The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s summer hotspot, 1609 Bar and Restaurant, reopens on Thursday.

And the hotel has used the months of closure during the pandemic to freshen its menu.

Restaurant favourites such as golden fried shrimp with wasabi mayo, fish tacos and Florentine flatbread are still there, but joined by new offerings including chicken lettuce wraps, Korean barbecue rib-eye pork chops, key lime pie and a ten layer chocolate & caramel gateau. Much of the restaurant’s seafood is brought to the hotel’s docks by local fishermen, as part of the resort’s commitment to purchasing locally. The restaurant’s team will be headed up by Bermudian Les Ruddock.

Following the precedent set when the hotel’s Crown & Anchor reopened in May, tables will be a minimum of six feet apart with a maximum of ten diners to a table. Guests will need to wear a mask when on the property when not seated and each table will be equipped with a handy hook for guests to suspend their masks when not in use.

A spokesman for the hotel said this innovation has proven to be extremely popular at Crown & Anchor. All staff at 1609 have received training in advanced health and safety procedures for the protection and peace of mind of guests and team members.

“We are thrilled to be able to reopen 1609, our incredible over the water restaurant and bar,” general manager Tim Morrison said. “Following the success of Crown & Anchor’s reopening, we are confident we are able to offer a safe and stylish oasis for those looking for an outing in these strange times. We hope to welcome you all back with a classic Bermudian cocktail and delicious local food, while you take in the incredible vista over Hamilton Harbour.”

The restaurant will be open Thursdays to Sundays from 11am to 10pm, offering lunch and dinner.

To comply with contract tracing guidelines and to ensure guests can be accommodated, reservations are strongly encouraged. They can be made by calling made by calling 298-2028 or e-mailing ham.diningreservations@fairmont.com. The venue is also available to hire for private events throughout the week. Inquiries can be made through the same channels as reservations.