Boutique hotels in St Barths
-
Hotel Guanahani & Spa
- Style
- Totally tropical Technicolor
- Setting
- Balmy, palmy St Barths beach
-
Eden Rock
- Style
- Paradise found
- Setting
- Silky sands of St Jean
-
La Banane
- Style
- Hidden jungle bungalows
- Setting
- Frangipani-filled tropical gardens
St Barths
Eating, drinking and dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in St Barths.
Restaurants
(+590 (0)590 277573)
Maya's
A St Barths institution, quirkily cool, with director’s chairs in rainbow colours and kitsch cotton placemats. Menus are short, simple, pricey and delicious – you might eat tuna sashimi, or shrimp yellow curry. Dinner only (open for sundowners from 4pm), closed on Sundays.
Gustavia harbour
(+590 (0)590 277300)
La Route des Boucaniers
It’s a bit touristy (yo ho ho!), but the Creole-influenced French food is delicious and the setting provides prime people-watching at the marina.
Rue du Bord de Mer, Gustavia harbour
(+590 (0)590 277183)
The Wall House
The French and Créole food at this little harbourside gem has a great reputation, so book ahead for snails and asparagus Napoleon and ‘surf and turf’ tarte tatin, made with lobster and veal filet mignon. Closed June–September.
Gustavia harbour
(+590 (0)590 277248)
Le Repaire
Open from 6am, this harbourside brasserie with whitewashed interior is a classic spot for a croissant or a full Creole feast; the apple tart brûlée is a signature confection. There are pool tables, reggae, and live music at weekends.
Rue de la République, Gustavia harbour
(+590 (0)590 279696)
La Mandala
French-Asian fusion with a harbour view. The mixed tapas-style hors d’oeuvres is a good place to start.
Rue de la Mandala, Gustavia harbour
(+590 (0)590 290666)
Do Brasil
Restaurant upstairs, snack bar downstairs, owned by Boubou, who runs Le Select, among other island hang-outs. The food is more French-Asian than Brazilian; the beach location’s the real draw.
Shell Beach, Gustavia
(+590 (0)590 298022)
Route des Epices
A top-end menu – foie gras, French beef fillet, roast turbot – served in a romantic dining room with white table linen, wicker sofas and a wraparound verandah. The wine list features many organic French wines.
Hôtel François Plantation, Colombier
(+590 (0) 590 278888)
Le Gaiac
Set by the hotel pool, this relatively formal alfresco restaurant has gorgeous views over Anse de Toiny (Toiny Bay). The refined French cuisine features imported foie gras and cepes. Great for Sunday brunch. Closed on Mondays, and annually during September and October.
Le Toiny Hotel, Le Toiny
(+590 (0)590 298300)
Le Restaurant des Pêcheurs
Christian Liaigre-designed hotel restaurant majoring in simply prepared fresh fish, with bouillabaisse on Fridays, and a beach menu of delicate summery salads, lobster club sandwich and catch of the day. Open for breakfast, too.
Grand Cul de Sac
(+590 (0)590 278242)
Le Rivage
No frills, but excellent fresh fish at this beach-front restaurant on the northeast corner of the island.
Grand Cul de Sac
(+590 (0)590 275313)
La Plage
Ignore the wacky Carib-Moroccan decor and concentrate on the seabass baked in salt or tuna sashimi.
St Jean Beach
Cafés
(+590 (0)590 278407)
La Crêperie
An all-day stop where you can go for cheesy crêpes at lunchtime, ice-cream-laced at teatime, and tarragon-chicken-filled for dinner. Great for breakfast, but always buzzing, sometimes with queues. Closed Sundays.
Rue Oscar II, Gustavia
(+590 (0)590 298370)
Maya’s To Go
The deli-style outpost of the original Maya’s (see below), across the road from the airport in St Jean, open all day for Creole salads and sandwiches, and popular as a picnic suppliers. Closed Mondays.
Les Galeries du Commerce, Gustavia
Bars and clubs
(+590 (0)590 278687)
Le Select
The quintessential St Barths cold-beer pit stop, a dive-bar pub decorated with bumper stickers and jet-setters.
Rue de Générale de Gaulle, Gustavia
(+590 (0)590 511580)
Le Yacht Club
There are barely a handful of nightclubs on this teeny-tiny island; this cocktail bar-lounge caters to the chichi yacht crowd docking in the harbour, with live music and DJs every night till 4am in high season.
Gustavia Harbour
