10 St. Maarten Must Have Souvenirs For In Your Suitcase
When in doubt what to bring as a St. Maarten souvenir,
1. Jewelry !
Many of the frequent visitors to St. Maarten wait with their jewelry purchases until they reach their beloved sun-kissed island. And that is not without reason: St. Maarten boasts many acclaimed jewelry houses earning the respect of our visitors, often becoming friends and loyal customers at the same time. Make a Front Street Round along: Majesty Jewelers, Ballerina Jewelers or Caribbean Gems.
Where to get this souvenir? Philipsburgs Front Street; you can easily visit all jewelries above in 2 hours time.
2. Craft Beer
Next to a wide array of jewelries, St. Maarten is also well provided with Craft Breweries. Bring both a bottle and merchandise reminding of their tropical infused hop brews from SXM Beer, Pelikaan or Caribbean Brewery.
Where to get this souvenir? Cole Bay (breweries Pelikaan, SXM Beer), Point Blanche (Caribbean Brewery)
3. Toppers Rhum
Who is going to leave a Caribbean island without a bottle of rum? St. Maarten home brew rum Topper’s offers a wide array of rums in its Simpson Bay distillery meets rum information center meets restaurant (and in addition, gelateria and great souvenir shop). If you come with a cruise and you decide to stay close to the ship, do not despair – St. Rose Beach Bar sells the brand too.
Where to get this souvenir? At the source of the great Simpson Bay distillery. Walking distance when your hotel is in Pelican.
4. A Good Cigar
Next to rum, the Caribbean means cigars. Go see at scenic La Casa del Habano how they roll your cigar, and try some in the process before deciding what type to pack.
Where to get this souvenir? Visit the scenic La Casa de Habano store opposite to the Philipsburg Courthouse.
5. Add some humor to the suitcase: Big Bastards ( &Grumpy’s?) Merchandise
Many St. Maarten restaurants sell merchandise to solidify great culinary memories, but Big Bastards made a sport out of it. Big Bastards bikinis and “little bastards” underwear etc. are meant for people at home with some humor – up to you to assess the home audience. We still await fellow Philipsburg beach bar Grumpy’s to follow suit and serve other naughty clientele in for a good joke.
Where to find this souvenir? Big Bastards is located on the Philipsburg Boardwalk. Should they start selling Grumpy t-shirts, Grumpy’s is at Dock Maarten, next to Bobby’s Marina.
6. Heritage Museum History books & Handicrafts
The Philipsburg St. Maarten Heritage Museum sells reprinted old maps of the island, books and local crafts. A great souvenir shop for original gifts with a touch of history and culture. In addition, a great reason to roam this free museum for a bit.
Where to find these souvenirs? The Museum is close to the Philipsburg boardwalk, in a scenic alley – see the map to find it.
7. A Book from Amuseum Naturalis
French side museum Amuseum Naturalis has highly productive manager Mark Yokoyama at the helm. This member of a famous photographer family has used his talents for describing and depicting island nature in many books – both for children and adults. Here is some good news: the possibility of ordering these books online vis Amazon leaves space for more souvenirs in this list.
Where to find these books? Amuseum Naturalis is open 24/7 and free, but no bookshop is there. We recommend to order from the museum website catalogue, which provides a great overview.
8. Homebrew St. Maarten Cosmetics
Home brew cosmetics company St. Maarten nectar does a series of wellness centers too, but it all started with cosmetics. From a celebrated mosquito repellant, the chain grew to a full offer of locally made cosmetics sold on both sides of the island.
Where to find St. Maarten Nectar? St. Maarten Nectar Store Locations are in Cole Bay, Marigot, La Samanna, Port St. Maarten and Oyster Bay.
9. St. Maarten Art
When in Maho during the day, have a coffee at the Deli next to Mr Chow / Roma. They boast a great collection of souvenirs by local artists. A great breakfast or lunch will already make up your souvenir mind before heading to Maho Beach to see the planes land.
Where to find the deli? In the middle of the Maho Village main street, opposite Sonesta Maho Beach Resort main entrance.
10. Say Cheese
The words French and Dutch both imply cheese. Specialized stores Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor Store and AMAsterdam help you find a great brand. When going all Dutch and French, also ask for the wine offer of the first and the St. Maarten Delft Blue pottery of the second. In addition, Le Dutch sells Dutch delicacies.
Where to find Amsterdam Cheese and Liquor Store & AMAsterdam: Both are at the beginning of Philipsburgs Front street, close to the main Emmaplein bus station, and 5 minutes walk from the cruise port.
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