BEST 10 THINGS TO DO ON ST MAARTEN FOR NIGHTLIFE LOVERS!
Those who celebrate their holidays till late every day, are well served on St. Maarten. Get dressed for these tips for a great night out!
1. The Maho Area
The “Maho Village” offers no less than three layers of entertainment, dinner options and party opportunities – all on top of each other. Start with a sunset of plane watching at Maho Beach, eat your belly full at SALT, Mr Chow, 3 Amigos, Roma or Spices of India, then turn it up a notch at one of the many bars around. For the last round of entertainment, don’t forget the casinos, clubs and rooftop bars around!
2. Simpson Bay / Pelican Area
The impressive Simpson Bay (Welfare Road) strip is known as the largest nightlife area of the island, with famed nightlife spots, cinema, casinos, restaurants and bars. Enjoy St. Maartens culinary diversity at La Patrona (Mexican), Al Pasha (Tunesian), Nola Bayou Bistro (Louisianan) or Beirut (Libanese). Have a beer or cocktail at Dutch styled Huppel the Pub or Replay Bar before venturing out in the many clubs around. All night cafes ensure you are well catered to until sunrise.
3. Topper”s Rhum Factory
Right at the beginning of the Simpson Bay strip, get your Caribbean fun from the source: the Topper’s Rum Distillery, Bar & Restaurant. Apart from great distillery tours and great food, there is often karaoke and concert nights going on here. Its restaurant and bar built on a scenic pier into the Simpson Bay Lagoon, makes it an easy and popular spot to come in with a dinghy for yachties. After having received millions of tourists and their rum widely exported, hosts Topper and Melanie Daboul remain down to earth, friendly and helpful as ever and you are prone to find them in their beloved factory – meets – venue.
4. (Fridays on) the Philipsburg Boardwalk
Over the past years, the Philipsburg Boardwalk has rapidly grown its offer of fun places at night. Especially when capital Philipsburg finishes its work week, many turn to its seaside for a first weekend dinner, beer, or cocktail. Whether it is marina located Aziana, Cocktail specialist St. Rose Beach Bar, humor inspired Big Bastards beach bar, stylish Ocean Lounge, Craft brewery and karaoke hotspot Dutch Blonde Beach Bar, seaside dance and concert pub Seaview Beach Bar (rent your own Cabana!) or vibrant The Pier at Walter Plantz square, there is always something to do in this area. Right behind the boardwalk at famed Front street, don’t skip a Dutch touch of Amsterdam in Amasterdam cafe.
5. Elev8
Only on St. Maarten can you once a month party at hundreds of meters of elevation with a view on many other Caribbean island. Take Rainforest Adventures‘ Soualiga Sky Explorer‘s chairlift to this amazing viewpoint, where DJs and drinks await you! Check our events calendar or events blog when the next edition is planned.
6. St Maarten Heineken Regatta
The one moment the biggest international stars visit St Maarten is during its world famous St Maarten Heineken Regatta in the first week of March. The races, concerts, fun and events of the largest sailing event in the region do not just attract sailors, but also residents, tourists and all people out for “serious fun” as the slogan has it. Over three days, regional and international artists can be found on stage. See at the events calendar and events blog for line ups, race programs and more.
7. Carnival / Festival Village
No Caribbean party like carnival. St. Maartens dedicated carnival hotspot is the dedicated Carnival Village in Philipsburg, but its month long events are widely spread around this area. Don’t miss the grand parade through amongst others Front Street, when hundreds of St Maarteners show their amazing costumes. For its schedule of events see the SHTA events calendar but keep an eye on the events blog too in case changes take place. Throughout the year, many of the Carnival Village eateries remain open, now under the name Festival Village. As you can expect many other events and festivals take place here and in the vicinity, amongst others on St Martins Day and around emancipation day.
8. Pubquiz at the St. Maarten Yacht Club
The monthly St. Maarten Yacht Club pubquiz has become a national event well beyond the St. Maarten nautical world of which the club forms the epicenter. Make sure you collect a great (maximum 5) team, come up with a great name and submit your team for a great evening for a good fundraising cause. Make sure you reserve your spot timely as all seats are taken during this popular monthly event.
9. Simpson Bay Beach
Cosmopolitan and energetic Dinghy’s, Karakter and Mary’s boon beach bars have made the Airport side of stretched Simpson Bay Beach a popular beach life spot for those in the know. Great drinks and small events during day and into the night make this a popular location for going out for locals and visitors alike – or just have dinner while the sun sets over the Simpson Bay area. The area is also in walking distance of Morgan Resort, Maho Beach and the Maho area.
10. Porto Cupecoy
Within the impressive highrise hotels and condos in Cupecoy, Tuscany – inspired Porto Cupecoy offers a variety of bars and restaurants around its marina. Centrally located Rendez Vous Restaurant provides a great opportunity to have a tremendous view over the cosy waterside square during a sumptuous five course dinner – or just a drink.