High Season Restaurant News
(Photo courtesy of Balls & Wine)
St. Maarten boasts a tremendous amount of restaurants, even earning her the nickname Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. And both the offer and quality just keeps expanding. Here is ten fresh updates on various visitor favorites – and some new ones in between.
1. Balls & Wine
Not just a visitor, but also a local favorite: Balls & Wine has moved. This no frills but quality restaurant has moved from its well known Paradise Plaza location to the Palapa Marina at the Simpson Bay strip, connecting her more than ever before to the famous Simpson Bay night out. Insider tip: wine might be one of their namesake flagships, their variety of classic and originally crafted cocktails is international too. As quality prevails quantity here and the fan crowd is there, make sure you reserve a spot in advance.
2. Karakter is now K’s Beach Bar
Famed Karakter Beach Bar, the cosmopolitan beach restaurant in the corner of Simpson Bay Beach, has reopened as K’s Beach Club & Restaurant. It remains the great in-the-know beach spot where music plays, but now added with a French Mediterranean vibe. Go and explore!
3. Buccaneers Beach Bar Now Offers Breakfast
Breakfast at the beach might just turn out to be as paradisiacal as it sounds. Early birds in the Simpson Bay / Pelican areas can now make their Kim Sha Beach day even longer, as their favorite beach club Buccaneers now offers breakfast too.
4. Ital Shack & Ocean Lounge Nominated for Best Restaurants of the Caribbean
Every year, USA Today selects 20 top restaurants from the region to run for best Caribbean restaurant. It is only underlining our status of regional cultural capital that no less than two were selected from St. Maarten, hillside nature centered Ital Shack and beachside chic Ocean Lounge!
5. Toppers Runs for Best Caribbean Rum
Next to offering a great lagoon side restaurant night out too, Toppers is known for its wide variety of home brew rums, making it to 20 USA today Caribbean rums of the year.
6. Food Court Roma / Mr. Chow Keeps Expanding
When talking about a binational food court, most people in Maho know you are not talking about something Dutch and French, but Italian – Asian Oasis food court, better known as the Mr Chow and Roma restaurants. This still fresh novelty to the St. Maarten restaurant scene has provided its Italian side with a befitting terrace, whereas Mr Chow now offers sushi.
7. Tortuga Now Has a Webcam
We have estimated that Tortuga in Maho has become one of the most viewed restaurants in the world over the past year. And that is not (just) because of its great location, food and cocktails, but also because it has a very popular webcam installed on its roof these days, manually filming planes in and out on Maho Beach. Not just fun for airplane fans, but also for “homesick” St. Maarten addicts. Or, of course, a solution for when you just miss Tortuga.
8. A Grumpy, but Delicious Pizza
Yachtie Beach Bar Grumpy’s, in the middle of mega yachts in Dock Maarten near Philipsburg, is relatively new itself still. Even fresher is the fact it sells pizzas now, freshly made at Bayside Pizza in the back.
9. Rendez Vous Sells Gift Cards!
Scenic Rendez Vous Restaurant is a popular hideout on island, located in the beautiful Tuscany setting of Porto Cupecoy harbor. Local popularity has gone that far, that you can make regular (or new!) guests happy with giving him or her a voucher worth 20 $ of culinary treats at this special setting with views over the marina and Simpson Bay Lagoon.
10. SHTA launches “Weekly Event & Specials Calendar” for Weekly Culinary & Cultural Events in High Season
As its nine year old Annual Events Calendar keeps growing, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) has now added an overview of smaller Weekly Events during high season, including culinary specials on offer, musical events and other cultural activities available on a weekly basis from December till April. Do not forget to combine both calendars and remain alert for unique regattas, festivals and national events on SHTAs “big” annual calendar!
See the individual restaurant links where restaurants are located. See our taxi and bus pages how to reach your restaurant of choice!
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