Only a century ago, the fishing village of Simpson Bay was isolated from the rest of the Dutch side of St. Maarten. A storm in 1819 cut the barrier between the then-inland lake of the Simpson Bay Lagoon and the sea. It would take until 1933 before this gap was bridged.
Parts of the old fishing village still remain along the seaside and are a quaint attraction in their own right. In this part of the district, the tiny sailor church Mary Star of the Sea stands as a proud legacy of the town’s long seafaring history.
As charming as the old village may be, Airport Road, running parallel to it a few streets away, has profoundly transformed the character of the town over time. If anywhere highlights the alleged St. Maarten world record of restaurants per square mile, it is here. Together with the Pelican area, which forms one walkable district with more than five beaches at your disposal, Simpson Bay has grown into one of the Caribbean’s premier nightlife areas.
The nightlife scene consists of restaurants—often building on the area’s seafood legacy—along with beach clubs, distilleries, casinos, pubs, and nightclubs for those who want to extend a St. Maarten day into the early hours of the next morning.
What makes a night out here unique is the feeling of safety and comfort. Once you see this lively evening strip, you immediately feel at home and are drawn to explore.
Simpson Bay’s restaurant scene offers remarkable variety. When the area began to flourish in the 1990s, the diversity of cuisines represented here quickly started reflecting the many communities that had made St. Maarten their home during the second half of the 20th century.
From Caribbean roadside grills to dedicated American, Chinese, Dutch, French, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Mexican, and Venezuelan restaurants, almost every taste is represented in this area. And the list above is only a sample of the many world cuisines waiting to be discovered.
The Simpson Bay nightlife area can roughly be divided into four sub-areas. Three of them meet at the junction of Billy Folly Road and Welfare Road, next to Kim Sha Beach, which itself was named after a restaurant from the 1980s.
West of this junction, more than a mile of restaurants stretches toward St. Maarten Airport. This section is the area that became known as the “Simpson Bay Strip.” East of the junction, along Welfare Road, you will find another half-mile of culinary landmarks.
South of the junction, Billy Folly Road adds another stretch of dining experiences. Parallel to the road runs the Simpson Bay Resort boardwalk, offering an additional selection of restaurants.
Last but not least, somewhat separated from the busy strip and located between the old Simpson Bay village and the airport, you will find a collection of beach clubs along tranquil Simpson Bay Beach.
The area also features several boutique hotels, such as Mary’s Boon, The Horny Toad, and Azure Hotel, further illustrating that this charming corner has a distinct character of its own. Pelican, in particular, has a lively resort atmosphere, with properties such as Atrium, Simpson Bay Resort, Hilton Grand Vacations Flamingo Beach, and LaVista. On the strip itself, you will find Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm.
Given its popularity and village-like atmosphere, parking can be a challenge in this area. If you plan to use your own car, an early start to your night out is recommended. Alternatively, the district is well connected by bus, and taxis pass through continuously at night.
I kept the tourism-style tone but made it sound more natural for a travel article or destination guide.
