Floyd’s Pelican Bar was at the top of our must see list during our recent trip to Jamaica and we’re SO glad that we got to experience it.
This seriously cool bar sits on wooden stilts about 3/4’s of a mile from shore in Parottee Bay on the SW side of Jamaica. Built by local fisherman Floyd Forbes who apparently dreamed of building a bar out to sea on stilts – his dream bar first opened in 2001. Floyd named his bar “Pelican Bar” because of the many pelicans that hang out on the reef around the bar.
Our trip to Floyd’s was part of a great day of touring that we set up with Carlton of Turner Taxis and Tours. It was our last stop of the day after playing at YS Falls and touring the Appleton Rum Factory.
Carlton brought us down to Basil’s Bar in Parottee where we caught a ride on a fishing boat to Floyd’s. From here you can just barely see Floyd’s in the distance.
Our ride to Floyd’s
The ride from Basil’s took about 15 minutes and the water was calm and beautiful. The fee was $15 roundtrip per person.
Pulling up to Floyd’s we were amazed at the construction. It truly was built from planks of wood and stilts placed in the shallow water and it looked as if it would blow over in a rainstorm, but it was just one of the most interesting places you’d ever imagine seeing – especially that far out to sea.
Our boat dropped us off at the front steps and told us they’d be back to pick us up later…
What’s so special about Floyd’s Pelican Bar? We’ll try to show you through pics. Floyd’s is not large, but it seems every square inch has something interesting or unusual to check out. People from all over the world have left their mark or a memento during their visit.
The Pelican Bar was destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan and although Floyd didn’t carry insurance to re-build, other area businesses helped out with donations of wood and labor.
Out of the back of the main bar, Floyd has added an addition – a sun deck of sorts. Great place to enjoy a cold Red Stripe or some rum, and chat with the locals and others that have made their way to the Pelican Bar.
The water around Floyd’s is only a few feet deep and a great place to float, snorkel or ease your way in after enjoying a few beers (there’s no restroom at Floyd’s!) If it’s too busy to find a seat inside or on the sun deck, you can just lounge in the water with your beverages!
Apparently the lobster and fresh fish dinner’s are very tasty and if you’d like to dine while there, ask your driver to call ahead.
Be sure to bring a memento such as a t-shirt, flag, cap, etc. to leave marking your visit, or ask Floyd if he can help you find a place to carve your names and the date visited. We left a Rum Bum Cap and also gave Floyd a Rum Therapy decal. He promptly stuck it to a wooden plaque behind the bar, shook our hands and said “respect”.
The Rum Therapy Decal proudly sits behind the bar!
We grabbed another Red Stripe and sat down on the “front porch” to take in the surroundings before our boat arrived to take us back.
As we got in the boat and looked back at The Pelican Bar, we turned to each other and said, “That was just cool”. Don’t know what it is. The vibe, the attitude or the fact that someone had a dream to build a bar out to sea and saw it through. Yep, it certainly was cool. Thanks Floyd.
To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory
Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.
