5 Best Restaurants in St. Martin and St. Maarten

There is a sophisticated vibe at this quiet, rather elegant beach club that may make you feel as if you're on a private beach. You can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas (half price with lunch) and spend the whole day relaxing, drinking, and dining. With decor less funky than some other beach-club restaurants, it is open from breakfast through the spectacular sunset, offering a menu reminiscent of a French bistro. A blackboard lists specials, carpaccios of meat and fish are sparklingly fresh, and the salads are terrific. French standbys include tomato and goat cheese tartlets, and "international" ones add burgers and sandwiches. Watch for the red-and-black signs on the road between Grand Case and Marigot, and drive slow because the road is rough, especially the last 200 yards or so before you get to the beach. 

With a highly Instagrammable Bohemian look, this restaurant brings style, wit, and a bit of panache to the beach bar genre. Rainbow delivers a memorable breakfast, lunch, sunset drinks, sushi, and tapas---on the beach, their beachfront deck, or on the covered rooftop. Choose a front-row seat (or lounge chair) on Grand Case beach and choose from an eclectic menu, which includes vegetarian and vegan selections, steaks, grilled fish, sushi, and lobster, too. Yes, there are burgers here, but they're buried in a "rainbow" of French flavors and textures. It's fun to come here at the end of the day for tapas, sushi, and dynamite cocktails with spectacular sunsets over Grand Case Bay. There's live music on Tuesday. Browse the Rainbow Boutique on the rooftop for Boho-chic garments and beach accessories.

Both locals and tourists seem to love this restaurant at Great Bay Marina. Seafood is the main focus, but steaks, burgers, pasta, and poultry are all on the dinner menu. You can also come for breakfast, lunch, or happy hour (5–7). If you love sophisticated cuisine, look elsewhere, but the portions are big and the prices reasonable. Delivery to area condos and time-shares is available.

Made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain after he stopped here in 2000, this local, vibrant spot on the edge of town is well-known for its colorful exterior and animated owner. Serving ital food (vegan and organic) made of strictly local ingredients from either their own land out back or from local farmers, the Ital Shack has a very loyal following. It is family-owned and -operated by Ras Bushman together with his wife and son. Take your lunch or breakfast to go or take a seat inside the charming restaurant, where you surely will be entertained by Ras Bushman himself, who is very knowledgeable about the island and especially the medicinal purposes of the plants and herbs that grow here. On Saturday, Ital Shack hosts Redemption Night, an evening of reggae music and local drinks.

An airy modern verandah perched on the Philipsburg boardwalk gives a distinct South Beach vibe. You'll want to linger over fresh fish and steaks as you watch tourists pass by on romantic strolls by night or determined cruise-ship passengers surveying the surrounding shops by day. There is also a fun beachfront lounge with a menu of bar snacks and martinis. It's a bit hard to park here so consider taking a taxi at night. Holland House is the only hotel in the middle of town, and late in the day the lounge gets busy.