The Best Oceanside Bars in Saint Martin

Drink in the bars of Saint Martin.

Between bands and DJs, music is always playing at this high-end beach bar on Simpson Bay. The vibe is matched by the extensive cocktail list, with everything from a grapefruit gin and tonic to a guavaberry colada. If you’re seeking deck-ready snacks for sailing into the sunset, the diverse menu features light, canape-style bites including samosas and sushi.

This open-air spot on the Dutch side is famous for its old-school bus that doubles as a kitchen and bar. Live music lights up most evenings and their ti’ punch (a blend of rhum agricole, cane syrup and lime) is legendary. Umbrella-covered casual seating is right on the beach, where you can wiggle your toes in the sand while taking in the cerulean waters of Simpson Bay.

On the boardwalk in Philipsburg, this cafe serves tasty breakfast and lunch options, as well as a wide selection of frothy coladas deep into the night. The brightly tiled bar and parasol-shaded tables offer casual seating with warm ocean breezes. There’s live music every Friday and the banana daiquiris can be taken to go if you’re just dropping anchor for a quick cocktail run.

Dany Isaac operated a long-time “concession stand” from the back of his pick-up truck on Cupecoy Beach, but after Hurricane Irma he pivoted to an actual beach bar with umbrella-covered loungers on the sand. Nothing is fancy here, and don’t expect blender drinks, but there is a good selection of craft beer and potent rum punch. The barbecue, prepared by Dany (or his mom), is famous among locals in the know.

Brightly colored picnic tables look over Kim Sha Beach in Simpson Bay at this lively watering hole. From Friday movie nights to crab races and hog roasts, there’s always something going on at the Buccaneer. Friday and Sunday evenings feature the lighting of giant “fireballs”: large metal sculptures with intricate carvings that are said to bring luck and fortune. Glimpsing the blazing sculptures against the moonlit bay is rivaled only by the bar’s delicious guavaberry colada.

Sipping a guavaberry colada while planes fly directly overhead to and from Princess Juliana Airport is an experience not to be missed. Just steps away from the covered deck on Maho Beach, visitors can check the daily flight schedule on the Sunset Surfboard. In between arrivals and take-offs, there are crab races, live music and pizzas with aviation-themed names – sure to keep you busy as the sun goes down.

If plane-watching is your goal, another worthy option sits on the north end of Maho Beach, just steps from the sea and near the airport. The bar is made out of a brightly colored boat with a canvas awning ceiling; perfect for all you sailors. There are some rustic chairs at the bar, but beach loungers are available too. This casual spot offers affordable, ice-cold buckets of beer, driftwood punches with too many rums to name, and tasty wood-fired pizzas.

This hidden gem on Simpson Bay Beach is part of the Mary Boon Beach Resort and Spa, which opened in 1970 and remains in the same family. Removed from the usual crowds, you can run your toes through the sand on one of their beach chairs and sip a lychee Chambord caipirinha, or one of their other freshly squeezed cocktails, while admiring the passing sailboats on the turquoise water.

Dip into the best bars around Saint Martin.

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