For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
St Barths
Caribbean
- Coastline
- French-Caribbean jewel
- Coast Life
- A-list beach lounging
You could call it Paris-on-sea – with all the poise, style and Missoni bikinis that it implies. St Barths is one of the original jet-set destinations, where celebrity meets society in a cosmopolitan crowd.
It’s not just about ladies who lunch on flip-flop leave from their Louboutins; this safe, friendly island has plenty of appeal for the athletic beach bunny and the foodie, as well as party people and celeb-watchers. The French influence makes it a unique Caribbean experience, with brasseries instead of beach shacks, and chanson crooners more popular than soca singers on the radio; the locals are mainly of European descent. It’s OK, though – there’s that gorgeous turquoise ocean and uncrowded beaches to remind you where you are.
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Highlights the best St Barths has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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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. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
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Here is the map of St Barths; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
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Local knowledge
- Taxis
- Expensive and not usually worth the hassle. Hiring a car for a day or more is your best bet. Most hotels will arrange airport transfers.
- Tipping culture
- As in France, service charge is included on restaurant bills, but a small tip is customary and appreciated.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- As a rule of thumb, late summer is French, winter American. Christmas and New Year are when you can expect to see P Diddy and Leo DiCaprio (or at least their yacht hands). French-style, shops close on Sundays and at lunchtimes and stay open until around seven.
- Packing tips
- Think St Tropez but with more of a barefoot vibe, so pack your shiniest-logo’d shades, a cute bikini or four, Vilebrequin trunks, and tan-revealing Riviera chic for evening outings.
- Recommended reads
- Greats of West Indian literature include Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua) and St Lucia’s Nobel-winning Derek Walcott. For fun, Murder in St Barts is an island-set crime novel featuring Gendarme Trenet, by JR Ripley.
- Cuisine
- More international than local, with lobster soufflé, salade niçoise and sushi all to be had. The grander restaurants base their offerings on French cuisine (minus the cream); you’re also likely to eat Créole and Provençal food, grilled fish and super salads. There’s no agriculture to speak of on the island, so almost everything is imported, from wine and water (no natural sources) to meat and vegetables – hence the steep prices in most restaurants. Fresh seafood is flown in from France on Thursdays.
- Currency
- The euro is the official currency. US dollars are widely accepted.
- Time zone
- Atlantic Standard Time zone, so GMT -4 hours.
- Dialing codes
- The international dialling code for St Barths is +590. Confusingly, lots of the island’s numbers also start with 590.
- Do go/don't go
- Try visiting at the tail end of high season (December–April), when room rates drop and the beaches really empty out.
Sundowners at Hotel Carl Gustaf, set high over Gustavia and looking out beyond the harbour to St Maarten.
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. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
Cafés
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 278407)
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
(+590 (0)590 298370)
Restaurants
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 277573)
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 277300)
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 277183)
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 277248)
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 279696)
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 290666)
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 298022)
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 278888)
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 298300)
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 278242)
La Plage
Ignore the wacky Carib-Moroccan decor and concentrate on the seabass baked in salt or tuna sashimi.
St Jean Beach
(+590 (0)590 275313)
Bars and clubs
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 278687)
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
(+590 (0)590 511580)
Pictured: Hotel Guanahani & Spa
