The Best Bars in Guadeloupe to Watch the Sun Go Down Over the Ocean

Sip a sundowner at one of these ocean-view bars or, visit multiple bars on a longer hop when you navigate your way to Ocean Atlas by joining us on a Sailing Trip in the Bahamas or British Virgin Islands.

The sunset views are free and the simple yet delicious Creole plates of chicken and rice won’t set you back much either. Nor will the drinks cost you an arm and a leg, which is convenient, seeing as the sandy shoreline is right across the street. Feel free to dip your toes in the water while the waitress refills your glass with another digestif.

Paddle your way over to the Terre-de-Haut marina and don’t stop until you scrape the sandy floor of Ti Bo Doudou. With your toes in the water, knock back a few shots of rum until you forget which way the sun is supposed to be moving. Thank heavens that the seared swordfish and flan are so delicious; you’ll need all the help you can get when it’s time to go upright again.

Need to set sail with sobriety after the sun fades into the water? Consider Mahina as your mocktail marina. You may be filled with envy when you see the mojitos marching over to your starboard-side table, but that will wash away the moment you sip an alcohol-free beverage. Virgin mojitos and virgin coladas are up for grabs, but you’ll find our hands doubling down on the Exotique: a mix of orange, guava, pineapple, and passion fruit with a little local grenadine.

Granted, you’ll have to shift your gaze a smidge to the west to watch the sun go down over the ocean at Casa Datcha, but we reckon you’ll probably be tilted either way. This restaurant and bar invite you to pull up a chair right on the beach and spend the day tanning while you drink. Taking an eco-friendly approach to ensure no waste finds its way to the waves, Casa Datcha is one of the best places to even out your tan lines and wince your way through a frozen piña colada brain freeze.

Chart a course for the island of Marie-Galante southeast of the mainland and make the hike to La Baleine Rouge. Though you’ll dock in Grand-Bourg, you can cruise over to this Saint Louis within a fifteen-minute ride. The refined fish steaks are well worth the trip and the higher price tags, though no one will shame you for ordering a few glasses of 40th Anniversary Rhum Vieux until the sun (or your eyelids) finally set.

A ten-minute cab ride from Marina Port Louis is all that stands between you and a beachside bar that feels like walking into mama’s house. Le Ti Madras hugs you with a warm welcome of rich homemade dishes. A bottle of suds and a few moments of staring at the seafoam is all you need to feel relaxation wash over you, but you’d be silly to leave without biting into a fresh-baked cake with candied pineapple and cinnamon.

If you’re motoring into Port de Deshaies, we urge you to lower your sails and dock for the night. The palm-fringed beach of Plage de Grande Anse has something sweet for you just under 3km (2mi) north at Karacoli. You can snag a sunset cocktail while getting pampered with a reflexology mani/pedi, a thirty-minute massage, and a warm soak in a bubbly hot tub.

Jutting out into the lagoon that floats the Marina Bas-du-Fort, Zoo Rock Café invites you to loosen up with a rum and watch the sun fall behind the horizon. Have a shot or two to lubricate your mind with liquid courage. Follow the bass pumping up the stairs and get jiggy with it on the dance floor under the moonlight…and don’t stop until the sun starts to rise again.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.