches, and simple Jamaican snacks. There is no Wi-Fi, no loud music, no pretense. Just good company, incredible views, and the gentle sound of waves lapping beneath your feet.

Planning Your Visit

Pelican Bar is best visited on a calm weather day when the sea is cooperative. Most visitors pair it with a broader day trip to the south coast of Jamaica, which offers a completely different landscape from the resort-heavy north coast. The south coast is quieter, greener, and deeply authentic, making it a wonderful contrast to the bustle of Montego Bay.

If you are based in Montego Bay or anywhere along the north coast and you want to explore the south, reliable transportation makes all the difference. Easy Does It Island Tours offers private transfers and island excursions that can get you from your hotel, resort, or villa to wherever the adventure begins. Whether you are heading to Treasure Beach for a Pelican Bar trip or exploring any corner of Jamaica, you can book your ride here and travel in comfort without the stress of navigating unfamiliar roads.

Worth Every Bit of the Journey

Pelican Bar is not the easiest place to reach, but that is precisely what makes it so special. It rewards the curious traveler, the one willing to go a little further off the beaten path. If you are visiting Jamaica and you want a story to tell for the rest of your life, this is the stop that delivers it.

Grab a rum punch, watch the pelicans glide overhead, and let the Caribbean remind you why you came here in the first place.

Where to Find Them

Pelican Bar is located on a sandbar off Parottee Bay, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Access is by boat from Treasure Beach. Find them on Instagram for photos and trip inspiration.