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Although most people come to St. Maarten/St. Martin for sun and fun, they leave praising the cuisine. On an island that covers only 37 square miles (96 square km), there are more than 400 restaurants from which to choose. You can sample the best dishes from France, Thailand, Italy, Vietnam, India, Japan, and, of course, the Cari
Although most people come to St. Maarten/St. Martin for sun and fun, they leave praising the cuisine. On an island that covers only 37 square miles (96 square km), there are more than 400 restaurants from which to choose. You can sample the best dishes from France, Thai
Although most people come to St. Maarten/St. Martin for sun and fun, they leave praising the cuisine. On an island that
Although most people come to St. Maarten/St. Martin for sun and fun, they leave praising the cuisine. On an island that covers only 37 square miles (96 square km), there are more than 400 restaurants from which to choose. You can sample the best dishes from France, Thailand, Italy, Vietnam, India, Japan, and, of course, the Caribbean.
Many of the best restaurants are in Grand Case (on the French side), but you should not limit your culinary adventures to that village. Great dining thrives throughout the island, from the bistros of Marigot to the hopping restaurants of Cupecoy to the low-key eateries of Simpson Bay. Whether you enjoy dining on fine china in one of the upscale restaurants or off a paper plate at the island's many lolos (roadside barbecue stands), St. Maarten/St. Martin's culinary options are sure to appeal to every palate. Loyalists on both "sides" will cheerfully try to steer you to their own favorites, and it’s common to cite high euro prices to deter exploration, but quite a few restaurants still offer a one-to-one exchange rate between dollars and euros if you use cash, and main-course portions are often large enough to be shared.
During high season, it's essential to make reservations, and making them a month in advance is advisable for some of the best places. Dutch-side restaurants sometimes include a 15% service charge, so check your bill before tipping. On the French side, service is always included, but it is customary to leave 5% to 10% extra in cash for the server. Don’t count on leaving tips on your credit card—it's customary to tip in cash. A taxi is probably the easiest solution to the parking problems in Grand Case, Marigot, and Philipsburg. Grand Case has two lots—each costs $4—at each end of the main boulevard, but they're often packed by 8 pm.
What to Wear: Although appropriate dining attire ranges from swimsuits to sport jackets, casual dress is usually appropriate throughout restaurants on the island. For men, a jacket and khakis or jeans will take you anywhere; for women, dressy pants, a skirt, or even fancy shorts are usually acceptable. Jeans are fine in the less formal eateries.
The best wine importer in the Caribbean, Benjamin Laurent, and his wife Magali have built a lively, immaculate, deliciously air-conditioned wine cellar that also happens to serve outstanding starters, salads, and main courses made from top ingredients brought in from France. The place is well worth the effort it may take to find it, in the Hope Estate commercial area south of the main road (Deviation de Grand Case). Everything is lovingly prepared. You can also buy gourmet groceries, delicious chocolates, nougats, organic and herbal teas, or roam their spirits corner for rum and liquor. Naturally, the wines are sublime, there may be a waiting time (nobody cares since the cuisine is so superb), and you can get an amazing education along with a great lunch. You'll find it across from the road that leads to the Grand Case airport. Bacchus opened a separate bakery in the Aventura Mall, just steps from the restaurant and wine emporium, where you will find their famous fresh baked breads and French pastries.
One of the five lolos in the middle of the village on the water side, Cynthia's (better known simply as "Talk of the Town") is a fun, relatively cheap, and iconic St. Martin meal. With plastic utensils and paper plates, it couldn't be more informal, and the menu includes everything from succulent grilled ribs to stewed conch, fresh snapper, and grilled lobster. At some of the most reasonable prices on the island, all come with tasty sides like plantains, curried rice, beans, and coleslaw. Don't miss the johnnycakes (Caribbean fried dough) and the crab back. The service is friendly, if a bit slow; sit back with a $1.50 beer and enjoy the experience. On weekends there may be live music.
Come earlier in the day for the freshest fare.
With a highly Instagrammable Bohemian look, this restaurant brings style, wit, and a bit of panache to the beach bar genre. Rainbow delivers a memorable breakfast, lunch, sunset drinks, sushi, and tapas---on the beach, their beachfront deck, or on the covered rooftop. Choose a front-row seat (or lounge chair) on Grand Case beach and choose from an eclectic menu, which includes vegetarian and vegan selections, steaks, grilled fish, sushi, and lobster, too. Yes, there are burgers here, but they're buried in a "rainbow" of French flavors and textures. It's fun to come here at the end of the day for tapas, sushi, and dynamite cocktails with spectacular sunsets over Grand Case Bay. There's live music on Tuesday. Browse the Rainbow Boutique on the rooftop for Boho-chic garments and beach accessories.
With a formal, French-provincial dining room framed by elegant arches, L'Auberge Gourmande is in one of the island's oldest Creole houses. On the walls are small etchings that look like they're 100 years old, but they're actually contemporary works by renowned island impressionist Sir Roland Richardson. The light Provençal cuisine includes roasted rack of lamb with scalloped potatoes, a Dover sole that is deboned at your table, and a blackened filet of tuna with creamy asparagus risotto. There are daily specials that are always worth a second look, excellent vegetarian options, a kids' menu, and a good selection of wines. Plan to spend time here---the service is attentive but can be slow.
Diners flock here for the friendly management, the spectrum of well-prepared French cuisine, and the easy-to-find location in the middle of Grand Case. You can choose what you like from their €52 three-course menu (additional charges for foie gras and lobster), or go à la carte. You can't miss either way since La Villa offers so many great entrées from beef to poultry and especially seafood, with a sumptuous Tiger fish fillet, a delicious Branzino sea bass, and many others.
French cuisine with Caribbean flavors is prepared with a light touch and presented with flair at Le Cottage, where a lively community gathers on the street-front porch. With an amazing wine cellar and a sommelier from the Burgundy region, the restaurant offers a great wine-pairing menu at €89. Alternatively, try their their lobster menu at €59. The kid's menu at €15 makes this restaurant an irresistible option for the whole family.
In a beautifully restored Creole house, exceptional cuisine fuses Italian and occasionally some Caribbean ingredients and cooking techniques. Follow one of the ample appetizers with an excellent pasta, fresh fish, or meat dish, such as the braised Angus beef short rib with porcini mushroom risotto. The pastas and fish are amazing, but other standouts include lobster ravioli appetizer and dessert panna cotta. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are noted on the menu. The porch can be affected by windy or wet weather. Dogs are restricted to the porch.
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