Hamilton’s culinary scene has exploded with new offerings over the past two years, including a scattering of contemporary café–lounges serving gourmet coffees and tapas all day, renovations to well-known landmarks, and new ethnic offerings ranging from Szechuan to South Beach.

Restaurateurs have upped the ante with chic, urban-style interiors, flawless service, fusion menus, and chefs’ innovative twists on Bermudian traditions. The result is that you can enjoy meals of the caliber you’d expect in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and London.

There’s no shortage of sushi or fresh seafood, and most restaurants, even pizza and pasta specialists, offer a catch-of-the-day that ranges from Bermuda wahoo and tuna to rockfish, yellowtail, or grouper, depending on the weather and season. Ethnic contenders include Latin, House of India, Silk Thai, and Café Cairo. Sushi is ubiquitous, either eat-in or take-out.

The majority of the island’s restaurants are located in Hamilton, and all are non-smoking by law. Credit cards are accepted by most major restaurants, and the standard dress code is smart-casual—so avoid wearing sneakers or T-shirts to dinner.