Cool Off at Ella’s Cool Spot in Hopkins Village

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Whether for an entire day or a quick afternoon jaunt, be sure to check out Hopkins Village during your stay at Hamanasi.  Grab a complementary bicycle and experience the vibrant village vibe on two wheels. While exploring make sure you stop at Ella’s Cool Spot, a beach bar and restaurant.

Ella’s Cool Spot is located on the southside of Hopkins Village.  A staple in the community since opening on the national holiday Garifuna Settlement day on 19 November 2015.  Owner, Ella Carr, had the vision to create a small business focused on serving local food highlighting traditional Garifuna cuisine along with Belizean favorites with a splash of international flavors.   

Ella Carr opened Ella’s Cool Spot on the 19th of November, 2015. Photo: Ella Carr

Dedicated to providing amazing food, drinks and atmosphere with great service Ella’s Cool Spot is known for their fresh seafood, Garifuna dishes as well as jerk chicken, lobster and conch. 

Part of what makes Ella’s food so delicious is the use of fresh, local ingredients.  She has an extensive network of seafood providers ensuring that she is sourcing high quality, straight off the boat seafood.  For some of the staples in her dishes such as plantain, cassava and coco, she either plants them at the restaurant, in her backyard or purchases them from neighboring farmers.  It does not get much fresher than that! 

Guests enjoying the food, music and atmosphere at Ella’s Cool Spot. Photo: Hopkins Uncut

Guest Favorites and Ella’s Choice

Appetizer & Drink- Ceviche or Fried Conch and Mojito

After a bike ride into the village, a refreshing way to cool off is Ella’s famous mojito using fresh lime juice and mint leaves. For an appetizer, try ceviche. Ella’s Cool Spot offers several varieties of ceviche from lobster and conch (when in season), shrimp, and fish.  A best seller is her conch ceviche containing fresh conch marinated to perfection in zesty lime and accompanied by crunchy veggies and tortilla chips. 

Main Dish- Jerk chicken, lobster or conch

A crowd pleaser is anything that comes with Ella’s homemade jerk sauce.  Choose between jerk chicken, lobster or conch to taste her top secret homemade jerk sauce.  Beware, it does pack a bit of heat! 

Jerk chicken cooking on the grill. Photo: Hopkins Uncut

Ella’s Favorites: Hudut and Ella’s Signature Rum Punch

Ella’s personal favorite dish is Hudut, made fresh and cooked over a fire hearth. Hudut is a traditional Garifuna dish which features seafood, plantain and vegetables in a flavorful coconut milk broth. Try this coupled with Ella’s signature rum punch. The rum punch uses Belizean rum and tropical fruit juices. 

Ella is dedicated to giving you a great experience during your vacation that you will never forget.  She wants you to enjoy the food, culture and atmosphere and adds, “Take a lot of pictures to remember Ella’s Cool Spot.”

More than a Restauranteur

Server with a bowl of hudut during a fundraiser for Ella’s Cool Spot. Photo: Hopkins Uncut

Not only is Ella a great cook, she also is very active in the community.   When asked what she finds rewarding about running her business she stated that it makes her smile when people enjoy her food and take pictures, as well as the opportunity it provides her to give back to the community, especially by providing youth employment.  She stated, “Ever since opening, I love to help out people, so I help out a lot. Giving back to the community is a reward for me”.  

“Giving back to the community is a reward for me”  

This is among the many reasons why Ella’s Cool Spot is a staple in Hopkins Village. Recently in 2022, Ella’s establishment suffered from a fire, burning a majority of the business.  The community of Hopkins rallied around Ella and raised funds for her to rebuild and once again serve her delicious food and drinks. 

Before the fire. Photo: Jaron Johns
After the community raised funding for rebuilding. Photo: Shelly Redden

So what are you waiting for? When staying at Hamanasi, grab a bicycle and head to the southside of Hopkins Village.  Directly across from the basketball court you can experience Ella’s Cool Spot’s great food, service and ambiance.  You can’t miss the signs for this beachfront bar and restaurant with a fence painted in red, green, black and yellow.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grab bike and explore Hopkins Village. Photo: Jaron Johns