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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.