ST. BARTHELEMY / SAINT BARTH / ST. BARTS / ST. BARTHS
Restaurants / Dining / Cuisine / Nightlife

RESTAURANTS

A directory of St. Barthélemy (St. Barth / St. Barts / St. Barths) restaurants can be found below on this page.

Dining in the French West Indies is always a memorable event. An exciting variety of restaurants take advantage of gorgeous settings to complement their culinary delights. Cooking in France is an art form and St. Barth continues this delicious tradition. Visitors discover a wide range, from classical and nouvelle French cuisine to spicy Créole and local specialities. Le déjeuner, or lunch, is often the main meal of the day and usually served from noon to 2 p.m. It's generally a good idea to call ahead for reservations for dinner.

The pace of service in many Caribbean restaurants may surprise first-time visitors. It is wise to remember that standards are different in the West Indies. If you demand fast food and brisk service, perhaps the Caribbean is not for you. However, if you can downshift and relax into a tropical mode, your patience will be richly rewarded. Experienced travelers always arrive at restaurants before they are really hungry and allow extra time for their meals to be prepared and served.

A 15% fee is often included in St. Barth restaurant bills (service compris) and additional tips are optional. Budget-conscious travelers with kitchenette facilities have learned to avoid the costs of dining out by preparing many of their own meals.

Be sure to get a copy of the Ti Gourmet for each island you visit. It is available in hotels, tour offices and restaurants free of charge. This handy little guide offers invaluable, detailed information in English and French on local restaurants. Bon appétit!

CUISINE
Fine dining has become one of the stellar attractions of St. Barthélemy (St. Barth / St. Barts / St. Barths). Renowned chefs from Europe and the U.S. frequently visit the island, many open restaurants and some even teach classes. Season after season, young chefs who have trained in France's greatest restaurants choose to work in St. Barthélemy. Combining local ingredients with French technique, they have made the island a gastronomic showcase. To honor their culinary wizards, the entire island celebrates with a Festival Gastronomique each spring.

Most restaurants are small but each offers something special in food, setting or ambiance. Some are beach cafés featuring lobster and grilled steaks, some specialize in seafood or spicy Créole cuisine, and others, particularly in the elegant hotels, present French cuisine of the highest order. Of course, for those looking for more casual fare, there are still classic spots like Le Select and JoJo Burger.

Because more and more visitors to St. Barth are choosing to stay in private villas, a growing number of traiteurs (caterers) offer their services to those who wish to enjoy fine dining at home without preparing the meal themselves.

Special Bonus: A Guide to Créole Cooking Terms

NIGHTLIFE
There are a couple of dancefloors and some of the local bars feature live bands but, in general, St. Barthélemy (St. Barth / St. Barts / St. Barths) is pretty quiet after dark. The primary focus in the evening is dining, with leisurely dinners and conversations lingering well into the night. Some of the hotels do provide dinner shows or a piano bar but, if you're looking for casinos and a lot of nighttime action, this is not the place.

For related contact information, please visit Caribbean-Direct.com.

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