SAINT MARTIN (ST. MARTIN / ST. MAARTEN)
Restaurants / Cuisine / Dining / Nightlife

RESTAURANTS
Dining in Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) is always a memorable event. An exciting variety of restaurants take advantage of gorgeous settings to complement their culinary delights. Cooking in France is an art form and the French Caribbean continues this delicious tradition. Visitors discover a wide range, from classical and nouvelle French cuisine to spicy Créole and local specialities. Le déjeuner, or lunch, is often the main meal of the day and usually served from noon to 2 p.m. It's generally a good idea to call ahead for reservations for dinner.

The pace of service in many Caribbean restaurants may surprise first-time visitors. It is wise to remember that standards are different in the West Indies. If you demand fast food and brisk service, perhaps the Caribbean is not for you. However, if you can downshift and relax into a tropical mode, your patience will be richly rewarded. Experienced travelers always arrive at Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) restaurants before they are really hungry and allow extra time for their meals to be prepared and served.

A 15% fee is often included in restaurant bills (service compris) and additional tips are optional. Budget-conscious travelers with kitchenette facilities have learned to avoid the costs of dining out by preparing many of their own meals.

Be sure to get a copy of the Ti Gourmet for Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten). It is available in hotels, tour offices and restaurants free of charge. This handy little guide offers invaluable, detailed information in English and French on local restaurants. Bon appétit!

CUISINE
The most popular types of cuisine in Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) are traditional French and spicy West Indian Créole. Many of the restaurants, which range from inexpensive to trés cher, combine the best of both. Fresh seafood appears on virtually all menus, sometimes prepared in Créole style with spices, sometimes in the classic French manner with herbs. Local rum drinks often precede a meal and fine French wines provide the perfect accompaniment.

Because more and more visitors to Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) are choosing to stay in private villas, a growing number of traiteurs (caterers) have begun to offer their services to those who wish to enjoy fine dining at home without preparing it themselves.

Special Bonus: A Guide to Créole Cooking Terms

NIGHTLIFE
Many of the large hotels on both sides of Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) offer music and dancing as well as weekly island shows with Caribbean music and local performers. There are discos and clubs on the Dutch side in Philipsburg and Simpson Bay, with dancing into the early morning hours; comedy clubs or an evening movie are also alternatives. In French St. Martin, the most popular after-dark pastime is leisurely dining. However, some restaurants also offer live shows (jazz, reggae, pop soloists, dance revues) and have busy bars open until midnight.

CASINOS
There are a dozen casinos on the Dutch side (none on the French half), and much of Dutch St. Maarten’s nightlife revolves around them. Most casinos are located in hotels, but several operate independently. All of the casinos offer blackjack, craps, roulette and slot machines. You must be at least 18 to drink or gamble on the island.

For related contact information, please visit Caribbean-Direct.com.

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