Nothing says Caribbean R&R like an afternoon or evening blissfully spent at a beach bar.
Saint Martin in the Leeward Islands comes well endowed in that department on both the French (Saint-Martin) and Dutch (Sint Maarten) sides.
While many of these establishments offer a similar foundational appeal — namely, wining-and-dining on a Lesser Antillean beachfront — the vibe, amenities, and service certainly vary.
To help you sort out top options when it comes to bar-hopping here, we’ve assembled a list of the best St. Martin beach clubs below.
You’ll find details on their ambience, menu, and location, plus some insider tips and info.
Table of Contents
© Coco Beach Restaurant
Overview: Sumptuously restored — outright reborn, really — following hurricane damage in 2017, Coco Beach offers top-line food and drinks along Orient Bay.
There’s above-average dining here courtesy of Michelin-starred Chef Laurent Saudeau.
Offerings include tapas starters, vegan dishes, and such elegant fare as scallops-and-morel risotto, grilled octopus, and stuffed pigeon filet.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here. Beach chairs and service on that famous Orient Bay sand are available.
Insider Tip: Fellas, listen up: Close as it is to Orient Bay’s gleaming sands, Coco Beach does require shirt for diners.
What We Love: Those Red Tuna Tacos!
Location: Orient Beach, Orient Bay, 97150, St-Martin
Phone Number: +1 590 690 64 14 94
© La Cigale
Overview: This fine French eatery enjoys a ravishing waterfront location on the lagoon across from Nettle Bay.
Wine and dine under coconut palms, savoring an upscale, Gault Millau-awarded menu featuring such favorites as the signature foie-gras emulsion soup, beef filets, and mahi-mahi ceviche.
And keep your eyes peeled while you do: Celebs from Richard Gere to Charlize Theron have swung by LA CIGALE in the past.
Insider Tip: Pastry Chef Olivier Tetard comes up with some real decadence at LA CIGALE. Definitely try the raspberry macaroon!
What We Love: The wine list, among the most refined on the island. Plus, that lagoon-side, palm-canopied ambience.
Location: Résidence la Lagune, Baie Nettlé, 97150, St-Martin
Phone Number: +590 690 35 25 02
© Captain Frenchy
Overview: If you’re looking for a beach bar with higher-end repast, Captain Frenchy’s definitely something to check out.
Set right on the sands of Baie de Grand Case, this eatery combines easy-breezy Caribbean ambience with French-influenced cuisine heavy on tapas-style dishes.
Live music is often on tap here.
Insider Tip: The bar deck seating is great and all, but you can also set up in an umbrella-shaded beach chair and be served by a waiter out on the sand.
What We Love: The food is outstanding at Captain Frenchy, including mussels, kebabs, burgers, frites, and super-tasty Chicken Spring Rolls.
Location: Blvd de Grande Case, Grand Case, 97150, St-Martin
Phone Number: +590 690 88 44 61
© Le String Beach
Overview: Tuck into French cuisine tinted by Caribbean influences at Le String Beach, occupying a coveted perch along Orient Bay.
Seafood dominates the menu here, from tuna tartare and grilled calamari to crab rolls and lemon-buttered triggerfish.
And when it comes to wetting your whistle, Le String Beach delivers, from buckets of beer to a mean Piña Colada.
Insider Tip: If you buy eats and drinks at Le String Beach, you can use one of their 50-odd beach chairs without charge.
What We Love: The combination of French-Caribbean flavors with picture-perfect views over one of the world’s most fabled beachfronts.
Location: 95 Blvd des Plages d’Orient, 97150, St-Martin
Phone Number: +690 690 17 36 51
Overview: The rum punch at Dany’s Beach Bar has a whole contingent of followers who rank it right on top of the best available on Saint Martin.
This friendly, utterly laid back beach-shack bar overlooks the pretty sands of Sint Maarten’s Cupecoy Bay. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with warm, welcoming locals — and probably swapping stories with Dany himself — on a visit here.
If the rum punch (or reliably ice-cold beer) doesn’t win you over, the ribs here certainly will.
Insider Tip: Dany’s Beach Bar is one of the best watering holes on the island for sunset viewing. And sundown comes marked by the rather delightful regulars’ ceremony of the Lemon Droppers Club. So consider timing your visit accordingly.
What We Love: The no-frills, come-one-come-all atmosphere at Dany’s Beach Bar is about as unpretentious and friendly as you’ll find in Saint Martin.
Location: Cupecoy Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 522 0212
© Kalatua Beach Restaurant
Overview: Kalatua Beach Restaurant serves up delish foods, crowd-pleasing drinks, and great ambience right on Mullet Bay Beach in Sint Maarten.
The menu is Mediterranean in spirit, with the bounty of the sea well represented in everything from catch-of-the-day dishes to lobster, conch fritters, and shrimp salad.
Insider Tip: Good deals on cocktails and tapas dishes await during the “Golden Hour” from 4 to 6 PM.
What We Love: The Mai Tais, the beach loungers for rent, and the regular DJ sets and live music.
Location: Mullet Bay Beach Dr 2, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 585 8805
Overview: The Driftwood Boat Bar provides some of the best seats in the house anywhere in the world when it comes to plane-watching. Set near the airport runway at Maho Beach, this Caribbean dive gives you up-close and personal looks at jumbo airliners landing and taking off. Pair with (strong!) cocktails or an ice-cold brew, and you’re good to go!
This casual hangout, popular among locals and tourists alike, serves a variety of pub grub, including pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, grilled shrimp, chicken shawarma, and sides such as fries and rice-and-peas.
Insider Tip: Be aware the Boat Bar has portable toilets for its facilities. Part of the casual charm of the place, for most.
What We Love: The spicy oil slathered over pizza, the party-ish atmosphere, and, of course, the plane-watching.
Location: Maho Beach, Beacon Hill Road 2, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 526 0957
© Indigo Beach Bar & Restaurant
Overview: A bit of a fine-dining sort of flair defines the beachfront experience at Indigo Beach Bar & Restaurant.
Occupying a lovely spot on the Indigo Bay’s tucked-away cove, this lunch and dinner hangout serves everything from tacos, spring rolls, and cod fritters to poke bowls, seafood/surf-and-turf entrees, and burgers.
The sunsets are superb, whether you appreciate them from the covered patio or one of the rentable beach loungers.
Insider Tip: Indigo Beach Bar & Restaurant sometimes hosts live music, so call ahead to find out the upcoming schedule.
What We Love: The upscale (though not pretentious) vibe and the fine rosé.
Location: 1 Lake Side Dr, Indigo Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 553 7815
Overview: Partly incorporating an old bus in its cheery layout, Karakter Beach Bar sits on the roughly milelong Simpson Bay Beach.
European and Caribbean influences fuse on the menu, which ranges from ratatouille and foie gras to chicken satay, fish-and-chips, and rack of lamb.
Live music is a weekly tradition at Karakter Beach Bar, and some well-known local performers are regulars.
Insider Tip: Unlike some island bars, Karakter serves breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, so it’s a solid morning destination.
What We Love: The yellow loungers and parasols, which seem to celebrate that blazing Caribbean sun glowing down over the Simpson Bay strand.
Location: 121 Simpson Bay Rd, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 523 9983
Overview: From live tunes to fireballs on the sand, Buccaneer is another exceptional beach bar in Saint Martin.
Quenching your thirst here means kicking back along Sint Maarten’s Kim Sha Beach fronting Simpson Bay: a pretty darn good place to kick back!
That’s especially true come sunset.
Bar eats define the Buccaneer menu, including tasty wings and burgers and a variety of pizzas (including a gluten-free option). There’s plenty of parking (including for boats).
Insider Tip: Even the younger crowd can have a good time at the family-friendly Buccaneer Beach Bar. Besides the weekend fireballs (spherical bonfires), the bar screens a kid’s movie on Sunday evening.
What We Love: The Happy Hour deals and other weekly specials, plus the friendly festive weekend atmosphere, with live bands, fireballs, and beach barbecues.
Location: Billy Folly Rd 10, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 523 0401
Overview: Nettle Bay Beach Club sits like a hidden gem on the shores of Nettle Bay, offering breathtaking views of Marigot and Anguilla.
This tranquil beach club combines the serene beauty of the Caribbean with luxurious amenities, making it a must-visit for those seeking a blend of relaxation and sophistication.
Get a plush lounger directly on the sand. The club's dining experience showcases a fusion of local and international cuisine, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an elegant yet relaxed, beachfront setting.
A standout feature is the beach club's private cabanas, offering a secluded retreat with unparalleled views of the crystal-clear waters.
Insider Tip: Nettle Bay Beach Club is a prime location for families and water sports enthusiasts because of its calm waters.
What We Love: The proximity to Marigot, the French capital of Saint Martin, where you can explore the charming shops, markets, and restaurants, as well as the historical Fort Louis and the Marina Royale.
Location: Rue de Sandy Ground, 97150, St. Martin
Phone Number: +590 690 22 01 39
© Ocean Lounge, Holland House
Overview: Located in the Holland House Beach Hotel, the Ocean Lounge stands among Sint Maarten’s top beachfront restaurants.
Its Euro-Caribbean cuisine, colored here and there with other global flavors and directed by Executive Chef Wendell Laurence, is high-caliber.
Locally grown products are among the favored ingredients on a lunch and dinner surf-and-turf menu that includes the seafood smorgasbord called Fruits de Mer.
Park for free in the KLASS parking lot on the other side of Front Street from the hotel.
Insider Tip: Oenophiles, take note: The Ocean Lounge’s well-stocked wine cellar was honored with a 2022 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.
What We Love: The elegant decor, ocean views, and excellent dishes.
Location: Boardwalk, 45 Front Street, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 542 2572
Overview: Not far from the Ocean Lounge along Great Bay Beach, Lay Back Bar & Grill lives up to its “laidback” name.
This friendly, down-home Philipsburg beach bar serves up a slew of cocktails, buckets of cold beer, and a Caribbean menu featuring everything from jerk chicken and burgers to grilled snapper and conch fritters.
Insider Tip: Be sure to try the Johnnycake off the menu, it’s a regionally beloved staple.
What We Love: The friendliness of Lay Back Bar & Grill, plus its beautiful and bustling viewshed along the Philipsburg’s Great Bay strand.
Location: Walter Plantz Plaza, Boardwalk, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 585 5555
© Roxxy Beach Bar & Restaurant
Overview: As glamorous and bumping as the best beach clubs in Saint Martin come, Roxxy Beach Bar & Restaurant is a see-and-be-seen establishment on Simpson Bay.
Socialize with the chic crowd at the bar, rent a beach chair, or book one of many party-time packages in the beach cabanas.
Roxxy Executive Chef Davide Castro manages an innovative Asian-Global menu, among the highlights of which are his creative sushi rolls of the day.
This zesty fare is nicely complemented by the mixological masterpieces whipped up by Raul Vargas.
Insider Tip: Roxxy Beach Bar & Restaurant’s packed calendar of special events and parties makes this one of the go-to destinations for club-style revelry on SXM.
What We Love: The weekly lineup of music, DJs, and themed happenings.
Location: 127 Welfare Rd, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 520 2001
Overview: Some of the friendliest and most attentive services in Saint Martin help define the charm of Tortuga Maho.
This tucked-away bar beside Royal Islander Club La Plage offers front-row seats on famous Maho Beach for plane-watching and sunsets, but is often refreshingly uncrowded.
The grub here is a crowd-pleasing melange of burgers, pizzas, poke bowls, seafood/steak/pasta dishes, and the like.
Breakfast and brunch are part of the daily service, as is a late-afternoon happy hour.
Insider Tip: The Tortuga Maho beach loungers — complimentary with a minimum purchase at the bar — offer some of the best perches for watching jumbo jets at Princess Juliana International Airport.
What We Love: The hidden-gem feel and the really outstanding service.
Location: Royal Islander Club La Plage, Rhine Rd, Maho Beach, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 522 6246
© The Boon Beach Bar
Overview: A bit hidden away, The Boon Beach Bar & Restaurant lies within the Mary’s Boon Beach Hotel & Spa along Simpson Bay Beach.
Here, you’ll find a surf-and-turf menu (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and well-mixed drinks, plus great views out over the sand. You can also usually watch some of the airplane traffic servicing the nearby island airport.
If you’re eating/drinking here, use of the comfy beach chairs and parasols is free, and you can get service out on the sand.
Live music is a regular feature, especially on the weekends.
Insider Tip: The Boon commonly hosts a family-friendly Sunday Funday celebration.
What We Love: The warm service and slightly off-the-beaten-track fee.
Location: 117 Simpson Bay Rd, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
Phone Number: +1 721 545 7000
Although reservations are not required for most beach clubs in St. Martin, to ensure a smooth experience, we recommend making one. Especially true for popular clubs during peak season. Calling ahead or booking online can help secure your spot.
The dress code for nightclubs in St. Maarten/St. Martin is generally smart casual. Women often wear summer dresses or nice jeans with blouses and heels, while men wear pants and button-down shirts. Some upscale clubs may require more formal attire, so check ahead. Avoid beachwear and flip-flops in town; cover up with a sarong or kaftan. We also recommend wearing mosquito repellent outdoors at night.
Several beach clubs cater to families in St. Martin. At Nettle Bay Beach Club, kids can splash safely in calm, shallow waters while parents unwind under thatched umbrellas. Karakter Beach Bar in Simpson Bay offers a family-friendly atmosphere with daytime relaxation and transforms into a charming beachfront restaurant by night. Other family-friendly beach clubs such as Bikini Beach and Kontiki Beach on Orient Bay offer a family-friendly environment, playgrounds and kid's menus. With designated areas just for kids, parents can truly relax knowing their little ones are having a blast.
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