Tiny St. Maarten / St. Martin is a giant in the gastronomic world. The island, in fact, is the gateway to a world of flavors sure to please your palate. With hundreds of restaurants featuring melting-pot menus and innovative entrees, this Dutch-French island lives up to its reputation as the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.” It is said that Dutch side St Maarten as an autonomous country holds the world record of restaurants per square mile. French St Martin’s Grand Case Restaurants , as well as its counterparts in Marigot and Orient Bay add to this great palette of tastes.
Across 37 square miles of rolling emerald hills and sparkling sandy shores, restaurants, cafes and bars reflect the cultural tastes of the settlers who have come here from all over the world. Innovative chefs as well are drawn to this regional gourmet capital, where they create fusion cuisines equal to and often surpassing those you’ll find in cosmopolitan cities.
Many St. Maarten restaurants do something special for their guests on dedicated week or weekend days to further “spice up” your dinner! See our overview of weekly specials, music and theme nights!
St. Maarten Flavors is a year-round culinary program that invites locals and visitors to discover the island through its food, its people and its unique culinary experiences. Participating restaurants and culinary partners showcase their signature dishes, so there’s always something new to taste.
The variety is what makes it special. Mr Chow serves crispy Peking duck with house hoisin-plum sauce, while Al Pasha brings Lebanese and Mediterranean flavors to the table, with a Tunisian couscous topped with slow-cooked lamb shank. Pardon My French takes its time with an 18-hour slow-cooked boeuf bourguignon, and Big Bastard’s puts a Caribbean twist on a Canadian favorite with garlic butter lobster tail on crispy fries.
Looking for a drink or a sweet treat? Seaview Beach & Pool Bar serves its piña colada inside a fresh pineapple, Rum Huys lets you sample three of its homemade rums, and Carl & Sons Bakery has the traditional island coconut tart. Prefer to cook yourself? Creole Culinary Classroom offers a hands-on cooking class for two.
Every June, St. Maarten Flavors Month turns up the heat. Restaurants go beyond their regular menus with special “Off the Menu” experiences, from intimate tastings and hands-on cooking classes to special dining events and creative culinary collaborations.
These restaurants and bars also take part: Aziana, Balls & Wine, Big Fish Seafood Grill, Catch 21, Infinity Restaurant, Ital Shack, K Beach Club, Lazy Lizard, Paper Moon/Divan Cafe, Pure Oceans/Mix, Rendez-Vous Lounge, Roma at Oasis, Sale & Pepe, Spices of India, The Boon, The Pier Beach Bar & Restaurant, Topper’s, Tortuga, Veranda Market & Bistro and Zeebest.
Discover all participating restaurants and events at StMaartenFlavors.com.
In addition, you owe it to yourself to try the local creole fare. Stop by a lolo’s, a small traditional eatery where you can sample succulent barbecued meats and fish, as well as national favorites like conch and dumplings and callaloo soup.
Wash it all down with a fine wine from France, a thirst-quenching local or Dutch beer or a ubiquitous rum cocktail. And you simply cannot leave St. Maarten / St. Martin without sampling some of the locally made Guavaberry liqueur and Topper’s Rums.
See some recipes from various restaurants and bars on St. Maarten / St. Martin! Have a taste of the culture and gastronomic flavors of this unique island!
See for a listing of some of our finest restaurants our lunch and dining overview!
