Saint Barthélemy
I’m just going to start by saying: St. Barts is worth the hype. No question about it. I used to be so curious as to why everyone is so obsessed with this tiny island in the Caribbean. Of course, any island in the Caribbean is beautiful, but what is so special about this one?? I don’t even know if I can answer that fully. It might be the energy. Maybe it’s the fact that you feel like you’re walking through Europe and a Caribbean Island simultaneously. It could be the wild nightlife or the fantastic food. You might have to just see it for yourself. No matter what draws you in, you’ll want to go back. I promise.
To Eat:
St. Barts is nothing short of INCREDIBLE food. You will be blown away by the inspiring, unique tastes surrounding nearly every popular restaurant on the island.
Bonito
Excellent fish & a cool cocktail lounge. Go on a Friday or Saturday for more of a party, or Sunday for relaxed but delicious food.
L’lsola
Insanely delicious Italian fine dining. Think dim lighting & aged wine.
Tamarin
A beautiful, lush garden location. A favorite.
Orega
Japanese food that is a bit different than your usual sushi spot. Get the Chilean seabass & tuna foie gras sushi.
L’espirit
Also in an enchanting garden setting with amazing food.
Bagatelle
Yet another famous party place. Everyone WILL be dancing on tables. Recommend to go on Fridays.
Black Ginger
A local Thai food spot that is more casual (if St. Barts can be casual) but still lovely & so good.
She’llona
A lovely spot for lunch. Spend the day at Shell Beach, located close to Gustavia.
La Petite Plage
A party. Get a late dinner and stick around for the DJ. This place is fun every night, but you must be there on Saturdays. If you don’t have a reservation, you can get tables for minimum spending, or after 11:30, you can enter and just hang around the bar.
La Guerrite
Another fun-filled party spot.
L’Atelier
A leisurely lunch spot in Gustavia along the harbor to take a break from shopping.
To Eat at the Beach:
On top of having exquisite dining options, St. Barts holds true to the French tradition of offering long, leisurely lunches. The best spot for a long lunch? The beach, of course.
Gyp Sea beach
Highly recommended for lunch. You can rent day beds after or lounge along the beach.
Eden Rock Sand Bar
Get the salmon crispy rice.
She’llona
As mentioned above, but also get the baked feta and caviar tacos. If you don’t make a reservation ahead of time, go early to the beach and tell the hostess to put your name down.
Nikki Beach
Sundays are THE day to be here. There is also a DJ on Saturday. Make a reservation far in advance for Sunday for lunch. You can also rent day beds by calling at 9 AM the day of.
To Be Healthy:
Kaza Juice Bar
Located in Gustavia, there is a kind of hidden gem with yummy granola, smoothies, and juices.
Kiki-é Mo
Close to St. Jean, this place offers smoothies and more savory options for lunch, drinks, or dinner.
To Rent Day Beds:
Beaches are public but if you want to be comfy or served or shaded from the hot sun, rent a day bed at one of these popular places.
Eden Rock
Beds are reserved for hotel guests first but show up and ask. Located on St. Jean beach.
Nikki Beach
Call at 9 AM to rent day beds the day of or book a table for lunch.
Gyp Sea Beach
Located on a beautiful beach cove near Nikki Beach and Eden Rock.
Le Toiny
Beautiful hotel.
She’llona/Shell Beach
Day beds on the beach are first come, first serve after 1. They are reserved for hotel guests before that. Ask the hostess.
To Stay:
Isle Blue Villas
We used Isle Blue in the Turks and Caicos as well. They offer amazing places and are great for big groups and families. We stayed at La Danse Du Soleil.
St-Jean and Gustavia are probably the two main areas of the island that you will want to visit frequently. St. Jean has impressive beaches, and Gustavia is where most restaurants and shopping are. Nowhere on the island is far, though.
Eden Rock villas are another option for more of a hotel vibe. Beautiful villas on St. Jean beach.
To Do:
Shopping in Gustavia and St. Jean
There are lots of cute boutiques, cafes, restaurants, etc.
Fishing
You must use Patrick. Best in the business. Our boys caught 30+ fish including a big Wahoo. You can email him at laplacepatrick@wanadoo.fr .
Boat Day
Doing a boat day is another must, in my opinion. Go snorkeling, have lunch at La Colombier Beach, and sail around the blue waters. We used Jicky Marine. They have various boat and size options for a reasonable price.
Beach!
Beaches are public, so you can still enjoy the fun festivities of the beach bars without necessarily booking a table or renting day beds every day.
Drive to the top of La Columbier beach and hike down OR boat to it and swim
Shell Beach
Spend the day and watch the sunset.
Watch the sunset in Gustavia.
A note on getting there: If you have 7+ people in your party, we highly recommend chartering a flight through St. Barts Commuter from Saint Maarten. There are several other charter companies that do this as well. This gives you more flexibility with timing and personalized services like taking care of luggage, and is roughly the same price as purchasing a ticket for every person on a commercial flight. Other options are commercial companies like Winair. If you are not chartering be sure to give yourself PLENTY of time in the St. Maarten airport to get your bags, go through customs, and re-check in for your next flight. Fly Trade Winds is another highly recommended company if you are flying through San Juan.
