With the opening of Rick's Cafe by its founder, Richard Hershman, in April 1974. At the time, Negril was a sleepy fishing village with little development, it lacked many modern amenities such as electricity, telephone and hot running water. Our beautiful little cliffside location was originally owned by a local doctor, the son of the first Governor General of independent Jamaica.
RICK’S CAFE Was the first public bar and restaurant of its type on the West End Cliffs, offering an alternative to Negril's majestic seven mile beach. From the beginning, Rick's Cafe boasted an unrivaled view of the sunset from its naturally formed cliffs. Over the years, visitors and locals alike have designated Rick's Cafe as Negril's premier gathering spot and our sunsets have become a Jamaican tradition.
IN ADDITION To the beautiful views, Rick's Cafe is fortunate to have one of the most incredible coves along the West End Cliffs. From our cliffs, countless visitors and locals have jumped or dived into the crystalline water below. Our highest platform jump is 35 feet and ensures the thrill of a lifetime.
FOR MORE THAN
Thirty years, Rick's Cafe has maintained as much of its original ambiance as possible, despite some setbacks. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert completely destroyed Rick's Cafe. Waves in excess of 25 feet crashed over the cliffs and treetops. After rebuilding, Rick's Cafe came back more spectacular than ever. Sixteen years later, Hurricane Ivan destroyed Rick's on September, 11 2004. More destructive than Gilbert, waves in excess of 60 to 80 feet crashed over the cliffs and treetops. When the winds finally passed, Rick’s Cafe had been blown across the road in bits and pieces. After the tremendous damage from Ivan, Rick’s came back once again, bigger and better than before.
THEIR FAMILY INCLUDES
About 60 people to serve our guests and to maintain our 1.5 acre property. Many of our staff have been working at Rick’s Cafe for more than 20 years. Our head chef, Phillip “Sheddy” Williams, has been in the kitchen for over 15 years. Everyone recieves on-the-job training and most can say that Rick’s is their first and only job.
