Orient Beach in St. Martin has become quite the happening place in the last few years. And Bikini Beach, slotted towards one end of the amazing beach, could be one of the reasons.

There are those who would say that it’s just SXM trying to emulate St Barth, but that’s not fair. Sure, there are elements of St. Martin’s glitzy neighbour, but I don’t think the comparisons are valid. Bikini Beach offers a mix of energetic ex-pat French Caribbean flair… and local flavour, something you would never accuse St. Barth of doing.

Bikini is a big, open bleached wood structure, that doesn’t pack people together and nicely catches the cooling breezes coming off Orient Bay. There’s a large, busy bar with plenty of stools and covered tables, as well as comfy chairs and sofas on the sand. All in surprisingly lush surroundings.  Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent.

The crowd is an eclectic mix of locals from the French side, folks staying at the many little hotels and villas around Orient Beach and a few brave North American and European tourists adventurous enough to wander over from the Dutch side of the island. 

It’s a bustling place, but staff are universally friendly and efficient. They make it clear that all are welcome and that you should leave any pretentions at the establishment’s attractive entrance. And it’s surprisingly reasonable given the quality. Believe me, you won’t get a glass of champagne for 12.50€ on St. Barth.

Oh, and the views are killer. Orient Beach is a beautiful, if a bit hectic, stretch of sand.

What will you have?

Beer: They have ice-cold Heineken on tap, plus Corona (single or by the bucket), Carib, Coors Light and that French Caribbean favourite – Desperados.

Rum/Cocktails: A more than decent rum selection starting with Bacardi through Mount Gay to El Dorado, supported by a nice choice of rhum agricole from the French islands, including Clément Canne Bleue, a quite lovely white rum from Martinique. There’s a creative cocktail menu, with things such as a Cucumber Cooler and a Spicy Margarita that lives up to its name, to support the island standards. The wine list is solid and there’s a nice lineup of mocktails as well.

Food: The standard of food in St. Martin is generally high, and Bikini doesn’t disappoint. The bar menu features wraps, salads and four types of burgers, including mahi-mahi. For lighter fare there’s a good tapas selection.

Asides

As mentioned, this can be a busy place at times, especially on weekends. And remember, this is a French Caribbean establishment. Things may not be done exactly the way they are at home (e.g., tips are cash only).  But that’s part of the appeal – if you let it be.

Reflections… 

Bikini Beach is a chic but relaxed place on one of the nicest beaches in St. Martin. The beach can get overly buzzy at times, but this is a bit of an oasis. Just sit back and go with the flow. You’ll have a good time.

IC 2024