khanh As its economy mainly relies on tourism, Saint Barthélemy (known to many at St Barts) houses many eating places for its visitors. To accommodate the demand for food that rises especially during the holiday season, the island imports fresh produce from the US and Europe. That way, the quality of the final products can be ensured in the highest of standards when they reach the customer. Even so, the food doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag. The following is a list of the best St Barts restaurants, ranging from the most luxurious establishments to the super affordable eats, perfect for those lazier days.
High-End Restaurants in St Barts
Other than the beaches, people come to St Barts to experience what the best the island has to offer. Although there are no restaurants in St Barts that receive a Michelin star, yet. Some of these fine-dining places have such high standards, they might as well be in the running for one. Here are the best high end restaurants in St Barts.
1. Orega
Considered by many visitors as the best high-end restaurant in St Barts, Orega serves French-Japanese fusion cuisine. The kitchen, headed by Chef Clément Laffitte, successfully married the fresh ingredients typically used in Japanese cooking, with delicate serving techniques commonly seen in French gastronomy. The dining experience is great, too; after you are seated indoors or outdoors (where the couch seating resides) and make your order, the first dish – an amuse bouche – will be brought to you. Then you will enjoy your first course with specialty sake offered in a cart by your waiter. The restaurant’s decor is very chic, yet laid back, which perfectly represents the restaurant.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm | Closed on Sundays
Location: 13 Rue Samuel Fahlberg, Gustavia 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 52-4531
2. L’Isola
‘Italian sophistication’ are the words that describe this central Italy-focused restaurant. Its customer service is very warm and attentive. The beef carpaccio is one of the best on the island. The ravioli (any filling) are silky and smooth. Alternatively, the rigatoni all’Amatriciana is superb. You can’t finish dinner here without having the essential for dessert, tiramisu. The food and swanky restaurant setting is worth the splurge.
Opening hours: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm daily
Location: 33 Rue Roi Oscar II, Gustavia 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 51-0005
3. Bagatelle
‘Elegant dining with a harbour view’ is the vibe that Bagatelle is going for. The tuna tartare gets customers excited for the next course. The pizzas are great, and so is the linguine with clams. If you don’t know which dessert to have, you can order a sampler plate to share. The ambience and service is top-notch, with live music playing in the background. Bagatelle is worth visiting at least once during your stay.
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 7:00 pm – 1:00 am | Fri–Sat 7:00 pm – 2:00 am | Closed on Sundays
Location: 24 rue Samuel Fahlberg, Gustavia Harbor 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 275 151
4. Santa Fe
Santa Fe is a restaurant located in Lurin, just outside of Gustavia. The patrons’ favourite appetiser is the nice and juicy escargot, with a nice and spongy bread to mop up the goodness that is the garlic butter sauce. For main, grilled lobster or mahi-mahi are wonderful. You can even choose the lobster right out of the tank, to ensure its freshness. For dessert, you can pick anything on the menu and won’t regret your choice; lemon tart, souffles, and chocolate lava cake are the top three contenders.
Opening hours: Mon, Thu 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Weekends 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Location: Rte Lurin, Lurin 97133 St Barts
Contact: +590 590 27-6104
5. Le Tamarin
This lovely restaurant gets its namesake from the tamarind tree in front of the building. Unfortunately, it fell victim to Hurricane Irma back in 2017. The remaining trunk still stands to this day. Le Tamarin gives you a different dining experience than other high-end restaurants by the coasts. As you step into the dining area, you are greeted with a lush green garden that gives the eye a pleasing break from the blues of the ocean. Palm trees are found around the establishment, retaining the tropical feel. The cuisines served at Le Tamarin are French and other international food. You can choose anything on the menu and it will taste good; tuna ceviche, risotto, steaks. The wine list is also very extensive. A must-try venue for those who are staying in the southern part of St Barts.
Opening hours: 6:30 pm – late, daily
Location: Route de saline, 97133 St Barts
Contact: +590 590 29 27 74
Mid Range Eateries in St Barts
Want to save the high-end restaurants for special events, so you don’t lose the festivity? But you still want to sample the best St Barts has to offer? Medium-budget eateries are your answer. Here is a list of the best mid-range St Barts Restaurant.
6. Kiki-e Mo
Kiki-e Mo is a cafe that serves an array of western food. Located right across the street from St Jean Beach, its simplistic presentation of its food is more than enough to satisfy your hunger. Burgers, tacos, paninis, and salads are freshly made, evident by the grill marks on the breads and the smell of freshly-squeezed lemon on the salads. If you have dietary requirements such as specific allergies, vegetarian, or even vegan, Kiki-e Mo will happily accommodate those needs. For drinks, coffees, teas, smoothies, and cocktails are available.
Opening hours: Mon, Thu–Sun 9:00 am – 7:00 pm | Closed on Tuesdays
Location: Baie de Saint Jean, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 27 90 65
7. Eddy’s
This secret garden restaurant provides a nice break from the many beachside restaurants. Eddy’s has opened since 1995, serving French and Asian-styled cuisine, with a Creole touch. You can see Gustavia Port at a distance, thus it won’t distract you from having a good dinner in this tropical-themed restaurant. The wahoo and mahi mahi are patrons’ favourites, while the most liked non-seafood dish is the Creole curry with goat. At the end of your dinner, you will be treated to a shot of homemade vanilla rum, on the house.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:00 pm – 12:00 am | Closed on Sundays
Location: 12 rue Samuel Fahlberg, Gustavia 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 27 54 17
8. Fish Corner Food & Market
This hidden gem is run by well-known local fishermen Johny Laplace and Nicholas Lebon. The market sells freshly-caught seafood between 9 am to 11 am. After it closes, the restaurant part of the establishment opens at lunchtime, serving best-sellers like mahi fish and chips, tuna tacos and catch of the day. They also have a selection of wine that pairs nicely with any of your chosen dishes. The presentation of food and general ambiance is giving some fine-dining restaurants a run for their money, at a fraction of their exorbitant prices.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9:00 am – 3:45 pm | Closed on Sundays
Location: 41 Rue de La Republique, Gustavia 97133 St Barts
Contact: +590 590 51-3633
9. Black Ginger
This Gustavia-based establishment is the only Thai restaurant in St Barts. It offers authentic Thai cuisine, made by chefs and sous chefs who were trained by Vichit Mukura, one of the most famous Thai chefs in the world. The food is freshly made, with the green curry dishes being the favourite by consensus, and massaman curries not far behind. Red and black is the dominant colour of Black Ginger’s trendy decor, with beautifully-taken pictures hanging by the walls of the dining area. A retractable roof covers the area when it rains. If you visit during the summer nights, you can see the starry sky from where you are seated.
Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 6:30 pm – late | Closed on Tuesdays
Location: Rue Samuel Fahlberg, Gustavia, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 29-2103
10. Grain de Sel
Grain de Sel is another restaurant placed away from the busier areas of St Barts (Gustavia and St Jean), located near Saline Beach. It offers Creole dishes, and fusions from French and Asian cuisine. Tuna tartare, mahi-mahi and all of the prawn dishes are the restaurant’s best sellers. Unsurprising, as their seafood produce is super fresh. If you’re looking for something boozy to go with your lunch/dinner, try the homemade rum. Alternatively, bottles of wine and cold beer are available for purchase.
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm – 12:00 am | Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Location: Route de Saline Saline 97133 St Barts
Contact: +590 590 52-4605
11. Shellona
The name of this restaurant is a giveaway on its location; Shell Beach, in Gustavia. Although able to serve solo customers and couples, it is better to visit this Mediterranean restaurant with at least three people in your group, to maximise the dining experience. Shellona adopts the “sharing is caring” philosophy, most of the meals offered are to be shared with the rest of the table. Naturally, the best seller of this restaurant is the grilled and marinated seafood dishes. The warm sand, the sea breeze, the glistening ocean adds to the Mediterranean coastal vibe Shellona is going for, on top of the decorations reminiscent of eateries in Ibiza and Mykonos.
Opening hours: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm daily
Location: Shell Beach, Gustavia 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 29 06 66
Cheap Eats in St Barts
Some days, you don’t feel like eating fancy food, or you just don’t feel like dressing up for the occasion. Some days, you just want to grab takeaway and go on a picnic. Then you should consider some cheaper, yet still good places on the island. Here are some of the best St Barts low-budget restaurants.
12. Le Select
Le Select is a long-run establishment in the St Barts foodie scene, first opened in 1949. The flagship of this family-run bar and grill is the cheeseburger and fries. The portion size of the food is very generous and they are very affordable, too. Despite its long runner status, it is still considered as a hidden gem by locals and tourists alike. The serving of food and drinks are done in different parts of the building, so you pay for them separately. You can dine inside to get away from the heat, but most prefer to eat outside, to soak in the laid back energy of the town.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 am – 10:30 pm | Closed on Sundays
Location: Rue de France, Gustavia, 97133 St Barts
Contact: +590 590 27-8687
13. La Petite Colombe
La Petite Colombe is a French boulangerie, located in Colombier. The bakery has been a long time favourite of many tourists who are stopping by for breakfast or just getting some supplies for a beachside picnic. The range of breads, cakes and pastries are extensive; from baguettes, croissants and beignets to wraps, sandwiches and oven baked pizzas. It also serves breakfast essentials like coffee and orange juice. In addition to the main bakery in Colombier, La Petite Colombe also opens a branch in Lorient.
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 5:30 am – 6:00 pm | Sat 5:30 am – 5:00 pm | Sun 5:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Main bakery: Route de Colombier, Colombier, St Barts | Lorient branch: D209, 97133, St Barts
Contact: Colombier +590 590 27 95 27 | Lorient +590 590 29 74 30
14. Boulangerie Choisy
Another go-to boulangerie, Choisy’s headquarter resides in the island’s bustling capital, Gustavia. The delectable pastries are worth the uphill walk from the ferry terminal. The croissants and eclairs are great to have for breakfast, while the sandwiches are great lunchtime items. You can order larger gateaux from this place to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries. The only drawback of this great bakery is that it only opens until 1 pm and midday on Sundays. For those who want to get something for a trip to the northern beaches, but don’t want to drive all the way to Gustavia, worry no more; Choisy has a branch in Lorient.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 5:30 am – 1:00 pm | Sun 5:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Main bakery: Rue du Roi Oscar II, Gustavia 97133, St Barts | Lorient branch: Place des Marais, L’Oasis, Lorient, St Barts
Contact: Gustavia +590 690 27 58 40 | Lorient +590 690 52 96 17
15. JoJo Burger
Finding yourself hungry when you’re relaxing on Lorient Beach? Want to grab a bite, but don’t want to drive to the restaurants? JoJo Burger is the solution to those problems. This burger joint is located a few steps away from the beach. All you have to do is cross the D209; the place is at the corner of the intersection of the street and the small road just before Route de Saline. As well as American-style burgers, JoJo Burger also serves a small selection of burritos and wraps. In the drinks section, beers and other alcoholic beverages are offered, as well as non alcoholic drinks such as milkshakes and smoothies.
Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 9:30 am – 10:00 pm | Closed on Tuesdays
Location: Lorient, 97133, St Barts
Contact: +590 590 27-5033
Images for illustration purposes
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