St. Maarten / St.Martin boasts an exciting nightlife scene with something for everyone. St. Maarten/St. Martin’s nightlife is just what is needed to vanquish stress and workaday worries. What better way to free your mind and body than with a fun and safe night out? Treating yourself to the island’s buzzing after-dark scene is part of an approach you can take to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable vacation in paradise.
Much of the night-owl action is on the Dutch side. It’s here you’ll find live-music venues, pulsating dance clubs and red-hot casinos, not to mention a whole lot of people who like to party.
First-class DJ’s and international artists are on hand to make your night out an exceptional one. Tap your toes or swing your hips to the sounds of soca, reggae and calypso or the throbbing rhythms of electronic house music. But music isn’t your only nocturnal option.
Charter a party boat, go on a pub crawl, take a nighttime taxi tour or put on your poker face and head to a casino, where you can court the cards or sit down at the slots.
If you prefer to tone it down a bit, seek out a cozy lounge at an upscale resort and toast new friends with rum cocktails or guavaberry liqueur. Get to know the locals at a rollicking beach bar. Or make a memory with a moonlit stroll along the strand.
In Philipsburg, a good place to start your evening is at AMAsterdam on Front Street. This location draws the afterwork crowd for drinks, Dutch and other nibbles and, of course, music. The Rusty Parrot, on the way to Pointe Blanche, gives an Instagram-worthy sundown view of Philipsburg across Great Bay as you sip a flute of sparkling wine or a handcrafted cocktail. A DJ is often on hand to rev up the party on the deck of this “pirate” ship. Open-air Museum Walter Plantz Square has a variety of bars accompanying you with a typical Caribbean sunset over Great Bay, seeing the cruise ships off as they go. The same can be said for St Maarten’s classic St Rose Arcade bar at the epicenter of Philipsburgs famed Boardwalk. Neighboring Ocean Lounge is open till late too!
For Karaoke fans, don’t forget Dutch Blonde Beach Bar. The Red Piano in Pelican Key is the spot for live-music lovers. Chart-topping hits and classics pour from the piano every night. Ask the pianist for a favorite tune or join the “congregation” on Monday nights for the soul-touching music of the house band, Church on Monday. The famed Topper’s Restaurant & Bar is the place to make your own music. The popular eatery is now in a new spot – the former Carousel location on Welfare Road. It remains a favorite spot for singers of all ranges — those who deserve a record deal and others who should keep the notes confined to their showers. No matter where you fall on the scale, this is still the spot for fun! You always have a friend at Three Amigos in Maho. Either you bring one, two or more, or make a whole lot of new ones at this spot for music, food and adventures. Three Amigos is a place to mingle and be seen as you survey the scene.
Soggy Dollar Bar in Simpson Bay started out as a hot spot for yacht crew members. Now, it’s a popular outdoor party destination. Friday nights are epic, as are the specialty parties that call to the daring and curious. The DJs spin chart toppers and classic dance favorites to keep the party going into the next morning. Still want more? Remember, the island “Happy Hour” often lasts longer than 60 minutes. The usual time for the drinks top our at special rates is around 4 p.m. Most restaurants and bars add their own twist to Happy Hour by coupling drinks with tapas and entertainment.
When the urge to woo Lady Luck captures you, just across the street is one of the luckiest spots on the island: Casino Royale of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa. The casino has over 21,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment options — the largest on the island. In addition to al fresco restaurants, there are highly rated restaurants in this ”Maho Village”, as well as outdoor bars and lounges where you can grab a few cocktails after dinner. Also check out the casino theater for an energetic stage show!
To scope out the best parties and happenings, do what the locals do: grab a copy of The Daily Herald, the island’s only newspaper. On Thursdays, flip to the Out n’ About section. This weekly insert charts the island’s major nightlife happenings. Or see our Events Calendar for the year or Events Blog of the week!
Ready to party? The party capital of the Caribbean is ready for you!
For those who enjoyed one of St Maarten’s fabulous restaurants providing our nickname culinary capital of the Caribbean, St Maarten’s nightlife has only just begun!
Pubs, nightclubs, casinos and other entertainment offer a wide array of opportunities where to go. Especially the Simpson Bay area and Maho areas are well known for a great evening out, but you also find great bars in Philipsburg, Cupecoy, Oyster Bay and Grand Case and Marigot on the French side.
Though a bustling capital during the day, Philipsburg is for those who enjoy a relaxed pub crawl along its famed boardwalk. Bars one will run into here run from Walter Plantz Square, via craft beer haven Dutch Blonde Beach Bar to Holland House’s Ocean Lounge, St Rose Arcade and some more around Philipsburg’s marina. In Front Street , one finds AMAsterdam bar for a “touch of Dutch”. Especially on Fridays, you will run into various bars more open along the Boardwalk.
For those out for a gamble or a dance, the Maho area is your place to be. The Maho village offers best known St Maarten / St Martin Casino Royale, many bars and clubs. And clearly, the most photographed beach in the world beset with bars on both sides – but chances are you will stay well beyond the last plane has left…
Along Simpson Bay’s main road, bustling at night, you will find various popular venues for a good night out. From St Maarten’s most famous beach bar Karakter on its west side, to awarded Toppers Rhum Distillery and bar in the east and music bar Red Piano on its Pelican end, you will have passed by many casinos and bars in the process – allowing for a great pub crawl.
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