Lolo’s: Low-Cost & Local

What is a St. Maarten / St. Martin Lolo?

St. Maarten / St. Martin is not just known as “Culinary Capital” because of its many fine dining restaurants. You will find every travel writer or culinary connaisseur visiting St. Maarten / St. Martin also exploring the island feature of “the Lolo’s”. Lolo’s are small, usually open-air, family-run eateries serving affordable, home-style Caribbean food. They are known for menus consisting of Caribbean delicacies like barbecued ribs, grilled fish, johnnycakes, fried plantains, chicken, rice and peas. The atmosphere at Lolo’s is informal, affordable, authentic and beloved both by locals and tourists. The outfit mostly consists of simple picnic tables, plastic chairs, and the smell of smoke from the grill drifting across the street.

The Name

St. Maarten / St. Martin has a strong French Creole heritage. The word “Lolo” likely comes from French-based Creole languages, where it is used as a familiar or affectionate term. It is often a nickname for women, especially grandmothers or elder female relatives who cook traditional meals. Over time, this affectionate term became associated with places where home-cooked, traditional food is served.

Though prone to have originated on the French side, it has long been in use on the Dutch side too and well known dialect for many frequent visitors.

Where to find Lolos

Most Lolo’s can be found along main island arteries and main streets, often also alongside quays and beaches. This make them a good combination with an island beach day.

Four island areas are best known for having multiple Lolo’s in a row:

• Grand Case has famous Lolo’s halfway its main street famous for its many restaurants.
• French side capital Marigot has a series of Lolo’s on its waterfront.
• At the Kim Sha Beach parking lot in the Simpson Bay area various Lolo’s can be found.
• The Pondfill or WJ Nisbeth road in Dutch side capital Philipsburg has various lolo’s on both sides of this main artery too, but especially on its northern (Salt Pond) side.

Best Time To Visit Lolo’s: Dutch Side Carnival

Without a doubt, the best moment to dive into this local range of eateries is the Dutch side Carnival timeframe, when temporary Lolo’s are added to the permanent ones along Pondfill road. The festival or Carnival Village in the middle of the Great Salt Pond has many comparable eateries, often deriving from stand-alone Lolo’s originally. Various are open throughout the year and a popular spot for takeaway lunches.

Other Small Caribbean Eateries

Though you will not find a barbecue for meat here as “Ital shack” only provides vegetarian meals, for some it would look alike and not be amiss in your exploration of small local roadside eateries. Bourdain selected it as one of his preferred local eateries for his television program. It was selected 4th best Caribbean restaurant by USA Today readers in 2025.

Small restaurants on Walter Plantz square like The Pier are also inspired by traditional Caribbean restaurant settings. The square, an open-air museum of local building style huts, holds the small-scale, semi-open restaurant tradition. Though worthwile if diving into other aspects of Caribbean culture, they lack the characteristic outside barbecue.

Tours to Lolos

Many professional island tours like those of Twin Island Excursions, Seagrape Tours and Rising Sun Tours pass by or include a visit to the Lolos. As many are open to your desired routes, let them suggest how a stop can be included.

If you are doing a group ATV tour and you want to visit a Lolo, it is suggested to either pick the Marigot or Philipsburg ones for parking considerations.

Aquamania’s Santino Around The Island Trip and Catamaran Day Sailing tours do a stop at the Lolo’s in Grand Case. Many other private charters can adjust their route to the same.

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