Exploring Saint Martin’s Orient Bay, Seashore Bar by Seashore Bar 

“You don’t want to fret about life. Simply glide,” she tells me. I’m chronicling seaside bars in Saint Martin’s Orient Bay, and the very pleasant lady promoting her seaside therapeutic massage enterprise assures me the clouds overhead will quickly subside. 

There’s no time for a therapeutic massage on a seaside chair. Nevertheless it’s superb recommendation — and a quite correct distillation of the vibe right here on the French aspect of Saint Martin. 

Should you haven’t develop into acquainted with Saint Martin’s model of French Caribbean Cool, that’s exactly what it’s: a breezy, laid-back, easy, carefree place with a passionate soul. 

That’s nowhere extra true than on Orient Bay, a mile-long (truly a bit greater than that) stretch of white sand seaside that you simply would possibly name the Ibiza of the Caribbean. It’s lined with seaside golf equipment and seaside bars, each considered one of them distinctive, from tiny shacks to upscale, full-service lounges. 

You’ll be able to come for lunch, lease chairs and an umbrella for the day, or take a journey out on a jetski or parasail. 

Orient Bay is a resort-style neighborhood with a set of resorts, residences (the French model of condo-hotels) and boutiques, with a beautiful little village on the middle, itself dwelling to some quite good eating places. 

Nevertheless it’s the seaside that’s the largest star right here, and also you solely start to know with a cocktail in your hand. 

So the place do you go? 

At one finish of the seaside, there’s the gathering of rustic watering holes the place the fun-loving Fever Seashore stands out. Go for the Orange Fever Fizz, a French Caribbean tackle the Aperol Spritz, with a mixture of vodka, orange juice, strawberry pulp and Prosecco. 

A brief stroll down the sand and you discover an Orient signature: Kontiki Seashore, well-known for its crimson umbrellas, its always-hopping playlist and a menu that serves up every part from foie gras to sushi. 

Head towards Orient Bay’s village and you discover the Grande Dame of Orient Bay seaside bars: Bikini Seashore. It’s virtually a resort, replete with a classy boutique on the entrance, copious seaside chairs, a buzzing bar (with an important ti’ punch) and a incredible restaurant. The fare is numerous: you’ll discover traditional French Caribbean accras (deep-fried, delectable, addictive codfish fritters), gyoza, excellent fish tartar and recent tuna, amongst different delights. 

On the different finish of the shoreline, at Orient’s northern finish, you’ll discover one other oasis of seaside bars, beginning with Waï Plage, a splendidly lush, shade-filled spot the place the landscaping makes you are feeling such as you’ve traveled to your personal little island. The meals is stable and the cocktails glorious — and it’s even dwelling to St Martin’s solely beachfront health club. Sure, health club. Simply be sure you hit the weights earlier than your first passionfruit mojito. 

The seaside membership previously often known as Kakao, now KKO, has spent twenty years on Orient, with a barefoot-chic, Santorini-style really feel and a stable fusion menu. It’s the seaside’s prime Sunday spot, with a dwell DJ available.  

Come to Orient Seashore’s very northern tip and also you get to Coco Seashore, which has returned triumphantly from the storms and the pandemic, with a playful, enjoyable menu that covers roasted curry cauliflower, wagyu steak, crimson tuna tacos and a few severe ice cream, too. All of it pairs nicely with the Coco Mango, a mix of Mezcal, mango puree, ginger beer and lime. 

It’s laborious to seek out anyplace fairly like this anyplace within the Caribbean, even in islands with sturdy a seaside bar resume. That’s largely because of the standard of meals you get right here: nearly each spot has a gourmet-level kitchen staff, which means you’re not merely getting burgers on the sand, however considerate, artistic delicacies. 

In fact, each considered one of these locations has a recipe for the right seaside day. As a result of there’s no flawed method to do Orient Bay. Simply glide.