Top 10 restaurants & nightlife Sint Maarten - from local food hotspots to stylish beach clubs
- Authentic Chica
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
This small Caribbean Island has a food scene that justifies its nickname, the 'Culinary Capital of the Caribbean’, that's why this deserved a separate blog with the top 10 restaurants and nightlife of Sint Maarten, based on my own experiences from my first-ever visit in May 2025.
With over 300 restaurants and more than 100 nationalities on just 37-square-miles, I found out personally how extensive and diverse Sint Maarten’s gastronomic offering really is!
The vibrant food culture reflects the island’s multicultural heritage so well, with Dutch, French, African, Caribbean, Asian, and Latin influences. You’ll find everything from Creole Johnny cakes to Dutch bitterballen, Indian curries, and sushi here.
All served in unique tropical settings from laidback local hotspots to stylish beachclubs, historic venues and upscale restaurants!
Why St. Maarten's culinary scene is renowned
With more restaurants per square mile than most Caribbean islands, Sint Maarten offers an unique variety for every budget, from affordable lolo's to Michelin-worthy dining.
St. Maarten also hosts several food-focused events like the St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Trade Show (SMART) and culinary festivals, showcasing local chefs and international influences.
Sint Maarten's culinary reputation applies to both the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) and the French side (Saint Martin), although the French side often gets more attention for its gourmet reputation.
And while we mainly visited the Dutch side during our trip, about which you can read more in this St.Maarten travel guide, we sampled quite a few restaurants and nightlife venues, which I’m happy to share with you in this blog.
Top Restaurants & Nightlife of Sint Maarten
Find my list with the top venues, tried and tested during my own visit, including custom map, on which all these hotspots are marked per location for your convenience:
Laidback local restaurants
Lee’s Roadside Grill & Bar (Dutch, Simpson Bay)
Loved by locals for its fresh seafood, lobster and ribs, this open-air grill serves spicy BBQ in a casual setting. A local gem renowned for its authenticity and where I had some of the best grilled steak of the island!
Captain’s Rib Shack (Dutch, the Strip Philipsburg)
This casual BBQ Shack, near the airport with cozy picnic tables, is very popular among locals as well as tourists! A true a must for meat lovers, serving “Orgasmic Ribs” that live up to their name.
Lolo’s Food Area (French, Marigot and Grand Case)
These open-air grills serve affordable Creole dishes like Johnny cakes, paired with Guavaberry cocktails. Here you will find affordable local food, like grilled snapper and cod fritters, as well as sandwiches and other snacks.
Guavaberry Tasting (French, Marigot)
At the Guavaberry Colombier Tradition shop you can sample this sweet, spiced rum in many different variations, symbolizing St. Martin’s heritage, with its 19th-century African fermentation technique for Guavaberries.
Stylish venues & beach clubs
Juliette’s Bistro (Dutch, Simpson Bay)
A cozy spot for Caribbean food like conch fritters, as well as European dishes like snails. Served in an intimate covered terrace setting, near the beach and Simpson Bay Resort.
Emilio’s Restaurant (Dutch, Cul de Sac)
Housed in an 18th-century sugar plantation, Emilio’s offers upscale Caribbean food like stuffed crab, as well as European dishes, served in a historic setting. They also have a unique wine selection kept in a historic wine cellar, of which we got a tour by the owner himself!
Kalatua Beach Restaurant (Dutch, Mullet Bay)
For a luxurious beachfront experience, this stylish beach restaurant at Mullet Bay offers the best grilled lobster, fresh fish and tapas, which can be enjoyed with your feet in the sand while watching the sea.
Unfortunately it rained when we visited but on sunny day you can reserve comfortable sun loungers here for a luxurious beach day.
Indigo Beach club & Restaurant (Dutch, Indigo Bay)
This beach club & restaurant in Cay Bay has a chic interior and ambiance directly facing the beach. It's a stylish beachfront spot for lunch or dinner with a view and has day beds for rent on the beach below.
Other good breakfast and lunch hotspots in Simpson Bay, recommended to me by our local guide Klaudia, are:
Top Carrot for fresh vegetarian food and juices,
La Sucriere for a delicious breakfast
Reveil Martin, a hip setting for breakfast and lunch,
And for breakfast and lunch, combined with co-working spaces and meeting rooms Van Dorp Spaces is the place to be!
All of these are all located in Simpson Bay.
And go to The Sweet Spot at Maho Beach for the most delicious baked goods and sweets.
Nightlife
Duty-free liquor and local Guavaberry rums, created a lively club scene in Sint Maarten, perfect for cocktails and dancing till the late hours!
From my own experience I can recommend:
District 721 (Dutch, Simpson Bay)
A trendy nightclub with an extensive cocktail list, tropical hipster setting with fire shows and DJs for late-night dancing.
Nowhere Special (Dutch, Simpson Bay)
A relaxed bar with live music, ideal for laidback drinks and mingling with locals, but much less posh than District 721. It also has a restaurant facing the sea.
Carnival Village (Dutch, Philipsburg)
We visited this vibrant spot, filled with food stalls, for Carnival and the popular 'Night of the Hitmakers' performances on Friday night.
This festival village pops up every year for Carnival, which will be from April 20th to May 4th in 2026. A real must visit if you truly want to experience local culture and the festive spirit of the island!
This hub has many food stalls, as well as daily performances on the main stage, for which an entrance fee is required, but worth it for the ultimate night out!
Throughout the Carnival period there are, however, also many local food stalls present just outside the Carnival Village, open for all!
Some other nightlife hotspots, recommended to me, are:
Lotus nightclub
Soggy Dollar Bar
Nova Bar & Lounge,
all located around Welfare road, just a few minutes walking from the Simpson Bay Resort.
Or ga to Maho Beach for some other nice bars and nightclubs.
The Dutch side’s culinary diversity excels through affordable food trucks and lively boardwalk eateries along Great Bay, where you can enjoy local specialties like Johnny cakes and fresh fish, while watching the sea.
And while the French side shines for refined dining, the Dutch side’s vibrant, varied scene, from beachfront tapas and casual grill hotspots to historic eateries, makes it just as gastronomic.
I found that this special mix with influences of more than 100 cultures, local ingredients and that laidback Caribbean vibe creates a unique destination truly worth visiting.
Find everything you need to know for your St.Maarten trip in my Ultimate Sint Maarten Travel Guide, and for even more island inpiration check my Caribbean page.
I hope that this Sint Maarten Top Restaurants & Nightlife list, with custom map, will help you find all the best food hotspots during your own visit to this Caribbean island gem!
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