36 Best Restaurants in St. Martin and St. Maarten

On the edge of Baie Nettlé, this well-established, family-owned island standout has wonderful views of the lagoon from its dining room and open-air patio, but the charm comes the devoted attention to detail. The delicious food is edible sculpture—perhaps, lobster bisque under a pastry dome, fresh sea bass with a leek fondue, and the signature Le Cigale foie-gras emulsion soup. For dessert, the macaroon with raspberry and vanilla ice cream is a favorite.

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.

Beachside calm with a side order of chic is on the menu at this lovely restaurant and beach club, which was designed with the environment in mind. Dishes are based on what's fresh and readily available, but there are always salads, sandwiches, mussels, grilled fish, and steaks, as well as amazing desserts (be sure to try the crepes). You can dine and lounge all day, either in the restaurant or on the beach, but if you don't rent a beach chair here, pick a sandy spot a little away from the restaurant. There is safe, private parking available. Reservations are essential in high season.

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.

One of the five lolos in the middle of the village on the water side couldn't be more informal—with plastic utensils, paper plates, and leisurely but friendly service—but it's a fun spot to enjoy an iconic St. Martin meal. Main dishes—everything from succulent ribs to stewed conch, fresh snapper, and grilled lobster—all come with tasty sides like plantains, curried rice, beans, or coleslaw. On weekends there may be live music.

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.

L'Astrolabe gets raves for its modern interpretations of classic French cuisine served poolside at the Esmeralda Resort. Menu highlights might include duck breast in a smoked paprika sauce, black Angus filet mignon, sea scallops with fennel and preserved lemon, and fresh-vanilla crème brûlée. You can enjoy a fixed-price surf-and-turf menu on Monday, a lobster menu on Friday, and live music on both nights. The restaurant is also open daily for breakfast. 

The authentic decor and classic dishes at this romantic spot transport you straight to Morocco. The meze (mixed appetizers) are delectable, and the couscous and tagines are nicely spiced well. After dinner, you can lounge in the tented rooftop, where belly dancers perform on Friday.

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.

Rainbow brings a bit of wit and Instagrammable boho panache to the beach bar genre. Although it's open for breakfast and lunch—with an eclectic menu of burgers, steaks, grilled fish or lobster, and vegan and vegetarian dishes—it's fun to come here later in the day to enjoy tapas, sushi, dynamite cocktails, and spectacular sunsets from a comfortable lounge chair on the beach deck or a table on the open-air rooftop deck. There's DJ music live music most days and beach parties on weekends.

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.

This award-winning restaurant is like a slice of Italy in the heart of the Caribbean. The Mediterranean flavors in the authentic Italian dishes transport you straight to Europe, while the stunning island views remind you that you’re still in island paradise.

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.

The food at this popular French restaurant on the square is inspired by the owner's grandmother. Expect simple, beautifully prepared steak and seafood dishes made with top-notch ingredients like premium tomahawk steak from Creekstone Farms, Wagyu beef from Japan, and local fish catches. Enjoy live music on the square on Thursday.

This formal French-provincial dining room is set in one of the island's oldest creole houses, a yellow-and-white confection of gingerbread fretwork, arched doorways, tiled floors, and wood-beam ceilings. In addition to noteworthy daily specials, the Provençal menu features dishes such as roasted rack of lamb with garlic potatoes, Dover sole in an almond butter sauce, and sea bass with Parmesan risotto. Plan to spend time here—the service is attentive but can be slow.

Somewhat hidden behind the boutiques of Marina Port La Royale, this tiny restaurant features a French seasonal menu as well as salads, soups, and pastries. The pasta dishes are inventive, but lighter fare such as the crab tartare with seaweed or the chicken salad are also delicious.

Whether you opt for the three-course prix-fixe menu or the à la carte offerings, you can't go wrong at this classy, breezy restaurant, set in a charming cottage in the middle of Grand Case. Choose from such classic French starters as frog legs, onion soup, or escargots before moving on to duck breast in a pepper sauce, Angus beef fillet in a fois gras sauce, triggerfish meuniere with turmeric-flavored rice, or branzino in a bell-pepper sauce.

It's hard to top the authentic French fare (steak au poivre, sweetbreads with mushroom sauce, sole meunière) at this friendly, intimate, air-conditioned restaurant. Although it's routinely packed until closing, it's also a bit tucked away on an alley in a neighborhood that isn't exactly upscale and where parking can be hard to come by, so it's best to take a taxi at night. The prix-fixe menu is a very good value, as are many of the bottles on the wine list.

French cuisine with Caribbean flavors is prepared with a light touch and presented with flair at Le Cottage, where a lively community gathers on the street-front porch. With an amazing wine cellar and a sommelier from the Burgundy region, the restaurant offers a great wine-pairing menu at €89. Alternatively, try the lobster menu at €79.

Enjoy Italian fare and a beautiful water view from this restaurant's terrace. The hardest part of a meal here might be choosing one of the many varieties of pizza—either rossa or bianca—on offer here.

This well-established Marigot gem with indoor and alfresco seating is, as they say in French, incontournable (unmissable). It's known for its unique French cuisine with a Creole twist, and, whether you love seafood or prefer meat, you'll find something to suit your palate.

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.