St Martin/St Maarten / Special Interests / Food and Cooking

The food scene on St Martin/St Maarten is an interesting blend of the international and the local. Being a major tourist destination the resorts offer restaurants serving all the popular cuisines of the world including Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Indian. In addition, Caribbean dishes such as barbecued chicken, meat stews and the ever-present rice and peas are also readily available and a good option if the budget is tight. For many, though, the big attraction on the island is the numerous top class restaurants in St Martin that allows visitors from North America and elsewhere to get a taste of France without having to cross the Atlantic. Grand-Case and Marigot are the main gastronomic centres but some beach restaurants and hotels also have quality menus.

Unfortunately, St Maarten doesn't offer a comparable introduction to Dutch cuisine – although there is plenty of Heineken lager available. Some casinos have upscale international restaurants attached that cater to high rollers, and the resorts offer a wide range of dining options.

If you are interested in local food beyond dining out, or to cook in your villa, it is worth visiting the local produce market in Marigot that takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Here the stalls are a feast of tropical fruits, fresh fish and home-made patties and cakes. You might also want to try local drinks such as spiced rum, guavaberry liqueur and the root beer-like mauby. The stalls set out during festivals and celebrations also offer a chance to try some local food and drink. And, in the interests of research, be sure to sample lots of the delicious French pastries sold in the bakeries and pâtisseries...