St Martin/St Maarten / Bars/Nightlife

Fancy a drink? Want to dance? Then St Martin/St Maarten is ready and waiting... Virtually all the nightlife here happens down beside the seaside. There are two key areas – Grand-Case in St Martin and Maho in St Maarten. The first has a village feel and is best known for its long strip of small French restaurants - but it also has inviting beach bars with live music plus a few clubs. The second likes to call itself “the city that never sleeps” and is unashamedly neon and urban with casinos, stretch limos and a raucous energy. Most venues offer the same theming every week – a reggae night here, a ladies night there – so if it's Thursday then it has to be salsa at Calmos in Grand-Case. Ask your concierge for suggestions of what's hot and look out for promotional leaflets offering discounts. In high season there is also music and fun every Tuesday night in Grand-Case, and in the summer on Fridays on the Boardwalk in Philipsburg. See also Beach Bars.

Here is a selection of recommended bars on St Martin & St Maarten:

St Martin

Blue Martini, Grand-Case - A large bar, restaurant and garden set back from the beach that has live music several nights of the week.

Calmos Café, Grand-Case - A relaxed beach bar that steps up the beat on Thursday with live salsa. There's also  sunset reggae on Sunday.

La Factory, Grand-Case - An open-air bar and dance area with DJs and live music. Closed Sunday.

St Maarten

Bliss, Maho - An outdoor nightclub beside Maho Beach that's keen to get you dancing. There's a Sexy Fashion Ladies Night on Friday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday.

Tantra, Maho - A massive indoor nightclub on two levels beside Casino Royale. There's a Ladies Night on Wednesday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday, Thursday.