I will admit upfront that I still fondly recall the original Karakter – a low key, rudimentary but fun place, consisting of an old school bus, permanently parked in the sand, and a few bar stools. It had an appealing funky Dutch pragmatism that set it apart.

As such, I approached the latest incarnation, K Like Karakter (also known as K Beach Club or by its original name) with a certain amount of trepidation.

Today’s Karakter is a whole different experience, replacing that Dutch practicality with French flair. The bus is (almost) gone – the rear end has been incorporated into the bar – and the beer and BBQ fare replaced with killer cocktails and an impressive menu. In fact, it would be right at home in neighbouring St. Barths.

Karakter is an attractive, covered light-coloured wood platform with a chic bar, table seating and a cozy raised lounge area. The décor and thatch lampshades give it a bit of a tiki feel. There is also service at the comfortable recliners lined up on the beach. It’s a breezy, spacious area with a distinct sense of French style – the only such place I know of on the Dutch side of this two-nation island. It’s also close to the airport (more about that later).

Staff are friendly and the bartenders knowledgeable, especially when it comes to traditional French Caribbean drinks, such as the Ti’ Punch. It’s easy to feel relaxed while sipping one sitting in the lounge, overlooking the beach. And it’s quite the beach – a long stretch of white sand extending in both directions, with magnificent views on either side.

The crowd is a mix of upscale tourists/villa folk and older visitors seeking the vibe of the original place. “Everybody wants to see the bus,” the proprietress told me with a sigh. I’ll admit that we were among the latter group. But the unique charms of the current K Like Karakter didn’t take long to win us over.

What will you have?

Beer: An excellent selection of beers for SXM. The usuals; Carib, Heineken, Corona, Presidente, as well as Amstel Bright, Red Stripe and three US light beers. And, of course, that French island favourite, Desparados.

Rum/Cocktails: Well-made classic regular and frozen cocktails, supported by some creative signature drinks – the Mojito Patron and Vodka Mint Ting among them. There is an impressive selection of premium rums, such as Angostura 1919, Appleton Estate 12 and Havana Club Especial, among others, plus a good selection of Rhum Agricole, including some nice ones from Guadeloupe’s Rhum Bologne.

Food: The food here is excellent. The lunch menu featured ceviche, crab cakes, wings and a range of salads and burgers/sandwiches, in addition to French favourites like steak tartare and croque monsieur.

Asides

Unless you walk along the beach, it’s not the easiest place to find. Oh, and when I said it was close to the airport, I wasn’t joking. The runway runs parallel immediately behind the main building. When those big jets take off, you’ll know it!

Reflections… 

Putting our bias towards the original Karakter aside (I still miss it), this is a casually elegant place on a fabulous beach, and certainly a great way to spend a chill afternoon. And don’t forget to look for the remains of that famous bus…

IC 2025