20 Best Restaurants in St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Maarten

Located above the Casino Royale, in the heart of the Maho Reef entertainment area, Alina is known for its delectable Japanese dishes infused with local flavors. Enjoy classics like crispy shrimp tempura and teriyaki salmon, or sit at the sushi bar and let Chef Ken surprise you with his selections. After dinner, head to the rooftop Mimosa Skylounge for a postprandial cocktail and lovely views.

Appetizing tapas, delicious wine, and nicely crafted cocktails have earned this quaint restaurant with a quirky name a loyal following. Although the menu often features new creations, crowd pleasers like the Three Stooges taco trio, churrasco steak tataki, and meat balls with Parmesan cream are staples. Seating is limited, so a reservation is recommended, particularly on special evenings like Taco Tuesday and Wine Wednesday. Vegan and vegetarian options are available upon request.

Located in a hilltop villa overlooking Simpson Bay, Bamboo House offers stunning views and top-notch sushi created by chefs from spots like Nobu and Morimoto. The wine list is fairly extensive, and the lounge and bar stay open till late. There's also an on-site spa.

Emilio Wilson bought the plantation where his grandparents worked and died as enslaved people, which is now the location of the Rainforest Adventure park and this award-winning restaurant housed in an 18th-century sugarcane boiling house. The knowledgeable owner of this family-run establishment, Norman Wathey, is more than happy to talk to you about the "old days" while you dine on nouveau Caribbean cuisine. Dishes might include charred garlic octopus with spicy avocado puree, rosemary rack of lamb with mushroom risotto, or snapper en papilotte. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, and the wine cellar has more than 100 options.

The acclaimed chef behind La Gondola in Cupecoy creates something extraordinary every night at this popular, cheerful, centrally located restaurant, where the pasta is freshly made, and the wine list is impressive.

With stunning ocean views, incredible sunsets, a memorable atmosphere, and culinary excellence, this popular restaurant is considered one of the best of the island's best. The menu features an artful mix of beautifully presented Continental, Caribbean, and Asian fish, meat, and pasta dishes—even the lunchtime burgers are elegant here. Desserts are lavish, highly original creations; if it's available, try the pear-and-macadamia tart with caramel sauce and salted-caramel ice cream.

A popular breakfast and lunch stop, this friendly café offers fresh and tasty vegetarian entrées, sandwiches, and salads pastries, as well as excellent espresso, juices, smoothies, and pastries. Favorites include the house-made granola and yogurt; the pastry stuffed with pesto, avocado, red pepper, and feta cheese; and the cauliflower, spinach, and tomato quiche. The unique on-site gift shop sells Asian-inspired items, spiritual books, yoga theme T-shirts, and handmade jewelry.

Fresh-baked pastries (try an almond croissant), crepes, omelets, quiches, sandwiches, and salads make this friendly bistro popular at both breakfast (till 2 pm) and lunch. When you sit down, a basket of assorted pastries arrives, and you're charged for the ones you select. Breakfast specialties include the St. Martin omelet, filled with ham, cheese, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. At lunch, consider trying the chef's featured spaghetti Bolognese.

Dishes at this bistro in the upscale Porto Cupecoy residential and marina area might include tuna carpaccio, tender lamb with grains, and panna cotta topped with fruit sauce. The atmosphere is chic but relaxed, and the service is friendly.

Take an Asian-inspired culinary journey at this waterfront restaurant in Bobby's Marina. In addition to grilled seafood and steaks, the menu features sushi, as well as dishes like teriyaki or sweet-and-sour chicken.

Made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain, who stopped here in 2000, this vibrant spot on the edge of town is well-known for its loyal following, colorful exterior, and ital food—vegan and organic and made of strictly local ingredients. Take your breakfast or lunch to go, or take a seat inside, where you're sure to be entertained by owner Ras Bushman, who runs the charming restaurant with his wife and son and knows a lot about the island and its medicinal plants. On Saturday, Ital Shack hosts Redemption Night, an evening of reggae music and local drinks.

JAX is know for serving certified Angus beef and providing stellar service—a reflection of the owner's years of experience as an island restaurateur. In addition to high-quality steak, the menu also has seafood, poultry, and lamb dishes.

A sign near the shower/bathhouse inviting you to "come hang out here and shower before you go to the airport" nods to this beach bar's location and playful atmosphere. It serves up fruit smoothies, tropical cocktails, pasta dishes, seafood, and tapas, and it offers a DJ or live music from Thursday (Ladies Night) to Sunday.

This airy modern restaurant with a verandah is perched on the Philipsburg boardwalk and has a distinct South Beach vibe. You'll want to linger over fresh fish and steaks as you watch determined cruise-ship passengers out shopping by day or couples taking romantic strolls by night. There's also a fun beachfront lounge with a menu of bar snacks and martinis. The lounge gets busy late in the day, making parking hard to find, so consider taking a taxi at night.

With a colorful French-Caribbean fusion restaurant, a tapas and sushi lounge, and the Club 28 rum-tasting room, this chic but casual establishment truly feels like an oasis. Meat eaters will love the tenderloin, seafood lovers the Caribbean lobster pasta, and vegans the cauliflower steak.

For breakfast and brunch, it's hard to beat this popular French-Canadian spot. The menu features everything from eggs Benedict and French toast to crêpes and cassoulets—all prepared in a variety of ways, making it hard to choose.

Arguably the island's top seafood restaurant, SkipJack's is popular for such crowd-pleasers as fried calamari, shrimp cocktails, and lobster. If you're staying in a self-catering villa or condo, note that the fish market here is one of the best—and prices are reasonable.

Ribs and burgers are the specialty at this casual beachfront restaurant, but don't ignore the Gouda cheese sticks and quesadillas or the flatbread pizzas. Beach service is available, and chairs and umbrellas are complimentary with lunch.

Owner Vesna is Greek, and her husband, Yannick, is French, and their combined culinary experience delivers great dining all day long at this casual restaurant just north of the Simpson Bay drawbridge. In the morning, you can order American breakfasts (including the famous Bagel Tower, plus omelets, pancakes, and more), and, there are tasty but healthy smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and burgers at lunch. On Saturday night, the menu includes many Greek specialties. Dinner reservations are a good idea.