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Restaurant File: St. Barth’s Culinary Hotspots, from Beachfront Seafood Cafes to Glamorous Fine Dining
Want the spicy recipe for dining out on St. Barth's? Take tons of fresh seafood, blend with Caribbean, African and French culinary traditions, toss in a little Italian for good measure, open some fine wines, turn up the tunes, set the sundrenched or candlelit alfresco tables, and fill the white canvas seats with stylish locals and international jet setters. Then watch things heat up … The Caribbean's chicest island has as many fab restaurants as it has table-dancing supermodels—here's a few not to miss. (NB: Advance reservations are almost always a must!)
Maya's
Public Beach, Gustavia
"My favorite restaurant is Maya's, which serves traditional local cuisine prepared in a simple, modern style" says Frederic Fekkai, the renowned hair stylist who has a salon at Hotel Guanahani & Spa. "It's authentic to St. Barths and captures all the great flavors of the island." Another well-known fan is Christiane Celle. "I love Maya's Creole-Asian fusion cuisine," says Christiane. You'll need to book ahead for this perennial hangout of locals and visitors alike. Maya's is built on a dock overlooking Gustavia Harbor, and is named after proprietor Randy Gurly’s wife. The food is uncomplicated and unvaryingly good, with a daily-changing menu that includes fresh fish, grilled meats, Creole dishes and exotic daily specials like mahi-mahi in Creole sauce. Guests sit back and relax around big, colorful round tables. It’s chic and infused with a laid-back, island sensibility.
Maya's
Public Beach
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 75 73
Maya's To Go
Saint Jean (near the airport)
Christiane Celle and Deb Ryley both recommend Maya's To Go, the sister restaurant of the very popular Maya's, located across from the airport in St. Jean. "I go there for breakfast and take-out, and they also do private catering for parties in villas and on yachts" says Christiane, owner of the Clic photo gallery in Gustavia. And Deb says: "You can sit and eat at tables right outside and marvel at the airplanes landing and taking-off." If you're entertaining on your yacht or in your villa, keep in mind that Maya's caters parties of any size. The menu's international smorgasbord ranges from French pastries to moussakkas to Chinese-style beef. Of course, there's a variety of local specialties on offer too. Be sure to stop in before your plane ride home. Sure beats peanuts!
Maya's to Go
St. Jean, Saint Barthélemy
French West Indies
+590 590 29 83 70
mayastogo@wanadoo.fr
Le Gaïac at Le Toiny Hotel
Anse de Toiny
"Le Gaïac at Le Toiny hotel is the place to go for elegant, romantic fine dining," says Bostonian Deb Ryley, who's visited St. Barth's several times. "It overlooks the hotel's pool and the Bay of Toiny. The service is impeccable from the moment you walk in the door. The first time I visited Le Gaïac, we were escorted to an outdoor waiting area and served a complimentary specialty cocktail prepared for the evening; their timing was absolutely wonderful from entry to exit. This is my must recommendation on the island!"
Le Toiny
Anse de Toiny, Saint Barthélemy 97133
French West Indies
+590 590 27 88 88
L'Esprit de Salines
Grand Salines Beach
"L'Esprit de Salines is fantastic for sophisticated local cuisine," says Christiane Celle, the stylish founder of the Calypso fashion boutiques who's new project is Clic, a photo gallery in New York and St. Barth's. Another fan of this chic but relaxed beachfront eatery is Bostonian Deb Ryley: "It's a fairly casual spot for lunch or dinner," she says. "Their menu changes daily which is nice, so it's easy to make multiple trips and always try something new. The food is seafood and a mix of Asian, French and Caribbean dishes, served in an open-air pavilion or in the outdoor garden."
L'Esprit de Salines
Grand Salines Beach, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 52 46 10
Le Grain de Sel
Grand Saline Beach
"Le Grain de Sel is my must spot for lunch before or after spending time on the beautiful Saline beach," says Deb Ryley. "I loved the tuna tartare and ginger rum. Buy a bottle to take with you!"
Grand Saline Beach, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 52 46 05
The Hideaway
St. Jean
"The Hideaway, sometimes referred to as 'Andy’s Hideaway' after its fun-loving English owner, has delicious thin crusted pizzas, salads and casual dining basics," says Deb Ryley. "The vanilla rum served at the end of every meal make this a very popular spot in St. Jean." Note that the Hideaway is very casual, the kind of place you'd imagine Jimmy Buffet hanging out in a tropical shirt and flip-flops. It's great for lunch and for families with kids.
The Hideaway
Saint Jean, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
La Marine
Gustavia Harbor
"Go here for seafood. La Marine has nautical decor and a great harborside location next to the Le Yacht Club bar in Gustavia," says Deb Ryley. "I was there recently and had a nice table for two nights on the dock. Marine is known for mussels from Brittany served every Thursday night; they're wonderful as are all the other fresh, local seafood dishes." Tip: Book ahead to score an alfresco table.
La Marine
Rue Jeanne d'Arc
Gustavia, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 68 91
La Petite Colombe Bakery
Two locales: Colombier and Lorient
"La Petite Colombe is the best bakery on St. Barth's and has two locations, one in Colombier and another in Lorient," says Deb Ryley. "Although you can buy baked goods and bread in many of the markets, this is the place to go to get the freshest pain on the island and the tastiest pastries. They also make specialty sandwiches, quiche and other foods to take with you on a picnic or back to your villa for lunch. One of my absolute favorite things to do each day on the island is to get up early, head to the bakery, have a fresh cup of coffee and croissant and then grab my baguette and head back to the villa."
Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 95 27
Le Bouchon
Lorient
"I love Le Bouchon because it's kid-friendly and families can eat for a great price," says Christiane Celle, the founder of Calypso and owner of the new Clic photo gallery in Gustavia. "They serve mostly pizzas and chicken." Deb Ryley, calls Bouchon "a hidden gem, and one you would'nt think to visit due to its location and its look. It's in Lorient amid the St. Barth's version of a small strip mall, so it's easy to overlook. Try their burgers, fries and wonderful range of salads. They do take out as well."
Le Bouchon
Lorient, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 79 39
lebouchonsbh@gmail.com
Wall House
Gustavia Harbor
This harborside gem in Gustavia is the go-to spot for top-notch French and Creole fare served in a relaxed environment. Plus, it’s one of the few places on the island to get a gourmet meal at a reasonable price. Prix fixe dinners fetch €25. From the rich flavors to the refined hospitality, it's Gallic through and through. For a real treat, try one of the dishes cooked on their elaborate gas rotisserie, like five-spice honey pineapple duck or spit-roasted grouper. The gazebo style dining room lets you enjoy the surroundings while shielding you from the elements. After dinner, head to the adorable wine salon for some aperitifs.
Wall House Restaurant
Gustavia Harbor, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 71 83
Restaurant Taiwana at Hotel Taiwana
Flamands Beach
This is a real insider tip! You won't find much written about Hotel Taiwana or its restaurant, because the owners prefer to maintain its status as one of the most under-the-radar hotels on St. Barth's. The beachy retreat is a favorite of former St. Barth's resident Christiane Celle, the stylish founder of the Calypso Christian Celle fashion boutiques. Although she now lives in New York and runs Clic, a new photo gallery and bookshop, she returns often to St. Barth’s, where she's just opened an outpost of her gallery in Gustavia. “Taiwana's been a second home to me due in part to my friendship with owner Jean Paul Nemegyei,” says Christiane. “My favorite part of staying there are the simple barbecue meals that he cooks, his specialty being Brazilian lobster." Open to the public for lunch and dinner, Taiwana's alfresco restaurant sits on a deck overlooking the pool and the stunning Flamands Beach. A fresh renovation tripled its size, and they've added a new sound system and a DJ station, so it’s sure to become even more of a word-of-mouth hotspot for the 2008/2009 peak season.
Hotel Taiwana
Flamands Beach, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 65 01
Les Pecheurs at Le Sereno Hotel
Le Grand Cul de Sac
"For excellent, French-inspired seafood I go to Restaurant des Pêcheurs at the very stylish Le Sereno Hotel, which is very close to my villa," says Minou Weber, a native of Luxembourg who owns a home on St. Barth's and goes every winter. "The alfresco restaurant overlooks one of the island's most beautiful beaches in the Grand Cul de Sac." Pêcheurs is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you're there on a Friday, be sure to order their daily special, bouillabaisse a l'ancien, made with fresh fish flown in from the Mediterranean the day before. (You'll have to not think about those food miles!) Sereno's martini bar and lounge is a buzzing scene from sunset onward …
Le Sereno
Le Grand Cul de Sac, Saint Barthélémy
French West Indies
+590 590 29 83 00
Le Ti St. Barth's
Pointe Milou
This is a must for revelry and nightlife St. Barth's style. "Le Ti Saint Barth's is fun," says Suzanne's Insider Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti, the chic founder Vivre.com, an online boutique of exquisite fashions and gifts for men, women and children. Indeed, this hilltop indoor/outdoor restaurant is a place to celebrate living! "You can dance on the tables and it's got a good mood and vibe," says Eva. Food is less of a draw than the people watching and partying, but the Thai, French and Caribbean fusion menu is certainly satisfying. "Order the Côte a L'Os for two people," advises Minou Weber, who says the DJ there is great and that Thursday and Saturday nights are the best nights to go. In addition to its notorious table-dancing, the restaurant's other big attraction is iit's frequent fashion shows with gorgeous models advertising the bikinis, lingerie and sexy resortwear sold at their adjacent boutique.
St. Barth's
Pointe Milou, Saint Barthélemy
French West Indies
+590 590 27 97 71
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