At the Turtle Inn’s Laughing Fish Bar, a thatch structure on the beach by the hotel pool, guests can sip cocktails from Belize’s best bartender. Fermin Choc was awarded the title by the Belize Tourism Board, who holds a competition each year. In fact, Choc has been the winner several years running.
Signature cocktails include the:
Sofia Margarita
- 1/2 can of Sofia Mini
- 1.5 oz. infused watermelon tequila
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. watermelon juice
- .5 oz. sugar syrup
Garnish: lime wheel and fresh diced watermelon
Method: Add all ingredients in shaker and shake well
Add Sofia Mini Sparkling Wine
Strain over fresh crushed ice
Bloody Mary
- 2 oz. infuse jalapeno vodka
- 4 oz. tomato juice
- .5 oz. lime juice
- 2 bar spoons Lea and Perrins
- 1 bar spoon of hot sauce
- 1 pinch of horseradish
- 3 dashes of angostura bitters
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish: lime wheel, celery, cheddar cheese, olives, tomato, jalapeno, cucumber & bacon
Method: Roll in a shaker tin
At The Laughing Fish Bar, guests can relax on Adirondack chairs directly on the sand beach along the curved bar. From there, guests have panoramic views over the sea to the offshore cayes. The bar serves classic Belize cocktails, wines from the Francis Ford Coppola and Virginia Dare Wineries, and light snacks.
Note: There is a glass-encased 1,200-bottle wine cellar on property – the largest in Central America.
Turtle Inn is Francis Ford Coppola’s beachside resort situated just north of Placencia. Less than a year after Francis and Eleanor Coppola acquired the property in 2001, it was damaged by Hurricane Iris, which resulted in a two-year reclamation project.