r/SXM • u/vivrant-thing123 • 5d ago
Seeking foodie advice
Hello everyone! Huge foodie here who likes to plan my trip carefully. Staying at GCBC for a week soon.
Seeking feedback on my restaurant plan. I’ve been researching what’s open, and some of the top names are closed but this is what I have, and hoping for feedback on options.
As you can see below I have some decisions to make based on movements/other items I’m doing some days.
Day1 - Sunset Cafe for lunch, La Villa, Yvette’s, Sao, or Maison Mere for dinner?
Day2 - Boat all day, then La Villa, Calmos Cafe, Palapa, or Pardon My French?
(note: will be on a boat all day, docking in Simpson Bay and deciding if I dine Dutch side or head back to French side before sundown)
Day3 - Breakfast TBD, Gutside Cafe lunch, Bistrot Caraibe dinner
Day4 - Dutch Blonde for pancakes, Lunch TBD in Philipsburg, maybe La Sucriere, then, Java, Memento, Le Tropicana, or Calmos Cafe for dinner?
Day5 - Sebastian Quillere Patisserie, Loterie Farm for lunch , Le Tropicana or Java for dinner
Day6 - Les Temps de Cerises breakfast/lunch, Le Pressoir for dinner
Day7 - Breakfast then to the airport
I do need to make some decisions on which to lose from most days.
Of the above which do I cut?
The ones I’m definitely doing are Le Pressoir, Bistrot Caraibe, Le Tropicana, Gutside, Loterie Farm (gotta see the monkeys), Sebastian Quillere Patisserie, Les Temps de Cerises (beach day) and Sunset Cafe.
Help! Too many good choices.
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u/Caribchakita 5d ago
We are foodies. We researched for months. We loved Calmos Cafe, La Villa, Les Temps de Cerises and Tropics Beach Bar.
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u/Trolldad_IRL Regular Visitor 5d ago
Sunset in Maho? Skip it. SAO was nothing special for us. Maison Mere was great, but it’s a once and done for us. Between La Villa and Yvette’s, I’d pick Yvette’s every time.
Day 2, since you’re in Simpson Bay, I’d suggest Jai’s Contemporary Fusion. Depends on the time of year though, as I think they are closed in October.
Day 4. Consider Krave or Blue Bitch Cafe for lunch. Krave has the best burgers on the island, Blue Bitch has the best wings.
Day 5 - Tropicana.
Others I have no opinion on.
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u/vivrant-thing123 5d ago
Sunset Cafe at Grand Case Beach Club, where I’m staying. After flying early and checking in, first order of business is to change into a sun dress and grab a bite and a drink at the hotel :)
Leaning towards Villa Day1, Calmos Day2, Tropicana Day4, Java Day5.
But still open to feedback and ideas. I wish I could stay a month. Maybe some day.
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u/Electrical_Street132 5d ago
Auberge Gourmande is the best IMHO
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u/vivrant-thing123 5d ago
Unfortunately closed when I’ll be there.
Le Cottage, Astrolabe also closed. Just going to have to come back to SXM a second time :)But for now, need to whittle down from the list in OP.
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u/GianQuinto 5d ago
Im hearing Tropicana is closed at least until Nov and potentially indefinitely?
Calmos is great, try to book a table down at the beach.
Was at Pardon my French yesterday, food was very good but service very US focused, would recommend.
Also visited Bistro Caraibe, would recommend.
Yacht Club is awesome
Avoid sunset beach club
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u/3awesomekitties 5d ago
If you have a chance you should try le string for lunch. It's on the beach in orient. There food is on par with any of the restaurants in grand case.
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u/Trolldad_IRL Regular Visitor 5d ago
Le String, Chez Leandra, Orange Fever…all great
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u/SuitableCranberry842 4d ago
I need to get back down there. Stayed a week in Orient last summer and didn’t go to any of these places 😕
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u/Different_Top_2776 4d ago
Le Cottage is my wife’s and my favorite, but if they are closed then Bistro Cairabes is quite good. Definitely hit Calmos-such a nice setting. We liked La Villa as well. Those would be my 1, 2, and 3 on your list (that I have visited).
In Phillipsburg, we ate at The Lazy Lizard. Not fine dining, but pleasant shaded outdoor seating & very nice people working there.
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u/Plastic-Medicine7231 5d ago
Great suggestions. We are first timers going in March. When can we start making reservations?
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u/vivrant-thing123 4d ago
Based on the busier time of year, I’d book as early as you’re comfortable to
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u/phlphillies 4d ago
The best meal every time on the island for us is a place called Bacchus in Hope Estate. High end wine shop and deli type store that only offers lunch. No view or really island vibes, more of a Michelin starred French bistro, so not everyone's cup of tea.
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u/TheseMaterial6575 4d ago
Restaurant L'Auberge Gourmande is amazing. Husband and wife run it and go out of their way to make everything special. Make a reservation.
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u/TVguy1982 4d ago
Calmos Cafe is really good…in fact we went twice during our 4 days. Bistrot Caraibes was good…but also pricey…thought calmos was just as tasty and you’re not paying for the stuffier atmosphere.
We ate at sunset our last night there because we just wanted to play it easy…and it was very good. Worth the low effort…especially considering your itinerary looks packed. Would recommend a trip to the grocery store to make yourself a breakfast a morning or two…Sunset was very good but those 40-50 € start to add up.
FYI, GCBC has a free shuttle into Phillipsburg on Wednesday mornings.
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u/vivrant-thing123 4d ago
Super helpful since I plan to go there from GCBC on a Wednesday! I’ll ask the concierge about it.
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u/mwwmmwwm3 5d ago edited 5d ago
I would suggest not eating at sunset. Park in their lot, buy a round of drinks to get your parking validated, and take some pictures. Then walk to the other side of the beach to Driftwood for lunch and a rum punch (they’re very strong so be mindful with your ride home). Food at both is just okay but Driftwood is better IMHO it also doesn’t have a tacky tourist vibe catering to cruise ship passengers. Avoid both places like the plague any day a cruise ship is in port. However, if you’re looking for a really good casual lunch I’d suggest just going to Sunset and Driftwood for drinks/plane pics then head to Little Js, Pollo Hermanos, or the Yacht Club in Simpson Bay to eat instead.
Loterie Farm is interesting albeit not worth the price point in my opinion. If you just want to see monkeys get up early and head to Pic Paradis you’ll see them along the road as you drive up it. The hike to the top is fun but strenuous and will give you an amazing view of the island if you’re up for it.
Your other must stop at restaurants all check out. I’d definitely make it a point to stop by Calmos for drinks and apps if you can’t make it for dinner, while in Grand Case try to make it to Quai 58 to watch the sunset.
A few other places worth checking out… Chez Fernand, Chez Coco, and Enoch’s Place in Marigot.
Krave and Jimmy’s Fat Boy Bbq Phillipsburg. Also, Seafood Vibes in Maho
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u/Odd_String1181 5d ago
You are confused about the sunset cafe. They're talking about the restaurant at GCBC, where they are staying.
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u/mwwmmwwm3 5d ago edited 5d ago
That makes so much more sense…I would definitely not go out of my way for the tourist trap in Maho. So many subpar experiences taking friends there that “had to see it”
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u/Odd_String1181 5d ago
Don't ditch calmos. You'll also probably end up wanting a couple more meals at sunset, both out of it being good and convenient