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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Sunshine's Restaurant Beach Bar & Grill

Nevis, West Indies

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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When we were first living on the Island of Nevis, West Indies in 1991, just down the beach from The Four Seasons Resort (which we were helping to open) was a shack-of-a-place called "Sunshines." 

You can see from the first photo below that it wasn't much at the time, but we could get fresh lobster salad sandwiches and cold beer for a reasonable price. These lobster sandwiches were cheaper than tuna fish sandwiches because tuna was imported, and lobster was local fare.

From our shared rented house, we'd walk to the main road, catch a combi, and head on down to the beach.

Swimming in the warm Caribbean waters off Pinney's Beach, we'd spend the mornings and early afternoons here. Then after lunch, we'd take our sandy behinds and walk up the long jungle path back to the main road, and catch another combi to take us home.

Photo of Pinney's Beach from Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies, 1991

Looking up Pinney's Beach towards The Four Seasons from Sunshine's,1991

You can see from this photo, that Sunshine's was merely a collection of palapas and shacks. The kitchen was off to the side and local fishermen would deliver their daily catch straight here, keeping things authentically "real" amid the island's growing tourism scene.

The owner is Llewellyn "Sunshine" Caines, a charismatic, flamboyant Rasta man nearing his 60s now. He's as much a part of the draw as the food or drinks are, layered in gold chains around his neck and wrists, and of course, always wearing his sunglasses.

 Take a look at the photos below to see how Sunshine has built his "Personal Caribbean Empire."

Sunshine's Restaurant Gate painted in Rasta Colors, Nevis, West Indies

The gated entrance to Sunshine's painted in Rasta colors

The difference is obvious from the first photo.

Sunshine still personally greets guests, mixes Killer Bees (his famous Rum Punch), and ensures the local vibe endures.

He has a  larger-than-life personality, is welcoming, gregarious and has a huge smile "as wide as the Caribbean Sea" all of which helps build his business.

His hands-on style (from chef duties to bill-tabulating) keeps things feeling like a family affair.

Lattice building on beach with Mount Nevis in the background, Nevis, West Indies

Nevis Peaks Brewery and Pub on Pinney's beach, Mount Nevis in the background

Nevis Peak Pub is a craft brewery which recently opened in 2025. Right away it quickly became a top draw for locals and tourists alike obtaining a #1 rating on Trip Advisor.

The vibe is lively yet chill with open-air seating, ocean views, cold brews flowing from on-site tanks, and a delicious menu. Salads, Appetizers and Pub Fare, daily soups. Mains and Pizzas are offered.

Brightly painted shack with license plates

 Over the decades, as upscale resorts and restaurants popped up along the beach, Sunshine's maintained its colorful, unpretentious charm—earning it a reputation as the "yardstick" for success on Pinney's.

In 2023, it received TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award, recognizing it among the top 10% of global restaurants for consistent traveler reviews. It's not just an eatery; it's a cultural touchstone, frequented by everyone from beach bums to A-listers, and it's often the first recommendation for anyone setting foot on Nevis.

View of Pinney's Beach from Sunshine's, Nevis, West Indies

View of Pinney's Beach

We sat down at these brightly colored tables and enjoyed a view of the Caribbean Ocean. Checking out the menu, we ordered a lobster salad sandwich, a Mahi-Mahi fish burger and 2 Carib Beers.

While waiting for our meal to be delivered, here comes Sunshine himself to our table.

We spoke with him about the old days like Dick's Bar and his old shack on the beach. Things have changed since then, and today, he's wearing sunglasses and gold chains.

He seems fabulously happy.

 

 

 

 

Another nice shot of Pinney's from the restaurant

Sunshine's Beach Bar & Grill is one of the most iconic and beloved spots on Nevis Island.

It's a casual, open-air beach bar and restaurant, famous for its laid-back vibe, fresh local seafood, and vibrant atmosphere.

The spot buzzes with live music on select evenings, and the walls are adorned with international flags and license plates from its global clientele.

"Sunshine" is dedicated to his Rasta identity and the red, yellow, and green colors that he proudly displays here are a shout-out to Rastafarian culture.

Lunch menu at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Lunch menu

Offering a broad selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and full meals, you can easily find something appealing to eat here in Paradise.

With a focus on Nevisian/West Indian cuisine and an emphasis on fresh, sea-to-table ingredients, portions are generous and reasonably priced.

Drink menu including The Killer Bee at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Sunshine's drink menu, including his world-famous Killer Bee Rum Punch

The real star is the Killer Bee, a potent rum punch made with strong rum, passion fruit juice, lemon, lime, and a dash of pepper, topped with nutmeg.

It's a Nevis institution, often described as "lethally delicious" and capable of leaving even seasoned drinkers buzzing.

The bar opens daily around 10 AM and stays lively into the evening.

With beach loungers available on the sand, be careful of the tropical sun, and enjoy the warm Caribbean waters!

Soft drinks and beer at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

List of soft drinks and beer

If Premium and Quality drinks don't appeal, you can always grab a brew, water or fruit juice.

Sunshine's has it all.

 

 

 

 

Dinner menu, combo plates and full meals at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Dinner menu, full plates and combos

The dinner menu looks tempting too.

Shrimp, fish and lobster fresh from the sea, chicken, ribs, steak...

I wonder what "Rasta Pasta" is?

Lobster sandwich and fries at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Lobster sandwich and fries

So here's Sunshine's famous lobster sandwich.

Piled high with French Fries, you won't go hungry after this meal.

Mahi mahi fishburger and salad at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Mahi-mahi, fries, salad

Fresh grilled Mahi-mahi with fries, salad and both ketchup and Thousand Island dressing.

That and a Carib, sitting beachside in Paradise... just watching the day pass by... makes for a perfect afternoon.

Lunch check for 2 people at Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Our bill for 2 people

Here is our bill for the 2 of us, coming in at just under $55USD before tip.

Wish you could have been here!

Looking towards Four Seasons Resort, from Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, Nevis, West Indies

Looking down Pinney's Beach towards Four Seasons Resort

The sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean! Just a 200-meter beach walk up this way, you'll find the Four Seasons Resort.

Locals, tourists, day-trippers from nearby St. Kitts, and celebrities seeking an authentic Nevis experience all walk down this beach and head to Sunshine's Bar and Grill.

Would we recommend that you go?

Absolutely!!

__________

Sunshine's

Pinney's Beach

Open daily

Tele:  +1 869-469-5817

For more stories, photos and videos of Nevis, click here

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

 

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