The French and Creole roots are strong on St. Barths—hence why the island may just have the best food in the Caribbean. With the island’s many international influences and creative inspirations, restaurants on St. Barths offer a variety of different flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Our Blue Sky Luxury Travels guests enjoy the myriad of upscale dining options that await them when they stay in luxury villas from our collection, and we are often called upon to reserve private dining experiences. Our team has researched and selected some of the most exquisite dining experiences on St. Barths. From casual, toes-in-the-sand lunch to elegant, Michelin-quality fine dining by the sea, the restaurants on St. Barths are as varied as they are exquisite and all of them are worth discovering. However, here’s our list of the six most exceptional, not-to-be-missed culinary experiences on St. Barths that are sure to satisfy every traveler’s tastebuds.
L’Isola
Considered one of the best restaurants in St. Barths, L’Isola is fine Italian dining with an island twist located on the hillside in Gustavia. The head chef, who hails from Rome, serves up cuisine that’s authentically Italian in style and offers only the best dishes, prepared with the finest ingredients exclusively imported from Italy. The extensive yet extremely well established menu includes homemade pastas, thick veal chops topped with sage and Roman-style grilled artichokes. L’Isola also offers an outstanding wine list with selections from Tuscany, Sicily and many other parts of the Italian peninsula. Come for the fabulous food and stay for the warm welcome and amazing atmosphere.
Bonito
Located in an elevated position overlooking Gustavia Harbor, Bonito is one of the island’s most famous restaurants praised by foodies around the world. Boasting stellar views and even better food, executive chef Laurent Cantineux and chef de cuisine Ronan Mahe serve up a wonderful fusion of bold French and South American flavors that work extremely well once combined. Bonito offers fresh, locally sourced seafood prepared in all sort of manners from raw to stews, grilled and salads—each delivering a modern twist on exotic flavors. The restaurant is also one of St. Barths’ hotspots. It’s not unusual to spot celeb patrons like Simon Cowell, Beyoncé and Pippa Middleton enjoying their meals right beside you.
Le Tamarin
One of the hidden secrets of St. Barths’ dining scene, Le Tamarin is set in one of the most beautiful tropical gardens on the island, full of lily ponds and sweet-smelling flowers. Named after the 200-year-old tamarind tree that marks the entrance, this quaint Saline restaurant specializes in a range of cuisines reflecting Caribbean and Swedish cultures with dishes such as pan-fried foie gras, tuna tartare, chicken and hummus salad and gambas a plancha with soba noodles. Tamarin is easygoing by day but the restaurant really comes to life at night when the gardens are beautifully lit, people have migrated to the foosball and ping pong tables and the cocktails are flowing.
Francois Plantation
Fusing traditional French elegance with Colonial style, Francois Plantation transports you to the heart of Provence on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Open for lunch and dinner in high season, this restaurant—nestled in the hills of Colombier—serves up gastronomic delights with inspiration taken from West Indian and European cuisine. Delicacies include a beautiful homemade foie gras, pissaladieres, barigoules and a not-to-be-missed langoustes flambé. They also offer an outstanding range of old rum and wines. A true cabinet of curiosities, marvel at the tropical touches such as old wooden boat models, rare shells and Colonial woodworking that accent a refined, yet relaxed atmosphere.
Black Ginger
Serving up authentic and refined Thai cuisine concocted by a head chef and sous chef who both hail from Bangkok and were trained by the world’s best Thai chef, Vichit Mukura, Black Ginger is the place to go for Thai food in Gustavia. The food is exquisite and beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients and spices and served in a luxurious, yet comfortable dining environment. The unique interior courtyard opens on the starry sky and boasts huge dome-shaped lights that create a wonderful contemporary atmosphere. Renowned for their knowledgable and friendly staff, you can be assured you’ll discover a new favorite dish when dining at Black Ginger.
Eddy’s
Protected from the outside world by a courtyard garden strewn with fairy lights, Eddy’s is one of the most cherished addresses in Gustavia and one of the most romantic restaurants on the island. The affordable menu with a French Creole and Asian influence includes locally inspired dishes such as codfish fritters, wahoo with ginger sauces, roasted rack of lamb with Indian spices and wild prawns with curry and coconut milk. The inviting French Polynesian decor leaves diners with the feeling they’re not in St. Barths, but rather an even more exotic land, far off in the tropics—where parties last well into the wee hours of the night. After 9 pm, the locals start arriving and the atmosphere becomes electric.
Bon Appétit!