St Martin/St Maarten / Beach Life

St Martin/St Maarten has superb beaches, although they are best suited to travellers who like their sands to be a hive of activity. A lot of people have a lot of fun on them, enjoying the colourful bunting of bars, clubs, marinas, watersports centres and seaside hotels that clings to the shoreline. The partying on the French side tends to more chic and sophisticated, and is probably more suitable if you have children. As throughout the region, conditions can vary dramatically between the eastern, Atlantic side of the island, which is generally more windy, and the more sheltered, western Caribbean side where the sea is calmer.

For more information about St Martin and St Maarten's beaches and our recommended activities please select a Beach Life category from the side menu.

The beach bars of St Martin/St Maarten are one of the island's strong points. There's all types here – reggae-filled joints, chic lounges, easygoing family venues – and of course no holiday is complete till you get stuck in one drinking too many margaritas as the sun goes down. The greatest concentration is on Orient Beach in St Martin where they come with a supporting cast of swimwear boutiques, one-room spas, watersports centres and itinerant  hawkers. Some get a second wind at night, metamorphosing into chilled restaurants and shacks hosting full moon parties. Enjoy...

St Martin

Calmos Café, Grand-Case - A relaxed, toes-in-the-sand bar with wooden tables, chilled sounds and a tempting menu of tapas, cocktails and fish dishes. There's live salsa on Thursday night and sunset reggae on Sunday.

Kakao, Orient Beach - In the heart of the action with an attractive restaurant, efficient service, free wifi, watersports and beach chairs, Kakao is a good base for a classic day of seaside fun in the French style.

Kali's, Friar's Bay - Decked out in rastafarian colours with a barbecue, watersports, uplifting music and full moon parties, this is the liveliest of two bars on this spacious, uncommercialised beach.

Palm Beach, Orient Beach - The coolest bar on the strip with easy beats, cushion-filled gazebos, an upper-level lounge and Asian artworks. Go on Sunday night for cocktails, sashimi and a sky full of stars.

St Maarten

Air Lekkerbek Bar, Philipsburg - With a view on to the Great Bay Salt Pond, this appealingly bizarre bar and restaurant is built inside an old 45-seater Winair aeroplane painted in Heineken green. Closed Sunday.

Buccaneer Bar, Kim Sha - Kim Sha beach sits at the east end of Simpson Bay and has a little pocket of ready-to-party bars with good deals on drinks plus live music – and the Buccaneer leads the charge.

Captain Jack's, Philipsburg - This piratical-themed bar and grill at the west end of the Boardwalk is a good spot to aim for if you're just off a cruise ship. Get a bucket of beers and some curried shrimps then enjoy the reggae!

Dany's, Cupecoy Beach - A friendly pick-up truck bar that serves the clothing-optional sun-worshippers who congregate at the northern end of Cupecoy – strip off then grab a cool beer for $2.

Karakter, Simpson Bay - At the far western end of Simpson Bay Road, this is an old bus on the beach that has been  turned into an inviting lounge bar with live music on Thursday and Friday nights. Closed Tuesday.

Mr Busby's, Dawn Beach - Dawn Beach is set in the east of the island close to the Dutch-French border, and Mr Busby's is the best place to take in the scene with a drink or meal. At night it becomes an Italian restaurant, Daniel's by the Sea.

Sunset Bar & Grill, Maho Beach - Set beside the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, this is a famous spot to watch holidaymakers get blown away by the jumbo jets landing and taking off – and there's live music Thursday to Saturday.