THE QUEST FOR A GOOD TIME TOP 10 PLACES TO TAKE IT EASY... OR LET LOOSE
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A Lucinda’s List Quest in St. Martin/St. Marten
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The Quest for a Good Time Top 10 Places to Take it Easy... or Let Loose "Honey, let's take it easy tonight..." How many times did my husband say that to me in St. Martin? Famous last words. There are so many fun places to go, whether beach bars or nightclubs or just amazingly good restaurants with fabulous French wines... why would we take it easy? In our quest to find the best places to take it easy, we instead found ourselves in the best places to let loose. Because sometimes it’s a fine line, and our good intentions lead... well, you know how the saying goes. We took our research obligation seriously. But, as we all know, the truly best places to let loose are the ones walking distance to your hotel, hence our slant toward Grand Case. I admit, we haven't considered every single establishment on the island - that would take a lifetime, literally, since it seems a large percentage of the enterprising population has a beachside cooler and umbrella set up - but we've done our best to highlight our favorites, plus those recommended by friends and fans. 1) Hotel L'Esplanade Pool Bar (Grand Case). While!we never seem to have trouble staying sober when we go to the pool in Berkeley, for some reason we rarely managed it at the Esplanade Pool. I blame Our Favorite Places for a Good Time Alain. Or should I say Julie McCoy? Mixing up 1) Hotel L’Esplanade Pool (Grand Case) amazing cocktails, always refilling your wine 2) Calmos Cafe (Grand Case) glass a second before you decide to ask for 3) Sunset Bar & Grill (Maho Beach) more (or decide not to, 4) Yellow Beach (Pinel Island) but then it's too late, right?), cooking up crazy 5) Friar’s Bay Beach Cafe (Friar’s Bay) good shrimp and other goodies on his little BBQ, 6) Bamboo Bernie’s (Maho Beach) Alain is the epitome of a great bartender. When 7) Palm Beach (Orient Beach) you first meet him, his 8) Bacchus (Grand Case) imposing stature is a little intimidating, until he 9) Lady C’s Floating Bar (Simpson Bay) smiles, and chuckles, and the day gets a little 10) Buccaneer Bar (Simpson Bay) brighter. Lover of jokes and riddles,!purveyor!of ! tied for 10) Red Piano (Simpson Bay) everything you need, his
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Looks can be deceiving: The pool, so innocent in the morning, can quickly turn to mayhem.
motto is "You call, I haul." One day I was finally convinced to try Alain's signature drink, the "Tiger Woods" - he's tight-lipped about why he named it that, but I suspect it's because you feel like you've been hit with a 5-iron the next morning if you have too many. Alain has a habit of getting people talking with each other, creating an instant party atmosphere. It's probably lucky that he closes the bar at 6pm (usually does anyway, we had a few late nights there). For my husband's 40th birthday, we arranged with Alain to grill up lobsterfest 2010 for us and another couple. It was lunch, right? How much trouble could we possibly get into? We stumbled back to our room around midnight. 2) Calmos Cafe (Grand Case). No matter where we ate dinner in Grand Case (and elsewhere), if we were looking for a nightcap, or a bit of excitement, it was all about Calmos Cafe. We often ran into people we had met elsewhere, as it seems to be the place all the locals go, and where everyone ends up, especially on the more raucous music nights (Sun & Thurs). You can choose to be inside in the thick of things, with the music and festivities blaring, or head out to the beach chairs for a more mellow experience, staring out into the sea, mesmerized by the sailboats bobbing under the moonlight, letting the waves lap at your toes. Calmos mixes up some of the best drinks we had on the island, especially their epic rum punch. Beware the large rum punch, it is brutal, though not as lethal as the Ti Punch, which
All lit up: Calmos, mellow beach bar by day, lights up at night, especially on music nights.
bears a striking resemblance to jet fuel. I kick myself for never trying their frozen blender drinks, they always looked fabulous. Their signature homemade rum is banana vanilla... which is similar to many places, only it's better at Calmos, where they steep it up on the roof. They also offer the dreaded centipede rum. Seriously. Dead centipedes, pickled in rum and their own venom. It's a testament to how seriously these guys take their libations. I never tried it... will you? 3) Sunset Bar & Grill (Maho Beach). I’ve only been once to the!Sunset Bar & Grill in Maho Beach, but it was unforgettable. Huge jet airplanes buzz you as they defy gravity and casually land with their eager passengers... and it is a wicked cool sight to see, even if you're not an airplane!aficionado. My mom and I went to Sunset mid-afternoon one day to truly appreciate the aeronautical attractions, and whiled away far more of the afternoon than we planned. Sucking down a couple tasty strawberry!daiquiris, gorging ourselves on substantial, tasty burgers with thick-cut steak fries, and watching planes arrive and depart, while idiots stood behind the jet wash clinging to the fence clearly marked "DANGER" and got blown into the backward waves... yeah, there are way worse places in the world to kick back. I was just waiting to see one of the asshats
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Great entertainment: Not sure which is better at Sunset, the planes or the idiots.
knocked off the seawall, and it was a close call. I’ve heard a rumor that topless women drink free, so perhaps there is just the slightest hint of Jersey Shore to the scene... but hey, it all adds to the festive atmosphere. As far as the bar itself is concerned, it's huge and completely open to the air and beach and scenery. No one batted an eye when I stood on top of the table to take my photos of the landing planes. This is a one-ofa-kind place that should not be missed. 4) Yellow Beach (Pinel Island). You might think having to take a ferry to/from a beach bar would be a deterrent, but you’d be wrong. Yellow Beach wasn’t the best food we had on Pinel, but it had the best ambiance and drinks. On our first trip, we sequestered ourselves with some friends in one of the two-story tiki huts, and started ordering some refreshing French rose wine. I’m normally not a rose fan, but on a
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Why leave? No matter where you go on Pinel, you’ll wonder why you really have to go home.
hot day, tucked away under the shade, watching kids frolic in the warm water, enjoying the quiet getaway that is Pinel... it was perfect. We spent hours relaxing, enjoying good company. When they brought us not one, but three rum digestifs, and left the bottles, well, our minds were made up. Why leave before we saw the last ferry loading? 5) Friar's Bay Beach Cafe & Kali's Cafe (Friar's Bay). Friar's Bay has two restaurants, each of which has its own flare and deserves special note, but I'm going to include them here in one entry. Both occupy one of my favorite beaches anywhere, with perfect swimming and snorkeling conditions, and a far more mellow atmosphere than Orient Beach. Friar's Bay Beach Cafe in particular serves up fine French fare for a beach cafe, and one of the best American Breakfasts around, not to mention delicious drinks. Kali's offers more basic beach food, though still tasty. Both restaurants offer the perfect place to tuck in for an afternoon or evening of enjoyment, with picnic tables under palms
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Mellow: Both Friar’s & Kali’s are great places to enjoy your day... and night.
and covered private tables. The key is to hit the Full Moon Party at Friar's Bay. With bonfires and drinks galore, and no one near enough to call the cops with noise complaints, it's a great place to let loose under the stars. 6) Bamboo Bernie’s (Maho Beach). Not only the best sushi we had on the island, Bamboo Bernie's vibe is a mix of restaurant, club and lounge, offering a little something for everyone. We headed there one night with three other friends, and managed to snag one of the comfy couch areas, with a low coffee table, separated from the rest of the crowd. It was like being in our own living room... with someone else bringing us drinks and sushi all night. We tucked in for several hours of tasty mixed drinks and people watching, while we pulled out the “Apples to Apples” and had our own version of a party. This place turns a little bit meat-market later in the evening, but there are a lot of the beautiful people to keep you entertained.
Quest for a Good Time !
Comfy: Indoors at Bamboo Bernie’s or outdoors at Palm Beach, you can find your comfy relaxing spot.
7) Palm Beach (Orient Beach). As the longest beach on St. Martin, with literally dozens of beach bars, how do you decide the best spot to lounge or let loose at Orient Beach? We sampled several - Palm Beach, La Playa, Kakao, Kontiki - and wandered through the rest of them. I've heard rumors of wild fun to be had at both Le String and Andy & Cheryl's toward the southern end of Orient Beach, and I'm not discounting them, but my favorite was Palm Beach at the northern end. Away from all the crowds, Palm Beach has a quieter, more mellow vibe, and doles out fabulous wine and drinks, and a better menu than most. It's a great place to bask in the beauty of Orient, down a few cocktails, feast on high-quality food, and not feel overrun. Of course, if you’re *really* looking to let loose at Orient Beach, try Club “O,” the naturalist beach and hotel at the southern end of Orient. 8) Bacchus (Grand Case). Though we did manage to imbibe several incredible bottles of Chateau Margaux wine during our fantastic cream-laden, fat-saturated, syrup-covered lunch at Bacchus, that's
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Wine galore! Bacchus has more wine than you can shake a stick at, and that’s not even including the downstairs cave or enormous warehouse behind the magic door. Something for every taste and budget, you can’t go wrong.
not the only reason they make this list. One of the best places to let loose in St. Martin is wherever you're staying, sitting out on the balcony, listening to the sounds of the Caribbean night (note: do not skimp on the bug spray!). To this end, Bacchus is the perfect ingredient. One of the best wine stores I've seen anywhere - and I really, really love wine stores - Bacchus has a dizzying array of French wines of all prices and varietals. But that doesn't mean you have to be intimidated - to the contrary. The wonderfully welcoming staff at Bacchus doesn't expect you to be an expert, because they are. Simply tell them the type of wine you enjoy, and they will hook you up with a wine you will love enough to stash in your suitcase for the flight home, even if it means having to check your luggage. And now for the fan and friend favorites. I haven't been to these places myself, but all have received many votes and recommendations: 9) Lady C's Floating Bar (Simpson Bay). Their motto is "The liver is evil and must be punished." Must be worth a look, right? I also hear they have all you can eat ribs for $11.95. Another great reason to put them on my list. 10 (tied) Buccaneer Bar (Pelican Key). This place has been recommended by both friends and fans. Their motto is “I put the Sin in Sint Maarten.” They have bonfires (environmentally friendly, of course) every Friday and Sunday night, plus Full Moon. Need I say more?
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Looks like fun! I cheated and grabbed these pics of Buccaneer and Lady C’s off their web sites...
10 (tied) Red Piano (Pelican Key). If you're looking for live music, this sounds like the place to be - they have live music every night - and judging from the photos on their Facebook fan page, they have a very, very good time.
Bottom Line When you’re in St. Martin, you’ll find it’s hard to avoid having a good time. Too many fun places to go. You can’t stumble a block without seeing an establishment that might, just might, be a worthy place to check out and meet some new friends. When they say it’s the Friendly Island, they’re not kidding. Owners, locals, other travelers the camaraderie comes easy on this island. It will only take a casually exquisite meal or couple shots of banana vanilla rum before you agree.
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Fan Favorites It's not just about what we think. From our Facebook page of 25,000 fans, here are their favorite places to let loose and have a good time, all of which are on my list for our next visit. Thanks fans for your great tips!! Laura Hirsch Bove - Buccaneer Beach Bar, La Bamba, Peg Leg Pub, Red Piano, Uncle Harry's, Karacter, Pineapple Pete's. Christiane Antunes-Ciombor - Friar's Bay is the best... Judy Stephens - Dinghy Dock at Captain Oliver's--cheap and at the marina. Louise Hitchens Shepherd - I was going to say the beach bar at Friar's Bay too. I had the best Mojito and grilled mahi mahi caesar salad Rose Ewinger Loiacono - Sunset Beach Bar...can't beat the view! Or anywhere you take some roadside stand flavored rum...wish I had some right now. Jennifer Chisesi Harward - Sunset is my fave! Robin Bolick Murphy - The Floating Bar! Jean Yves Gulloteau - sunset !!!!!!!!!!!!!where is the floating bar ? Dave Stonehouse - Sunset Beach Bar, Peg Leg Pub and Pineapple Petes are my fav's and in that order. Only been to the island 3 times but can't wait to go back. Hoping for Feb 5-12 ! Tresa Stover Massey - Red Piano! Ron Jandoli - Buccaneer Bar - the Bonfire! Nuff said Sharon Denham Lowe - Pirate's in Paradise..and a little bar/cafe on Mullet Bay beach...they had to unplug the cooler to plug in the blender for my margarita...best drink I had ...can't wait to go back soon Sophie Hechiche - The Mercury on Simpson Bay.....Great animation, no stiffing the customer...;and the owner takes care to meet each customer individually...
Quest for a Good Time ! Fan Favorites Kristin Cogliani Petrelluzzi - You mustn't forget the bar at Hotel L'Esplanade. Alain has got to be one of the most entertaining bartenders on the entire island!!! Belinda Geoghegan - Sunset beach bar while watching the planes come in. Tony Phillips - All great places above. Also great for drinks is the Lottery Farm at the bottom of Pic Paradise. Bar built in the trees, great at night. Maria Combs - No, at the pier, Bloody Mary's, YUMMM, forget the Cafe's name, but eggs and Bloody Mary are thier game! (Dutch side) Tamara McQueen Salentine - The GreenHouse at Happy Hour Sally Hammond Davis - I love the "end of the runway" outside bar, waiting for friends to arrive and the planes going almost over your head...a real 'vroom' place to hang out. Lori Brennan Becker - Sunset Beach Bar.... Lisa Carroll - I love Pineapple Pete's, we even have a signed lithograph from the Yoda Guy that he did of the restaurant at sunset... Lauren Mckinley Jackson - Sunset Beach Bar. Mr. Busby's for drinks and breakfast, Ric's Place and Lee's!! Tessa A Mollric - Lady of the Sea floating Bar~ There modo was the Liver is evil and deserve to be punished.... Cheers! Pat Work - I like Toppers. Fun atmosphere. Perry Moore - Red Piano & Karacter for good music & romance, The Lady C for casual drinks & Brians impeccable service . Bert Pagano - Not that corny Bar (Cherie's ?) on the Dutch side near the casinos. That freakin' corny band drove me nuts. Great drinks - Music, INTOLERABLE!!! LOUNGE LIZARDS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!!!
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ABOUT LUCINDA’S LIST In Fall 2009, my husband Steve and I thought we had it all figured out. Beautiful house in Berkeley, CA, the requisite yellow lab, great technology careers... and I was pregnant. But when the fourth miscarriage hit in December, we were heartbroken. We needed time to heal. A break. From everything. We decided to go to St. Martin, and after an incredible six weeks, it inspired us to change our lives. The people we met, the experiences we had, the living in the moment, the food we ate... we were forever changed. And we wanted to share what we found with others. So instead of returning home to our old lives, we decided to take our Silicon Valley knowledge to help create a community of people who love the Caribbean. We figured something special was bound to come out of bringing together
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people who shared this special experience.
Two months later, we’re already the largest St. Martin fan page on Facebook - 25,000+ fans and growing! - and already we’re discovering the value of bringing people together. We’re not only working on GUIDEBOOK COMPANY
publishing the kind of in-depth reviews of our favorite destinations that we wish we’d found when we were researching, we’re hoping the size of our fan base will attract group discounts for all of us. Stick around, there’s so much goodness for St. Martin - and other islands yet to come! The result? beautiful property, immaculately maintained andbecome managed...one and if Ayou aren’t already a fan, click here to
Oh, and one last note... we need to o!er up a brief legal disclaimer. Although all details in this document are based on information supplied to us or gathered by us at press time, changes occur all the time in the travel world, and Lucinda’s List cannot accept responsibility for facts or circumstances that become outdated or for inadvertent errors or omissions. So always confirm information when it matters. If we have missed anything, please let us know on our fan page!
© Lucinda’s List 2010. All Rights reserved.
OTHER LUCINDA’S LIST REVIEWS Gourmet Restaurants
Casual Restaurants
Beach Bars
Lolos
Beaches
Hotels
Activities
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6) Bamboo Bernie’s 3) Sunset Bar & Grill
9) Lady C’s Floating Bar 10) Buccaneer Bar 10) Red Piano
1) Hotel L’Esplanade Pool Bar
4) Yellow Beach
2) Calmos Cafe 5) Friar’s Bay
8) Bacchus
7) Palm Beach