St. Barth’s has a certain reputation, especially after the obnoxious celebrity travel difficulties that were all over the news earlier this year, but there is none of that in the off season. For the mere mortals, May-August is the best time to visit the island. No crowds, no traffic, you can get into any restaurant, the shops are open, you can easily get a taxi, the hotel rates are low (we used our Amex points) and then there is the island itself which is stunning.
My husband and I traveled there in July and were there for a week. I tend to get bored easily so we changed hotels mid-week, which I loved. For the first part of the week we stayed at Cheval Blanc – a beautiful property right on the beach and close to the town center. For the second part of the week, we traveled over to the opposite side of the island (a 15 minute taxi ride) which is fairly isolated and quiet and checked in to Le Toiny for the rest of our trip.
I wrote about Le Toiny prior to having stayed there, and it completely lived up to our expectations. It is so serene and beautiful and peaceful. There is your room (only 22 on the whole property), two restaurants, and the beach – that’s it. No main pool, no gym to speak of – it is a very simple set-up.
One important feature of Le Toiny is that the hotel and the rooms are not directly on the beach. You take a (very cute) little shuttle down to the beach in the morning and back at the end of the day. There’s a great lunch spot, a fun boutique, a small pool, and a massage hut on the beach plus the water is just amazing so you have everything you need.
There are so many restaurants to choose from on St. Barth’s but these are my favorites. Already looking forward to my next trip, preferably in the low season which is the best season IMO.
- Le Café – LOVE this fun French restaurant and piano bar. It is a good, good time and the food is delicious.
- La Petite Plage – Another great spot especially if you like dancing on the tables and champagne. The whole vibe is cool – sand on the floor, dancing waitresses, etc., etc.
- La Guérite – Boozy lunch spot. More dancing on tables. Great music and people watching. Another place you are likely not getting into during the winter season but will have no trouble in July. Best on a weekend.
- Kinugawa: Also a huge favorite of ours. It is much smaller than some of the other restaurants but it is charming and the food (“Japanese gastronomy”) was outstanding. Apparently they are moving locations or have moved already so I am not sure if it will be as good (possibly better) but the food is incredible.
- Bonito: This was another stand-out for us. The view was incredible, delicious food, loved the comfortable and elegant atmosphere. It felt a little like Casa Tua in Miami to me.
- Eden Rock – Eden Rock is so chic and cool. Also another place I would never get into over the holidays or during the high season but was no trouble at all in the off season.
- Nikki Beach: Nikki Beach is exactly how you would expect Nikki Beach to be: it is over the top, fun, wild. Lunch was great and I would go there again but only for lunch or possibly late drinks. There is better food in St. Barth’s but the see and be seen place to be is here. I’m glad I went but don’t feel compelled to go back necessarily.
- Others are Gyp Sea, Shellona, Cheval Blanc.
- Not listed here; Tamarin: I really did not like this restaurant at all. Too many feral cats. Hard pass.
